East Lucas

Explorer Tom A free lending library in rural Perthshire in 1680 sounds like somebody has smuggled a modern idea into the wrong century. David Drummond did it anyway, making his books available to local people at Innerpeffray. The shelves now sit in an elegant building from 1762, but the best part of the story is still the people who crossed fields to borrow a book. The handwritten borrowers' register runs from 1747 to 1968. It lets you follow real readers rather than imagine an abstract crowd of grateful peasants. Today the historic library holds rare books and offers guided visits, while the nearby St Mary's Chapel recalls its earlier role as the first home of the collection. The chapel has traces of medieval worship, including a holy-water basin. A Roman road runs through the grounds too, because apparently Innerpeffray was not content with only one layer of history. Look around the Victorian schoolroom and the heritage trail before you leave. The library and school were meant to bring learning within reach of the local community; the setting makes that choice feel braver than it might on a city street. If you find a family name in the old register, you could be looking at a small decision someone made hundreds of years ago: what to read next. The library opens March to October, Wednesday to Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and closes for the 2026 season after 31 October. The grounds and heritage trail remain open year-round. There is a charge for the historic upstairs library, while the lower floor can be entered free. Check tour times before travelling. Bring your curiosity; the old readers left plenty behind for it to find.