The FRCC Archive Library

The historic FRCC – Files Collection of 2500 books, journals, maps, pamphlets, guidebooks and valuable rare books and climbing artefacts are no longer housed in the Armitt Museum, Ambleside. They are now in safe and secure storage in Cumbria. We are currently searching for a permanent home, but until this is found, it is regretted that members will no longer have access to these items. The membership will be notified of any changes and developments.

As part of our work around improving our library collection, we have a rolling program of repair and where necessary rebinding. One of the latest books to have benefited is Joseph Budworth’s 1792 A Fortnight’s Ramble in the Lakes. This is a particularly rare book, one of only a thousand printed, of which more than 500 perished in a fire. Our copy was the authors own and includes comments and annotations for the third edition in his own hand. It is considered to be the first documented walking tour of the Lakes.

Other books presently undergoing specialist repair:

• Sketch of a Tour Through Switzerland Thomas Martyn, 1787
• Nouvelle description des glaciers des Alpes, 3 volumes, Marc-Théodore Bourrit, 1787
• An Ascent of Mont Blanc Hudson and Kennedy, 1856.     
• Songs and Poems Miss (Susannah) Blamire, 1836                                                                                                                              

Donations to the Library

We are very happy to receive donations of books, maps, pamphlets and other ephemera to the Library. Please contact the Archivist/Librarian (archivist@frcc.co.uk) to arrange this.