Rare chance to see secret library with a Charles Darwin first edition

It is one of the region's most grand libraries, filled with fascinating reads from a first edition of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species to Sir Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica.

- by Katy Wheeler

Usually only accessible for research purposes or guided tours, the Big Library at Ushaw will open its doors to the public for the first time this weekend.

Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, just outside Durham City, will be hosting Festival of Books - a day celebrating stories, creativity, and the public opening of Ushaw's Big Library.

Taking place on Saturday, the Festival of Books invites families, readers, and budding creatives to dive into a full programme of free workshops, performances, and hands-on experiences, all free with a Ushaw Day Pass or Annual Membership.

As part of the festival, the Library will be open for self-guided exploration, offering a rare glimpse into a collection of more than 50,000 historic books and centuries-old archive material.