Historic Maldon: The fascinating story of Plume Library’s 8,000+ books – and the 700+ that vanished

By Ben Shahrabi

3rd Oct 2023 | Local News

Plume Library, at the top of Market Hill, Maldon, is one of the oldest reference libraries in the country - and it carries an extraordinary history.

Throughout his lifetime, Dr Thomas Plume (1630–1704) amassed around 8,000 books. In the 1690s, he decided to bequeathe them to "the gentlemen scholars" of Maldon, his birthplace. The books came from Plume's personal collections in his studies in Greenwich and Rochester.

They were wrapped up and catalogued as they went into large wooden wine casks. The books were then shipped to Maldon from Greenwich.

The building in which Plume Library and the Maeldune Heritage Centre are housed was formerly St Peter's, a medieval church affiliated with the nearby All Saints Church. By the 1690s, the church was largely redundant as most services were held at All Saints.

Dr Thomas Plume's portrait hangs in the Moot Hall, just up the High Street from the Library. (Credit: Ben Shahrabi)

Thomas Plume died in 1704, leaving behind both the library and Maldon's workhouse, known locally as 'The Spike'.

Fast-forward to the early twentieth century, the Library was left without a Keeper, so it was locked. A key was kept by the Vicar of All Saints Church, who lent it to members of the public. However, no records were kept of the borrowers.

In 1987, a rare books dealer discovered a Plume Library book in an auction. He was one of the founder members of the Friends of Thomas Plume's Library, which raised funds to buy the book.

It was then discovered that around 700 books and pamphlets had gone missing from the library during the period when there was no librarian. Of those, seven originals have been bought back over the last four decades. 248 similar editions have replaced missing ones.

Visitors face a steep spiral staircase to get up to the Library. (Credit: Ben Shahrabi)

The Friends of Thomas Plume's Library continues to raise funds for books to be bought and returned to the library.

"We use our extensive 'missing list' to go through online book auctions," Assistant Librarian Paula Thomson tells Nub News.

"We try to find the nearest possible edition to the missing one, then go to the Friends and get the money to bid for it."

A number of valuable books have been presented to the Library in recent years, including some from Beeleigh Abbey.

Members of the Blackwater Arts Society create 'book shoes' to help preserve the spines of the antique books. (Credit: Ben Shahrabi)

Plume Library staff and the Friends group work hard to preserve the collection, while the Town Council maintains the building.

Trustee Sue Swaffin-Smith told Nub News: "During the 17th Century, at the time of New Learning, it was the availability of printed books that ensured knowledge could be shared.

"I think Thomas Plume recognised that and wanted to have a library so local people could use the resource. It is a historic collection – valuable for the town and nationally – so it's well worth preserving."

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, browsed Plume Library's law books during his visit to the town in March. (Credit: Maldon Town Council)

The Library is free to visit and is open from 2pm until 4pm, Tuesday to Thursday. It is also open on Saturday mornings, from 10am until 12 noon.

In March, the most senior judge in England and Wales welcomed to Thomas Plume's Library by librarian Dr Helen Kemp.