"Since the middle of the eighteenth century there has been a call for the formation of a National Library for Wales, but it wasn't until the National Eisteddfod of Mold in 1873 that the dream was reborn.

The call for a National Library for Wales was part of a wave of patriotism which many small European nations experienced in the latter half of the nineteenth century.

With the support of the leading figures in Welsh society, including prominent members of the Cymru Fydd (Young Wales) movement within the Liberal Party, the Budget of 1905 included a provision to set up a national library and museum for Wales.

This historic decision led to an intensive war of words between Aberystwyth and Cardiff about the location of these prestigious national institutions.

As one of the world's great coal exporting ports and Wales' largest city, Cardiff felt it could accommodate both institutions. Aberystwyth on the other hand believed that the National Library should be located within her boundaries - it was after all in Aberystwyth that Wales' first university college was opened in 1872 (you can see the Old College's sand-stone building from the Library).

The final decision was taken to locate the National Library in Aberystwyth with Cardiff accommodating the National Museum.

In 1908 the Council of the National Library extended an open invitation to architects to design a new building for the National Library.

The designer Sidney Kyffin Greenslade was chosen from the six finalists. Greenslade's design created a building with the classical proportions of the Parthenon in Athens.

Cornish granite was used for the first floor, a medium which has withstood the test of time and weather very well, not so the white Portland stone which was used for the upper storeys.

The decision to locate the National Library at Aberystwyth would not have been possible without the will and vision of one man, Sir John Williams.

Sir John was a surgeon to Queen Vistoria and an avid and intelligent collector of art and literature. With the opening of the National Library he donated his collection of 25,000 books to the new institution. From the Sir John's Library of Hengwrt-Peniarth the greatest treasures of the Welsh language were presented to the National Library.

They are:

The Black Book of Carmarthen which includes the earliest Welsh poetry composed in the 6th century.

Llyfr Taliesin (which includes the Welsh mythology, the Mabinogi)

The Laws of Hywel Dda (the indigenous Welsh laws which date from the tenth century)

The famous Hengwrt copy of the work of Geoffrey Chaucer.

Many of these priceless books are to be seen in the Library's permanent exhibition, A Nation's Heritage in the Gregynog Gallery. You can see a statue of Sir John in the Reading Room and outside the Council Chamber.

Article written by Sion Jobbins