The Leighton Library Trust Annual Report of the Trustees $C003010
For the year ended 31 October 2025
Founding Document
The Trust was established by the will of Robert Leighton, 1611-1684, dated 17"" February 1683. This was supplemented by an Act of Synod of Perth and Stirling dated 12 October 1703 (the deed of gift of the Library being signed by Robert Leighton’s sister and nephew on 11" December 1701). Robert Leighton was Bishop of Dunblane from 1661-1670 and subsequently Archbishop of Glasgow.
Trustees
The- were Trustees7 the1
Appointment of Trustees
The Act of Synod recorded the Executors of the late Robert Leighton appointing original Trustees including the Minister of Dunblane and asking the Synod to appoint two further Ministers of the Presbytery as Trustees. The Minister of Dunblane Cathedral and the Clerk to the Presbytery are Trustees ex officio, and the other Trustees are co-opted. Any new Trustee is sent a copy of the last year’s Accounts and a copy of the Trustees’ Annual Report to OSCR.
Principal Address
The Cross, Dunblane, Perthshire, FK15 0AQ.
Objectives
By his said will, Robert Leighton left £100 to build a library in Dunblane, and to house his personal library of 1364 volumes and 149 pamphlets. Since the original bequest, the Library has been augmented by further donations, and now numbers some 4700 volumes in 15 languages. The earliest dates from 1504. It is Scotland's oldest purpose-built library and in the 18" century operated as a subscription lending library, until about 1870. Six original book presses and leather chairs are still in use.
In the previous five Annual Reports we have iliustrated how the substantial conservation, upgrading and re-development works (the Conservation Project) have been completed and we are now moving towards the final phase, the modernisation of the Undercroft to provide greater access and enjoyment for all visitors to the Library.
: :
Management and Governance Arrangements
The Library is governed by the Trustees with volunteer guides who show the collection. Stirling University and the National Library of Scotland give technicai advice and services such as conservation. The British Library has also helped with conservation funds and production of an on-line catalogue.
; :
i ! :
In November 2020 the Trustees agreed to the setting up of an Executive Group of volunteers to oversee the day to day running of the Library and the Conservation Project, with reference to the Trustees as and when required. It comprises:
MrBE stood down as a member of the Executive during the year and the Trustees are grateful for his hard work and dedication. The Trustees are also indebted to the volunteers and guides and also to Dunblane Cathedral Church of Scotland for the use of facilities within the Cathedral Halls.
None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration nor reimbursement of expenses from the charity curing the year.
Risk Assessment
During the year the Trustees had investments held by Investec Wealth and Investment, Glasgow. The investments are held in their stockbrokers’ nominee company. The Trustees seek a balanced return between income and capital with a medium/high risk exposure. Routine financial matters are handled by the Chairman and the Hon. Treasurer, ay Accounts are prepared by the A9 Partnership, High Street, Dunblane.
Risks
-
Risk of fraud or mismanagement This is mitigated by
-
ensuring proper budgetary control as part of strategic management
-
ensuring those to whom financial authority has been delegated have sufficient skills to fulfil their remit
-
e ensuring effective procedural checks are embedded in day-to-day processes and are regularly reviewed
-
¢ requiring two signatures on all cheques e ensuring that all investments are actively managed by professional advisors who will report formally to the Trust bi-annually,
-
Risk of loss of income
-
This is mitigated by
-
e diversifying income sources to minimise the impact if one source dries up e considering not only a mix of funding sources but also of funding types
-
considering long-term risks to funding, and how the Trust prepares to address them
-
« contingency planning for loss of specific funding, developing reserves e staggering funding applications and re-applications, to ensure that these do not all happen in the same year
-
managing fixed costs: currently there are no staff costs, ali personnel are volunteers
-
e planning for a flexible organisational structure that will scale up and down, as circumstances require.
Risk of unexpected costs
This risk will be mitigated by
- e ensuring adequate reserve contingency and appropriate insurance cover ¢ reviewing ali insurances annually to ensure the cover is adequate for the level of risk.
Risk of insufficient number of active Trustees
The role of a Trustee has changed over the years and it is now a demanding and responsible position. Charities find it hard nowadays to recruit Trustees. We will mitigate this by
-
revisiting the constitution of the Trust to ensure the governance is effective for the future
-
¢ ensuring succession planning for Trustees is in place e looking to protect the personal liability of Trustees (currently unlimited) by constitutional reform.
Risk of insufficient volunteers
The charity has no staff and is entirely reliant on volunteers, the number of whom have been dwindiing. We will mitigate this by
-
e using the restoration and attendant publicity to generate local interest and actively seek to recruit new volunteers from as diverse a pool as possible
-
e devising a marketing strategy, using a variety of media
-
e continuing to involve students from the two local senior schools to assist and gain valuable life experience.
HealthWe have& Safetywritten health & safety procedures for volunteers and visitors. We undertake regular risk assessments and provide appropriate safe systems and equipment as required. The Trust has formal safeguarding and child protection policies.
Review of the Financial Position
As 31% October 2025 the market value of the investments amounted to £80,450.
During the course of 2025 the Library hosted 4,086 visitors and £6,536 was donated by them. Other kind donations including those from the Friends of the Leighton Library totalling £5,608 were received. Coffee mornings and other events over the year raised £2,592. The Trustees are most grateful for these donations.
The Governance Costs for the year to 31' October 2025 are shown asa liability on the Statement of Balances. In anticipation of further professional reports and fees towards the Conservation Project the Trustees retained a cash balance in its bank account.
Review of the Development, Activities and Achievement
We continue to raise funds for the harling of the building, the modernisation of the Undercroft, and maintaining the Book collection. We expect the harling to be completed once the Undercroft work is complete and the building has dried out sufficiently which is likely to be in 2027, subject to our architect’s and other professional advice.
With regard to the Undercroft we have now received donations and pledges totalling £102,729 and anticipate starting work on the ‘Build’ aspect in spring 2026. We continue to raise funds for the subsequent ‘Interpretation’ aspect which will provide a unique insight into the Library, its history and times. Much of the written scripts have been completed and are ready inclusion in the overall interpretation.
We have also received funds and pledges towards the book collection totalling £15,380. As a result over 30 volumes in our ‘red’ category have been repaired at a cost of over £8,500. This is not a cheap enterprise but money well spent to preserve the collection for the future. We continue to raise funds to repair these damaged volumes (there are about 70) together with a further 200 which need attention.
The Trustees wish to thank all those who have supported the conservation and restoration of Scotland's oldest purpose-built library, allowing future generations to appreciate and enjoy Bishop Leighton’s legacy and the collection.
| |
In March, in conjunction with Dunblane Museum and the Society of Friends of Dunblane Cathedral, we hosted 55 Blue Badge Guides from the Scottish Tourist Guides Association with the intention of encouraging a wider range of visitors.
accompaniedIn May we were by thedelighted Lord Lieutenantto welcome ofHis StirlingRoyai andHighness Falkirk, TheanDuke of Kenton a
private visit,
Within the Library itself, His Royal Highness met Trustees and Volunteers who had assisted in its restoration and was informed about the life of Robert Leighton, the history of the Library and some of the specific books from the collection. His Royal Highness then signed the visitor book, adding the words “Deeply fascinating!"
As he departed, The Duke of Kent remarked on the impressive efforts to maintain and restore such a historic treasure and the Trustees expressed their appreciation for his visit.
On 31st May the Trust took a stand at the Dunblane Fling to promote the Library and the ongoing restoration. On Saturday 27" and Sunday 28th September volunteers hosted a stand as part of the ‘Doors Open Day’ in Dunblane Public Library.
in August the Trust designed a new free digital guide available through ‘Bloomberg Connects’, the free arts and culture app. The guide offers digital access to the Library.
Also in August, the Trust hosted a visit by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings scholars, who are on a programme to support a deep-dive into the knowledge and skills needed to work with traditional buildings for early career architects, surveyors, engineers, and post-graduates.
As a result of the continued publicity surrounding the conservation and renovation works, new guides and volunteers have come forward and on 1! April the Library re-opened. We are now open from the beginning of April to the end of October, and Saturdays in November and December for five hours a day, six days a week. Visits outside these times throughout the year can be made with prior arrangement. This has permitted greater and longer access and resulted in many more visitors.
The Trust continues to publicise the Library in the media and we have been pleased to assist in the filming of a programme about the Cromiix Water Drinkers. Our website details this information and is updated daily. www.leightonlibrary.org.uk
During the year the Trust has expanded its offering into the sale of merchandise with a view to increasing revenue. The Trust also has an online shop which is accessible through our website.
Gifts in kind: Since the beginning of 2021 the Trust has kept records of time spent on Library matters by ail involved: the Trustees, the Executive Group, the volunteers and guides, and the many others who give their time freely supporting and promoting the Library. The amount of time donated is as follows:
-
« 1st January to 25" November 2021: 1,159 hours; e 26! November 2021 to 315 October 2022: 4,192 hours;
-
¢ 18! November 2022 to 31% October 2023: 4,012 hours were recorded which, as the Library was closed to visitors excludes time provided by the guides;
-
e 48 November 2023 to 31° October 2024: 5,303 hours; e 18 November 2024 to 31" October 2025: 5,348 hours.
-
These illustrate the continuing commitment to the Library and its future, and amount to a very significant ‘gift in kind’.
In the summer of 2027, the Trust plans to hold a formal reopening of the Library and we look forward to meeting all our supporters. More details will follow.
On behalf of my fellow Trustees, | thank the Executive Group for their oversight of the project and the other matters they undertake, the volunteers and guides, and all others associated with the Library for their dedication and enthusiasm, With their assistance the Trust will continue to build on its successes locally, nationally and internationally.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf
Date Approved = 7 =
- a OSCE Enter charity name below Office of the Scottish CharityReguiator «= |-eighton Library Trust
Enter SC No. betow $C003010
| ]
| :
| Receipts and payments accounts | Receipts and payments accounts | Receipts and payments accounts | Receipts and payments accounts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortheperiod | rom |
Day_ | ||||||
| Section A Statement of receipts and payments | ||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Expendable endowment funds |
Permanent endowment funds |
Totalfunds . current period |
Totalfunds last . period |
|||
| to | nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||
| Ai Receipts tegaces Gents Receipts fromfundraisingactivites Grosstrading receipts |
9,472 |
I asa3]{ |
4,680 4,000 I |
|||||
| Income from investments other than | ||||||||
| land and buildings | 4,423 | |||||||
| Rentsfromland&buildings | raee | ee | aee | ee | ||||
| Gross receipts from othercharitable | ||||||||
| activities lomerinome |
e Af Sub total 17,012 5,680 |
aee | ||||||
| A2 Receipts from asset& | ||||||||
| investment sales | ||||||||
| Proceedsfrom saleoffxedassets Proceedsfrom saleofinvestments A2Sub total |
175,702 175,702 |
|||||||
| Totalreceipts | 192,744 | 5,680 | fs | [id | 198,394 | 227,374 | ||
| A3 Payments | ||||||||
| Paymentsrelatingdirectlytocharitable activities |
5,680 | 37,065 | ||||||
| eovernancocoss Audit/independentexamination} = 4.320 |
||||||||
| A3Sub total | 35,418 | 5,680 | 41,098] | |||||
| A4 Payments relating to assetand | ||||||||
| investment movements | ||||||||
| Purchase of investments | 168,560 | 168,560 | 85,000 | |||||
| AdSub total | 168,560 | 168,560 | 85,000 | |||||
| 11,263 |
$C003010
;|
APPENDIX 2 Leighton Library Trust Section B Statement of balances
==> picture [544 x 557] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Categories Details unreundssiete Restricted funds Expendableendowmentfunds endowmentPermanentfunds TotatPerto!ment Total last perlod
to nearest€ to nearest E to nearest E fa nearest to nearest é to nearest£
B1 Cash funds Cash and bank balances al start of year 20,767 20,787 18,755
Surplus / (deficit) shown on receipts and
{11,263}
payments account ee
Cash and bank balances at end of year
- Fund to whith asset belongs Market valuation Last year
Details
fo nearasteé to nearest £
JP Morgan Liquidity Funds - 65,000 Restricted
JP Morgan Liquidity Funds - 85,000 Unresticted
srrman awe Fnte-05500 | luesieee ||
118% Treasury Snr bond30/01/2026- 81,000 Restricted
1/8% Treasury Snr bond 30/01/2026 - 81,000 Unrestricted | 24are |
Totat 60,450 85,000
Detalls Fund to which asset belongs Cost {if avatable) salenop a Last year
B3 fo nearest £ lonearesté to [nearest] é
Other assets Po
The Hugh Fraser Foundation |
The Sabina Sutherland Charilabie Trust |
|
The Leche Charitable Trust re ae
Total |
Details Fund to which Habllity relates Amount due Last year
to nearest E to nearesté
B4 Libiltios | |
EDF | [800]
The Ag Partnership Ltd. cere. itestricted 1320 aa)
Total 4,820 1,288
BDetalls Fund to which Habitity refates Amountfestimate) due Last year
fo nearest £ to nearest e
oe — —
Totat
Signed by one or two trustees Date of
on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name approval
—_ ———
----- End of picture text -----
2025 Leighton Library Trust Accounts_318398_ SEDA4C4C2C9Z03EADCDOSABECISDEDSD / Statement of balances
December 2007
i j
APPENDIX 2 Leighton. Library. Trust
$C003010
i
: Section C Notes to the Accounts C1 Nature and purpose of : funds (may be stated on analysis of funds worksheets) _|py his wit Robert Leighton (1611 - 1684), who was successively Bishop of Dunblane and Archibishop of Glasgow, left £100 to build a library in Dunblane and to house his personal library of some 1363 volumes and 149 pamphlets. Since the original bequest, the library has been augmented by further donations and now numbers some 4500 volumes in 15 languages. The earliest dates from 1504. It is Scotiand’s oldest purposebuilt library and in the 18th Century operated as a subscription lending library, until about 1870. Six original book presses and 12 leather chairs are still in use. The Library building was last restored in 1989, at a cost of some £90,000, with funds from amongst others, the Getty and Pilgrim Trusts. Type of activity or project supported eral! Number ofgrants £ - —= Total C3a Trustee remuneration If no remuneration was paid during the period to any charity trustee or person connected to a trustee cross this box (othenvise complete section 3b) X
==> picture [496 x 250] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Authority under which paid f
C3b Trustee remuneration -
details
C4a Trustee expenses if no expenses were paid to any charity trustee during the period then cross this box
{otherwise complete section 4b} X
Number of £
trustees
C4b Trustee expenses -
details
Transaction Balance
Nature of relationship Nature of transaction amount (£) outstandingeriod end at(£
----- End of picture text -----
C4b Trustee expenses - details
C5 Transactions with trustees and connected persons —_ | 2025 Leighton Library Trust Accounts_318398_88DA4C4C2C9203EA0CD0SB8BC9BD6D8D / Notes December 2007
;
APPENDIX 2
$C003010
;
|
|
Leighton Library Trust
Additional analysis (1)
Analysis of receipts and payments
==> picture [480 x 591] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
4 Donations
Unrestrictedfunds Restricted funds Expendableendowment endowmentPermanent Total current Total last period
funds funds period
to nearest£ to nearest£ to nearest £ to nearesté to nearest £ to nearest £
Visitor [et] [300] 1061 2,591
Donations P6536| [J T6586 | 5,217
Adopt-a-Book Donations P| 880] [4380] [|
Sir James and Lady Campbell ed pa
Private Donations over £500 P80} [4,000
Total 9,472 1,680 44,152 [9,853]
2 Grants
Unrestricted Total current
funds Restricted funds period Total last period
to nearest & to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
The Aurelius Charitable Trust Fo 4,000 4000);{ |
Total | 4,000 4,000 189,990
3 Gross receipts from other charitable activities :
Unrestricted Restricted funds Expendableendowmentfunds endowmPermanfunds ent TotalP current Total fast period
to nearest £ to nearest E to nearest é£ to nearest £ to nearest fe to nearest £
Friends Subscriptions [993 | 1,076
Coffee Moming & Extravaganza | __ 2,892 | )2692] | [3,561] |
4 Payments relating directly to charitable activities
Unrestricted Expendable Permanent Total current
funds Restricted funds endowment endowment eriod Total Jast period
funds funds per
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest£ to nearest & to nearest &
Electicity 397] [ 3971 4,807
Repair [3.038] [ ET) 1,479
Aiaim andmaintenance, conservationelectrical services — 3,986 p3,958] [
& fre salety [38] [ [254 [___809] [|
Repairs
Maps & small equipment es | a)
/ photographs / portals OT L336
Publicity costs 1087} |st 1,087 4,740
Professional fees re, building renovation works 21,888 4,724 23,641 126,687
Total 31,385 5,680 37,065 135,647
----- End of picture text -----
2025 Leighton Library Trust Accounts_318398_88DA4C4C2C9203EA0C DOSBBBC 98DED8DAdditional notes (1)
December 2007
APPENDIX 2
$C003010
j
E
Additional analysis (2)
5 Breakdown of unrestricted funds
| 5 Breakdown of unrestricted funds | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unreslricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Unrestricted | ||||
| fund 1 - enter |
fund 2 - enter | fund 3 - enter | fund 4 - enter | ||||
| nante of fund | name of fund | name of fuad | name of fund | ||||
| belaw | befow | betow | below | ||||
| GeneralFunds | Total unrestricted |
Total unrestricted |
|||||
| funds | funds last period | ||||||
| Receipts | |||||||
| Receipts fromfundraising activities Gross trading receipts |
9,472 [ |
Ps ; |
2,633 |
||||
| Income from investments other than fand and | |||||||
| buildings Rentsfromfand&buildings Gross receipts from othercharitable activities |
3,585 |
||||||
| Sub total | 17,042 | 17,012 | 17,216 | ||||
| Receipts from asset& investment sales Proceedsfromsaleoffixedassets Proceedsfromsaleofinvestments |
Sub total | Pp 176,702 176,702 |
eeee 176,702 176,702), |
ee |
|||
| Payments | |||||||
| Grosstradingpayments Investmentmanagement costs Payments relating directlytocharitableactivities |
4,749 |
ti |
|||||
| Audit/ independent examination | es [4,320 |
||||||
| Legal costsP | P | ||||||
| ee | Subtotal |
—_-35,418 | |||||
| Payments relating fo assetand investment | |||||||
| movements | |||||||
| Purchase of investments | 468,560 | 168,660 | 8,796 | ||||
| Subtotal | 168,660 | 168,560 | 8,796 |
Nature and purpose of funds
Maintenance and upkeep of the building, and the book collection housed there, for the best preservation of the book collection in circumstances to allow the public access to view same.
:
2025 Leighton Library Trust Accounts_318398_88DA4C4C 2C9203EADCD0S88BCS8DEDED / Additiona! notes (2)
December 2007
APPENDIX 2
] : r :: Leighton Library Trust : Additional analysis (3) | 6 Breakdown of restricted funds Restricted fune Restnheted luad : if-entername of 2-enternameof
|
i
$C003010
==> picture [454 x 466] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Restricted fune Restnheted luad Restricled fund Restricted fund
if-entername of 2-enternameof 3-enternameof 4- enter name of
fund belove find belove fund below fund below
Adopt-a-book The Windfarm Total restricted Total restricted
fund Conservation Funds funds funds fast
Project Funds period
Receipts
[seo]a [sooff 4a0][
5es es es |ee
| ee 189,990
Receipts from fundraising activities es es» es a |
Income from invesiments other than land and
buildings
Rents from land & buildings ee 5 es |ee a
Gross receipis from olher charitable actviies PE PF
Subtotal |_ 5.380] { [so (|] 5,680 189,990
Receipts from asset & investment sales
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
Proceeds from sale of investments
Sub total
Payments
Gross trading payments es 5es |ee a
Investment management cosis | oo |
Payments relating directly to charitable activities | si, 986 | 4,724 | ti 5,680 | __ 420,395 |
Granis and donations | es |
SE
Audit independent examination] [| [Sd es |ey
Legalcosts] [Sd SP Cs
Sub total 3,956 4724jf | 5,880 | [____ 120,395 |
Payments relating to asset and investment
movements
Purchases of fixed assets po
Purchase of investments 76,204
Sub total 76,204
Transfers to/ (from) funds, [O(n CO CO) FO CO)
----- End of picture text -----
Nature and purpose of funds “Adopt-a-Book” Funds are applied to the Repair and Conservation of Books. The balance on this fund brought forward was £5,109 and the carried forward amounts to £6,533.
“The Conservation Project" Funds are restricted amounts received for redevelopment, upgrading, conservation and building renovations required in the library. The balance on this fund brought forward was £69,595 and the carried forward amounts to £50,844,
"Windfarm" Funds are for the specific purchase of audio equipment allowing visitors the use of headphones and other audio devices to raview the collection. The balance on this fund brought forward and the carried forward was £1,500.
2025 Leighton Library Trust Accounts_318398_88DA4C4C2C9203EADCDOS8SBC98DED8DAdditional notes (3)
December 2007
APPENDIX 3 |
==> picture [91 x 12] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Scottish Charity Regulator
----- End of picture text -----
==> picture [527 x 623] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
f
Independent examiner’s< ~ Me eeveereportmnmems onenv uaa mumbicues:the apaccountsazn cme cn was rs|
Report to the |Charity name
trustees/members of Leighton Library Trust
Registered charity — -_ / |
On the accountsnumberof the || ; a
charity forthe period = Day Month|Period start date| Year | __ | Day PeriodMonth end date Year ||
|
= November 2024 to 31% ae - |
Set out on pages 1011 fumbersber of addtionalto include sheeis)th ||
Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance |
responsibilities of _ with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Act and the
trustees and examiner | Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity trustees |
| consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the Accounts Regulations
' does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section
| 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent _ My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts
examiner's statement Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the
charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes
consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks
explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken |
do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, | do |
not express an auditopinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s — In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention [other than that
statement disclosed on the attached page’] |
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the |
| requirements:
_ to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and
Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with
Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met, or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper |
understanding of the accounts to be reached. |
Signed:Name: — Date: _ S/3, (2026
Relevant professional |
qualification(s) or body = toaas
(if any):
Address: The A9 Partnership Ltd —__
_Abercorn School
Newton
Broxburn, EH54 6PZ
----- End of picture text -----*
*Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. If the words do apply, set out those matters which have come to your attention on the following page.
APPENDIX 3
Disclosure section
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.
Give here brief details of (7 ee — os any items that the | examiner wishes to | disclose |