Many of us covet a library of our own - a room dedicated to books, lined floor to ceiling with shelves, with perhaps a desk, a comfy chair, a fire .... The house pictured above has not one but two libraries, very much as I describe, and each with views out onto the tranquil Tweed Valley.
I couldn't take any pictures inside the house, but you can see some interior shots on the Traquair website itself. The older of the two libraries has a 'reverse reading chair' rather like this one which strikes me as being good for the back! Books are catalogued according to their position on the shelves in relation to the portraits of philosophers and poets painted on the cornice (see here and scroll down a bit), so the volume you seek may be marked something like "Plato 4/23" or "Terence 9/17".
Ah well, if you had this much space, think of the scope for the TBR piles....
A very interesting post - thank you. I do enjoy seeing libraries, particularly ones that have been around for ages like this one. The reverse reading chair is something I've never seen before. It does look comfortable; however I'm guessing that ladies were never to be seen using it, unless they sat "side saddle"! Or perhaps there was a ladies' version, just like there are girls' bicycles.
The house itself is very gracious looking...love those little turrets at the corners.
Posted by: Sara | 28 August 2009 at 07:22 PM
This one will have to go on the list for next time I am up in the Edinburgh area. I leave tomorrow so no time. Having my own library is a day dream I love to indulge in; having two? Seems rather over the top!
Posted by: Fran | 28 August 2009 at 10:50 PM
What a great post, I love hearing about libraries. And I want one of those chairs.
Posted by: Sandra | 29 August 2009 at 01:06 AM