THE BINGHAM
LIBRARY TRUST
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WELCOME
Cirencester is fortunate in the splendid benefaction made by Mr Daniel George Bingham of Utrecht.
A former townsman, he built and endowed the former Bingham Library and the Bingham Hall in King Street for the benefit of residents of the town and the surrounding district. They were opened in 1905 and 1908 respectively and both are overseen by Trusts on behalf of the Charity Commission.
The original Bingham Library was located at 1 Dyer Street. This property, which is administered by the Trustees (who are also Town Councillors) has been refurbished over the last five years. During 2005, the former Council Chamber has been converted to a Gallery and works undertaken to the facilities on the ground floor to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. The Gallery, named the 'Bingham Gallery', was opened on 21st September 2005, as the culmination of the 100-year celebration of the opening of the Library. The remainder of the building is occupied by commercial tenants, thus providing an income for the Bingham Library Trust.
The Gallery displays a range of the Trust's art collection, together with the Town Council's Millennium Embroidery.
Anyone interested in visiting the Gallery should contact Cirencester Town Council (as agents for the Bingham Library Trust) on Tel No. 01285 655646 to ascertain the opening dates.
The library function was taken over by Gloucestershire County Council in 1975 when the new Bingham Library building in The Waterloo was opened. The Trust also owns a large building known as Dyer House, two residential properties and allotments.
Under the Charity Commission scheme, the Trustees fund newspapers and periodicals for the library and the microfilming of all available copies of the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard since 1837. A view-print also provided by the Trustees ensures that users can copy their chosen extracts at modest cost. The scheme also provides for the promotion of education and appreciation of art, including music, in Cirencester.
The first Bingham Lecture was sponsored in 1979 and this has been held regularly since. The Trustees have in the past awarded grants to persons and organisations whose aims are within the scheme's parameters.
The Trust also owns many works of art, which are displayed in the Gallery and Dyer House.
