1914 – King George V lays the Moser Library foundation stone
The formal laying of the foundation stone for the Moser Library was unusual on two counts: not only that it was carried out by the King, but that it took place remotely in Shrewsbury’s Market Square.
The event is described in The Salopian:
"The proceedings in the Square were short but full of interest. Lord Barnard thanked His Majesty on behalf of the Governing Body for having consented to lay the Foundation Stone, and the King in reply expressed his regret that time had not permitted of his visiting the School, to which he referred in very complimentary language. Lord Barnard then presented the Headmaster who carried a model of the completed building, and the head boy holding a model of the actual Foundation Stone and its apparatus. The King was handed an electric switch and on his pressing it the miniature foundation stone dropped into its place. Lord Barnard said a word of thanks, and the proceedings were over.
On the Show Ground His Majesty was graciously pleased to ask the Headmaster that a week should be added to the Summer holidays in honour of his visit."
Photo: The Headmaster, Revd Cyril Alington, presenting the architect's model of the Moser Library to King George V. Just behind the Headmaster stands the Head Boy holding a model of the Foundation Stone waiting to be dropped into position.
Photo: King George V triggers the laying of the Moser Library foundation stone
The Foundation Stone records both its royal connection and the electrical feat involved in its laying.
The inscription translates as:
“Stranger, I am the foundation stone of this building which you see, and I assert that I was laid by the hand of a King. Yet he was not present. A power as of fire shed forth from a distance at his touch and I drop into my appointed place. The third day of June in the 363rd year since the School was founded.”
Photo: Foundation Stone
The Moser Library – which was built specifically to house the School’s growing lending stock and a remarkable collection of watercolours that had been bequeathed to the School by E.B. Moser – was designed by architect W. A. Forsythe, who also designed Oldham’s Hall.
The new building also provided a more suitable home for the School’s internationally-renowned Ancient Library, which until then had been in the Main School Building in a room kept permanently locked and never opened, except by special request. In the Moser Library, provision was made for exhibition cases, and thereafter the Ancient Library was opened to the School and visitors at certain times. Since then, its contents have come to be known all the world over, and scholars from across the UK and overseas have come to study particular manuscripts in which they have been interested.
Photo: The original architect’s model of the Library, which was shown to King George during the ceremony
The School was fortunate that it still had books to store in the brand new Library. When the School moved to Kingsland in 1882, the Library occupied rooms in the Main School Building. In 1905 a fire destroyed the entire top storey of the building, along with the clock tower. Although the fire never actually reached the room in which the books were kept, a human chain was formed to save the books and some were dropped from the windows. Thankfully, bar minor damage during the evacuation, the books survived their ordeal.
Photo: Lord Milner officially opens the Moser Library, 1916 (Photo from Shrewsbury School archive)
The building of the Moser Library was finished in 1916 and officially opened during Speech Day celebrations by Lord Milner. In 1967 an additional room was built to accommodate the Ancient Library and an extra room was also added on the river side. The building was extensively refurbished in 2017.