In his diary entry dated 23 December 1895, William Gladstone referred to his funding of the St Deiniol's Library in Hawarden, Flintshire. It is now known as Gladstone's Library.
Gladstone's local interest stemmed from his marriage to Catherine Glynne whose ancestral home was Hawarden Castle, which the couple inherited on the death of Catherine's brother Stephen. It is recorded that Gladstone donated over £41,000 (the equivalent today of £4.2 million) and also most of his own collection of 32,000 books,which he wheelbarrowed to the new library himself, despite being 85 years of age.
The library which specialises in arts and humanities is believed to be the world's only residential library and is a Grade I listed building.
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