The Donald Institute combines red sandstone, Dutch gable and intimate reading-room scale in a philanthropic building that still supports public library use.
Quick facts
- Date
- c.1910
- Architect / designer
- Architect not established in the designation; funded by James Donald
- Type
- Edwardian public institute and library
- Designation
- Listed building, Category C (LB5155)
- OS grid reference
- NS 70614 58478
Architecture and continuing use
A low asymmetrical frontage balances a square bay and shaped Dutch gable. Polished dressings, mullioned windows, carved detail and obelisk-like finials give the small building civic presence, while a skylit hall and timber finishes support its reading-room origins.
Its story
Local benefactor James Donald funded the institute around 1910 to provide reading and recreation rooms as alternatives to the public house. It later became the public library. Current library services operate through the community-managed Bothwell Hub while retaining the historic address.
Why it is included
Category C listing recognises a well-detailed local philanthropic institute, its relationship to early public recreation and the continuity of library service.
What to notice
- The DONALD INSTITUTE inscription within the Dutch gable.
- Contrasting rough and polished red sandstone.
- Gatepiers with truncated obelisk caps.
Reading the surroundings
Use current library and Hub opening information. Public access does not extend automatically to staff, storage or community rooms in use for booked activities.
Timeline
- c.1910 James Donald funded reading and recreation rooms for Bothwell.
- 20th century The institute was adapted to serve as the local public library.
- 2026 Library services continue from the community-run Bothwell Hub.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Later alterations changed the entrance, and the precise original architect is not stated in the designation. Opening hours should be checked before travel.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Bothwell Library and Former Donald Institute, LB5155 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and significance.
- Trove designation: LB5155 — Parallel national designation identity and archival context.
- South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture: Bothwell Library — First-party current address, opening and contact information.
- The Bothwell Hub: library — Current community-management and library-service context.
Location
OS grid reference NS 70614 58478 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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