Skip to content

Ex-library becomes community hub after £1.3m refurb

Neranjana ElapathaSouth of England, reporting from Newbury
BBC Residents cutting the green ribbon in front of the Old Library. BBC
The Old Library community hub opening followed a four-year-long refurbishment project.

An Edwardian library building has been refurbished and reopened as a new community hub.

The Old Library in Newbury, Berkshire was first built in 1905 and closed in 2000.

It has reopened after a four-year redevelopment project by arts charity Corn Exchange Newbury and will be used for community events and classes.

Claire Currie from the charity said it was "built to be a place for the community and for learning".

The library was one of more than 660 public libraries built throughout the country between 1883 and 1929 with funding donated by the Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

It had been used as a restaurant in the years following its closure before a four-year fundraising and redevelopment effort culminated in its reopening as a community hub.

Corn Exchange Newbury fundraised for the project for two years towards a target of £1.3m, with donations coming from local people and companies.

Features like the parquet flooring and the stained-glass lead-lined windows have been kept in place.

The new community hub will see 50 courses each week, ranging from neo-natal Pilates to confidence workshops and mobility and balance classes.

Director Jessica Jhundoo-Evans said: "When we came to see [the building] in 2022, it felt like it had real potential in terms of this space - having multiple spaces so we can grow that programme of activities".

Corn Exchange Newbury Archived photo of the building of The Old Library Newbury Corn Exchange Newbury
Corn Exchange Newbury Post card of a black and white photo of Cheap Street Corn Exchange Newbury
The library was built with money donated by Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
The library is situated in Cheap Street in Newbury - pictured in 1912

The Old Library holds a special place in the community, with many residents sharing memories at a special opening event.

Currie recalled visiting with her father in the 1960s.

"It was my dad's Saturday morning time with the children. Obviously he would be at work most of the time it was a real special time to have with him.

"The building was built to be a place for the community and for learning and, 120 years later, it's come back to be a community space".

Resident, Emilia Newbold, said: "I have walked past this building a lot over the past few years and it is so good to see it opened up again and being put to use.

"It's really special it used to be an old library and now it can be used for community events again".

You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.

Trending Now