Editing Bodleian Library (section)

===14th and 15th centuries===

Whilst the Bodleian Library, in its current incarnation, has a continuous history dating back to 1602, its roots date back even further. The first purpose-built library known to have existed in Oxford was founded in the 14th century under the will of [[Thomas Cobham]], [[Bishop of Worcester]] (d. 1327). This small collection of [[chained library|chained books]] was situated above the north side of the [[University Church of St Mary the Virgin]] on the High Street.<ref>Philip, Ian (1983) ''The Bodleian Library in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries''. Oxford: Clarendon Press {{ISBN|0-19-822484-2}}; p. 5</ref><ref>''The Bodleian Library''. London: Jarrold & Sons, 1976 {{ISBN|0-900177-62-4}}.</ref> This collection continued to grow steadily, but when [[Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester]] (brother of [[Henry V of England]]) donated a great collection of manuscripts between 1435 and 1437, the space was deemed insufficient and a larger building was required. A suitable room was finally built above the [[Divinity School, Oxford|Divinity School]], and completed in 1488. This room continues to be known as [[Duke Humfrey's Library]].<ref name="Jarrold 1976">''The Bodleian Library'' 1976. See also Bodleian history page at https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/bodley/about-us/history</ref> After 1488, the university stopped spending money on the library's upkeep and acquisitions, and manuscripts began to go unreturned to the library.<ref name="autogenerated5">{{cite book|last1=Clapinson|first1=Mary|title=A Brief History of the Bodleian Library.|date=2015|publisher=University of Oxford|location=Oxford, London|isbn=978-1-85124-273-3|pages=5–7|chapter=The Early Years}}</ref>