Anne Harington

Lady Anne HARINGTON ca.1554-1620

Biographical Note

Daughter of Robert Keilway (or Kelway) and Cecily Bulstrode. She married John Harington, 1st Baron Harington (1539/40-1613) in 1573. She brought the properties of Minister Lovell and Coombe Abbey to her marriage. She had five children including Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford (1581-1627) and John HARINGTON, 2nd Baron Harington 1592-1614. She died in 1620.

Books

In 1616 Anne gave ca.120 books (mostly theology) to found a parish library for the Parish Church in Oakham, Rutland; many of these books are likely to have belonged originally to John the 2nd Baron, and/or other members of the family. The parish library books were transferred to the University of Nottingham in 1980. Others may have been sold or discarded prior to this. Examples: Harris Manchester College, Oxford; Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas.

Characteristic Markings

Anne had a printed bookplate which is found in many of the books which were given to Oakham. It presumably dates from 1616 and therefore is one of the earliest female ownership bookplates.

Sources

• Perkin, M. A directory of the parochial libraries of the Church of England. London, 2004, 309-10.
• British Armorial Bindings
• Anne's parish library

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