Editing Middle Temple (section)

=== Library ===
Little is known about the original library, which was probably just a room in a barristers' chambers. All the books were stolen prior to the reign of Henry VIII. In 1625 a new library was established at the site of what is now Garden Court, and in 1641 it was enlarged when a member of the Inn, [[Robert Ashley (writer)|Robert Ashley]], died and left his collection of books and £300 to the Inn. This library was demolished in 1830. After an interval of three decades, a new library was built, in a [[Gothic architecture|Gothic style]] designed by architect H. R. Abraham. It was opened by [[Edward VII|The Prince of Wales]] on 31 October 1861.<ref>Bellot (1902), pp. 290-293</ref> This Victorian library was badly damaged during the London [[The Blitz|Blitz]] in 1940, and was demolished following the war. A new Library was constructed in the 1950s to a design by [[Edward Maufe]] and opened by [[the Queen Mother]] in 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middletemple.org.uk/library/history-of-the-library |title=History of the Library|publisher=Middle Temple |access-date= 20 September 2024}}</ref> The building still houses the Inn's library and archives as well as various administrative offices, and is now known as the Ashley Building.

Middle Temple Library possesses [[Emery Molyneux]]'s [[Emery Molyneux#Middle Temple globes|terrestrial and celestial globes]], which are of particular historical [[cartography|cartographical]] value.