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In 1885, a reading
room opened in the village. In those days, most villages had a reading
room where villagers could go to read books and newspapers. Remember that
there were no lending libraries around at that time, and few peasants
would have had money to spend on luxuries such as books.
The reading room was located in Church
Street, next to the Kings Head pub, in
what is now Museum Casts' workshop. The stone arched doorway which was the
original entrance to the reading room can still be seen to the right of
the room.
The Reading Room is listed in the
Kelly's Directories with the following entry: "The Reading Room...is
supplied with the daily and other papers and periodicals." Thomas
Beecroft, listed as secretary in 1890 and 1903, was also the
schoolmaster at the time (1903-1914). Thomas Spriggs
is listed as secretary in the 1906 and 1914 directories.
The reading room was taken over as the
headquarters for the Home Guard during the Second World War.
I have been told that the reading room re-opened after the War for a few
years, but opinion is mixed! I have also been told that the local lads
used to play snooker in there for a while after the War.
Any more information on this would be
very welcome.
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