first established in the earlier half of the
19th century. The first known was that founded in London by the famous
Dr. Birkbeck in 1823; another being opened in the same year in Glasgow;
after which they became general. As Horncastle was in advance of other
towns in the county in its valuable Dispensary (see p. 119), so it would
seem to have preceded other towns, with the exception of Lincoln, in
catering for the growing taste for literature. The Mechanics' Institute
was founded in the year 1834. It was first located in Union Street, now
called Queen Street, and soon received the support of all classes. The
building, which consisted of one large room, was situated on the west
side of the street, on the site where now stands the private residence,
No. 18.

Soon after the erection of the Corn Exchange, in 1856, the Mechanics'
Institute was transferred to that building; two upper rooms being
occupied, as library and reading room; the former premises in Queen
Street being sold to the late Mr. Joseph Parish, who used them for sales,
public meetings, dances, and so forth, until in 1866 he erected on the
site a private residence for himself.

After some years the introduction of the above named branch of the
popular London Library of Messrs. Mudie & Co., at the shop of Mr. Hugh
Willson, Bookseller, in the Bull Ring, followed by the subscription
library of Mr. W. K. Morton, in the High Street, and that of Messrs. W.
H. Smith & Sons, at the Railway Station, reduced the numbers of the
subscribers to "The Mechanics," and it was removed to smaller premises in
Bank Street; and eventually this same cause led to the Institute being
closed. On January 14th, 1886, a meeting was held in the library to
determine its future, the result being that the Secretary, Mr. W. Betts,
and the members of the committee resigned, Jan. 21st, and the books, &c.,
were removed to a small chamber at the Gas House, in Foundry Street,
another small room there being used as a temporary reading room. These
were closed about the year 1894, the books remaining stowed away. About
the year 1899 an effort was made by the late W. Brown, of the Capital and
Counties' Bank, to get the books transferred to the Technical School in
Queen Street, of the committee of which he was chairman; with the object
that they might be once more rendered available for public use; but this
project fell through.

In 1905 the library was finally broken up by the late Mr. Joseph