Old Trafford Library

In the late 1800s, the Library Committee of Stretford District Council resolved to build a branch library in Old Trafford, however, a lack of funding prevented the Committee from pursuing their plans.

The situation changed in 1897, when there was a general desire to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. In response to an appeal, the sum of £1,800 was raised by the Diamond Jubilee Committee for the joint objective of building a library at Old Trafford and a recreation ground at the village end of Stretford. The Manchester Evening News, dated 28 September 1899, commented:

this sum was of course totally inadequate for the purposes, but it justified Stretford Urban District Council in exercising their borrowing powers, and accordingly it was resolved to borrow the balance of the amount required to meet the cost of both schemes.

In 1899, Sir Humphrey de Trafford laid the foundation stone for the new library and the following year, the Technical Institute and Public Free Library was opened in a ceremony performed by the Chairman of Stretford District Council, Mr Fred W. Bates. It was situated on the corner of Stretford Road and Northumberland Avenue, Old Trafford and was an ‘imposing and handsome’ building with a clock turret. It cost £6,159 to build and the style of the building was described as being ‘of Italian character’. The architect was John Bowden and it was constructed by William Thorpe. The main entrance was from Stretford Road directly into the library and reading room, which measured 64 feet by 30 feet, and had a magazine room attached. The entrance was also used by the technical school, mosrt of the classrooms being in the basement. A lecture hall was situated above the library and was capable of holding 400 people. It was regarded as "one of the finest rooms in the district".

The Free Library was under the care and management of Thomas Curtis who had been employed at Stretford Library for over twenty years.

A former borrower recalls his visit to Old Trafford library:

My mother took me to the library for the first time when I was about 7 years old, it was situated in a very impressive building. It opened up a whole new world to me, even at that young age I loved reading, and still do. I remember going through all the volumes of Billy Bunter, it was another world of private boarding school and summer holidays spent in the countryside, but great fun and hilarious to my young mind.

During the 1960s it was decided that the library at Old Trafford was no longer adequate, as the interior and exterior left much to be desired. When Bryan Forbes, the film director, was making ‘The Whisperers’ in 1967, he needed a suitable Victorian looking reading room and found the perfect location at Old Trafford library.

Eventually, a new library opened on Shrewsbury Street, Old Trafford on 2 December 1974; the building also contained a community centre.

An award winning Public Art Scheme to transform Old Trafford Children’s Library reached completion in June 1991. The scheme was one of only a small number awarded a prestigious ‘Art for Architecture’ award by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. The idea behind the scheme was to create a ‘wonderful, imaginative stimulus for children and a unique special place where they can enjoy exploring books and listening to stories’. The design was of a leafy woodland environment and included a group of trees under which people of all cultures could gather to meet and talk. Chrysalis Arts ran workshops with local groups, schools and individuals.

In 2014, it was reported that there were plans to build a new community hub in the heart of Old Trafford which would house a library, health care services, nursery and activity hall. The Limelight Centre, a Trafford Housing Trust and Trafford Council partnership development, opened on 2 October 2017 with a new Old Trafford library.

Sources

Samuel Massey: A history of Stretford 

Steven Dickens: Stretford and Old Trafford through time

Manchester Evening News dated 28 September 1899

Manchester Evening News dated August 1900

Western Telegraph dated 11 January 1901

RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce)

www.limelightoldtrafford.co.uk

Trafford Lifetimes