Streets of London – British Museum – Montagu House, London circa 1813

British Museum - Montagu House, London circa 1813

British Museum – Montagu House, London circa 1813
from The Repository of arts, literature, commerce, manufactures, fashions and politics

“The site of the building is inclosed by a high brick wall, which excludes the view on every side. The entrance in Great Russel-street, Bloomsbury, leads into a spacious quadrangle, on the north side of which appears the main building, 216 feet in length and 57 in height to the top of the cornice; with ranges of buildings of less elevation, containing apartments of the officers belonging to the institution to the east and west, and an Ionic colonnade on the south side. […]”

“Under the name of Montagu House this structure continued in the hands of the noble family from whom it received that appellation till the year 1753.”

“About this time Sir Hans Sloane, who had spent a long life in the formation of a valuable collection of curiosities, directed, by his will that this collection which he declared to have cost him upwards of £50,000 should be offered for the use of the public, on the condition that £20,000 should be paid to his executors, and a house provided for its reception. The offer was accepted, and several other collections were added to that of Sir Hans Sloan. About the same time the two heiresses of the Montagu family tendered this spacious mansion for their reception. It was accordingly purchased for £10,000 and the whole establishment completed for £85,000, which was raised by way of lottery. […]”

“The ground-floor, consisting of twelve rooms, contains the library of printed books; the manuscripts fill five rooms on the upper floor; the other apartments are occupied by the various collections of curiosities, natural and artificial, and a new building was a few years since erected for the reception of the Townley collection and other valuable specimens of ancient art. A view of the interior was given in a former volume of the Repository.”

“The Museum is open for public inspection, from ten till four o’clock, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in every week, except in the Christmas, Easter and Whitsuntide weeks, on Thanksgiving and Fast days, and during the months of August and September. Persons who wish to see the Museum, must apply between the hours of ten and two, in the anti-room, where they will be required to inscribe their names and place of abode in a book kept for that purpose; upon which they will be shewn into the apartments as soon as the first rooms are sufficiently cleared for their reception.”

“The reading-room is kept open from ten till four every day in the week, except for Saturday and Sunday, for one week at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide, and on Thanksgiving and Fast days. One of the librarians constantly attends during the above hours. Persons desirous of admission into this room, must transmit their applications in writing, specifying their names, rank, profession, and places of abode, accompanied with a recommendation from some person of known and approved character. These the principal librarian submits to the trustees, who, if they see no objected, will grant an admission for a term not exceeding six months; and every reader, at the expiration of his term, may apply to have it prolonged, with out a fresh recommendation. No fees are allowed to be taken by any of the officers or attendants belonging to this institution. The polite attentions and gentlemanly behavior of the librarians, in particular, are universally acknowledged by those who have occasion to resort to this national depository of literature.” The Repository of arts, literature, commerce, manufactures, fashions and politics, 1813.

Interior of the British Museum - Montagu House, London circa 1810

Interior of the British Museum – Montagu House, London circa 1810
from The Repository of arts, literature, commerce, manufactures, fashions and politics