A Welsh man has reunited his late grandfather's library books with their original institution more than a century after they were first borrowed, settling a debt that would have accumulated to hundreds of pounds in overdue fees.
Peter O'Sullivan discovered Milton's Paradise Lost and Shakespeare's King Lear among his grandfather Walter Griffith Owen's possessions at his mother's home in Rhos on Sea, Conwy county. The volumes had been taken from the former Llanrwst Reading Room & Library in 1910, with a lending slip indicating they were issued for a single week only.
The original borrowing note stipulated that
should a book be required for a second week, application should be made to the caretaker. Fee, one penny per week. With the books remaining unreturned for over 6,000 weeks, O'Sullivan initially worried about the financial consequences. Before decimalisation in 1971, twelve pennies made a shilling and twenty shillings comprised a pound, meaning the theoretical fine would have been substantial.
O'Sullivan calculated the debt at roughly two hundred pounds in old currency, though he acknowledged he had not factored in compound interest, which could have inflated the amount to thousands of pounds. Despite his concerns, he decided to return the materials to the library because
it was the right thing to do.
How were the books discovered?
The volumes surfaced when O'Sullivan was sorting through his grandfather's belongings at his mother's residence. They had been concealed behind other books on a shelf, remaining hidden for decades until their rediscovery prompted O'Sullivan to trace their origin and arrange their return.
Who was Walter Griffith Owen?
O'Sullivan's grandfather settled in Llandudno following the First World War, where he worked as a shoe shop manager. Before that conflict ended, he served as a dispatch rider and sustained injuries from shrapnel. During the Second World War, he joined the Home Guard and undertook patrols along the Conwy estuary to guard against potential enemy invasion.
What is the history of these books?
The two volumes were originally donated to the old Llanrwst library during the 1890s by English industrialist Benjamin Armitage. According to reports on the discovery, the books were published in 1884, making them over 140 years old at the time of their return. The volumes had been borrowed from the Llanrwst Public Library and Reading Room in 1910, highlighting the long continuity of local library history in the region.
What condition were the books in?
Library manager Medi Ashton expressed surprise and gratitude upon receiving the materials, noting they were in
excellent condition. The preservation of the books despite their extended absence from the library impressed staff and demonstrated careful stewardship across generations.
What happens next?
Conwy Libraries staff indicated they were excited to handle the books and meet O'Sullivan for a photograph, becoming involved in the family's story. The library plans to transfer the volumes to its archive department for further investigation and conservation assessment. It is anticipated that the books will be displayed in Llanrwst Library in the coming months as part of a cultural heritage exhibition, allowing the public to view these historically significant items.
The return generated social-media interest and praise for O'Sullivan after Conwy Libraries shared the story online, with many commending his decision to reunite the materials with their institutional home despite the passage of time.
Key Facts
- Milton's Paradise Lost and Shakespeare's King Lear were borrowed in 1910 and returned in 2026, making them 116 years overdue
- The books were originally donated to Llanrwst library in the 1890s by industrialist Benjamin Armitage and were published in 1884
- Library fees in 1910 were one penny per week for extended loans, meaning the theoretical fine would have exceeded two hundred pounds before compound interest
- The volumes remained in excellent condition throughout their century-long absence from the library
- The books are expected to be displayed as part of a cultural heritage exhibition at Llanrwst Library following archival assessment
