We doubled-back down the hall from the children’s room and continued on through an archway of heavy, carved wood, making our way into the library.   When I had begun researching this abandoned manor  this was the room I looked forward to most, and we weren’t disappointed.  Hundreds upon hundreds of volumes, some in perfect shape and others little more than a pile of pulp from where they’d weathered moisture and mildew for decades.  The oldest volumes we found are pictured above, dating back to the 1860s.  Much like the other wood in the house, the floor to ceiling book shelves are all hand-carved, each of the doors still sporting its glass windows.  We also found a collection of newspapers from the 30s, 40s, and 50s, all in remarkable condition.

We spent the majority of our time browsing the old volumes, checking for dates, reading passages, and marveling at these treasures, rotting away to dust in this gorgeous, derelict building.