Introduction
We have over 600 books and documents on sundial-related subjects at the Bromley House Library, Nottingham. These cover a wide range of areas, including: modern sundial theory, historic and classic works, scientific instruments, dial construction, exhibition and auction catalogues, scratch dials, restoration, stone circles, astronomy, horology and dial registers.
History
Bromley House is a grade 2, listed Georgian town house in the heart of Nottingham city centre. It was built in 1752 and was taken over by the Nottingham Subscription Library in 1822 (renamed Bromley House Library in 2001). The main library is housed in a series of reading rooms with plaster ceilings, cornices and over mantels; the largest room has a gallery, accessed by a spiral staircase. There are fine clocks, barometers, a working meridian line and a recently restored wind direction indicator. To the rear, there is a large walled garden, open to members and containing a working heliochronometer. The first Photographic Studio in Nottingham, operated from 1841 to 1955, was located in the attic and has recently been restored.
Location
Bromley House Library can be found on Angel Row, Nottingham, NG1 6HL. This is in the centre of Nottingham, close to the Old Market Square and easily accessible by bus or tram. Car parking is available in the city centre but the park and ride options are probably better. Nottingham Railway Station is a 10 minute walk away. The BSS collection of books is in a cabinet located in the Standfast Room that has their meridian line running across the floor.
Opening Times and Admission
The library is open Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (see https://www.bromleyhouse.org. or phone 0115 9473134). Because of local events and staff training opening times might vary so it is worth checking before you visit. Bromley House's main door is set back from the road, and is two doors down from the Bell Inn (dating from 1437) and in between a charity shop and a newsagent.
Bromley House is a subscription library and primarily open to its members, who can access and borrow most of the 35,000 books in their collection. The BSS pays the library an annual fee for corporate membership, which allows BSS members access to the entire library, including the BSS collection, but restricts any right to borrow or remove any of the books (BSS or other). To be admitted, BSS members should show their membership card. Prior to any visit, particularly if you are making a long journey, it is worth contacting the library and/or BSS librarian librarian@sundialsoc.org.uk. This is especially the case if you are there to research a particular work as this will allow library staff time to make the appropriate arrangements. Tea, coffee, daily newspapers and toilets are all available to BSS visitors.
Library Catalogue
All books in the Bromley House collection can be accessed via the Bromley House Online Catalogue. The titles in the BSS collection can be seen at the BSS online catalogue.
Book Donations
Members may consider donating books or other material, however our shelf space is extremely limited and so careful control is required. Consequently, duplicates of existing books, second editions and printings and books with little dialling content will be excluded either to be returned to the donor or to be offered for auction or sale within the Society. Please contact the BSS librarian in the first instance: librarian@sundialsoc.org.uk. Please do not take or send books directly to Bromley House Library.