Record Number: 24670
Reading Experience:
Evidence:
19 March 1853: 'I turned into the workmen's Room for a moment [...] About a dozen men were enjoying the smoking room. Maria [Lady Charlotte's daughter] counted 50 in the long room all reading or writing and perfectly silent. So intent were they on their books that no one looked up as we went in. Not a head was raised till I spoke in a low voice to one of the readers and asked if they had all they wanted [...] Such a sight I never hoped to see, so orderly, so well dressed, so rationally happy; I only hope it may last.'
Century:1850-1899
Date:19 Mar 1853
Country:Wales
Timen/a
Place:city: Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil
other location: Workers' club
(Reader):
silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
(Listener):
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown
Reader / Listener / Reading Group:
Reading Group: Age:Adult (18-100+)
Gender:Male
Date of Birth:n/a
Socio-Economic Group:Labourer (non-agricultural)
Occupation:n/a
Religion:n/a
Country of Origin:n/a
Country of Experience:Wales
Listeners present if any:e.g family, servants, friends
n/a
Additional Comments:
n/a
Text Being Read:
Author: Title:n/a
Genre:Unknown
Form of Text:Print: Book
Publication Detailsn/a
Provenanceread in situ
Source Information:
Record ID:24670
Source:Lady Charlotte Schreiber
Editor:Earl of Bessborough
Title:Extracts from her Journal 1853-1891
Place of Publication:London
Date of Publication:1952
Vol:n/a
Page:4-5
Additional Comments:
n/a
Citation:
Lady Charlotte Schreiber, Earl of Bessborough (ed.), Extracts from her Journal 1853-1891, (London, 1952), p. 4-5, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=24670, accessed: 04 February 2026
Additional Comments:
Club, with reading room, had been recently established by Lady Charlotte Guest for labourers at her late husband's ironworks (she took the name Schreiber on her secnd marriage).
