An online journal for the North Devon Athenaeum
1. We Currently Have Over 15,000 Books on Our Shelves. When we first opened in 1888 we had approximately 14,000 volumes on our shelves this gradually increased to 22,000 in 1985. When we moved to our new home in 1988 the collection was scaled down. You can search the items on our shelves via our …
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Before the North Devon Athenaeum there was the Barnstaple Literary and Scientific Institute. Here are 10 facts about the institute which came before us... 1. The Barnstaple Literary and Scientific Institute Opened it's Doors in 1845 Planning for creating and opening such an institution actually started in 1844 when a petition of over 100 people …
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1. Each Year we Raise a Glass in His Honour, But, We Are Only Allowed to Mention His Name Once! He hated attending events which went on for hours in praise of the guest of honour, with toast after endless toast. As a result he gave strict instructions we are only allowed to mention his …
Over the course of 2018 we are aiming to bring you a total of 130 facts about us and what we do to celebrate our 130th Anniversary. To kick things off, here are 10 facts about the Athenaeum in general. 1. An Athenaeum is a literary club-room, a library or place of learning. The word …
