| Description | The Thomas Hall Library contains about 1140 volumes, mainly seventeenth century theological works of a surprisingly wide range of persuasions, and some rare foreign treatises. There are some incunabula, including a rare copy of De tribus puellis, attributed to Ovid, and printed by Cornelius de Zierikzee in Cologne about 1500, and some interesting original bindings, including one bearing a panel with the Tudor rose and royal arms, together with the trademark of John Reynes, stationer, who bound books for Henry VIII. |
| AdminHistory | Thomas Hall first taught at the Grammar School at King Norton, where he so raised the standards as to attract students from all over England. He was appointed curate in 1640, but became a Presbyterian during the Commonwealth period. An implacable Puritan, he refused to conform to the Act of Uniformity in 1662, and so was ejected from his living. In his will Hall left the best of his books to the library at Birmingham possibly that of King Edward School. The rest of the books were to remain in King Norton parish for the use of the minister and schoolmaster. There they stayed, in cupboards in the old Grammar School building in the churchyard, until in 1892 they were deposited in the Birmingham Reference Library. |