The Reading Room and the Barkway Local History Museum
In the 19th Century there was a national movement involving the building of reading rooms. There are still fine examples of these buildings, in different architectural styles, existing in villages throughout England. The primary purpose of all reading rooms was to provide a place where men could go as an alternative to the public house and where a provision of newspapers and books was available. In the early days they were exclusively for men. However, by the end of the First World War women had begun to use them as well.
In Barkway the owners of the Newsells Estate built the Reading Room. Initially it formed one building with the cottage next door. However, during the 20th century the Parish Council sold the cottage for private ownership but retained the Reading Room.
In 2015, with the completion of the Community Room, the Parish Council transferred their monthly meetings from the Reading Room to the new facility. By 2018 the Parish Council began to consider the future of the Reading Room and a number of options were actively discussed, including the possible sale of the building.
The first formal meeting of the Barkway Local History Group (BLHG) was held in September 2018. One of the actions of the newly formed group was to approach the Parish Council and propose that it might be allowed to use the Reading Room as a village museum, to which the Council agreed. The first open day for the museum was in June of the following year.
In 2024, the BLHG vacated the building to allow the Parish Council to complete the renovations to the entrance to the building and decorate the interior. Since last summer, through the receipt of a number of grants, to which we are extremely grateful, we have been able to install a new lighting system and obtain a variety of display stands and glass display cabinets. We are now in a position to welcome everyone back to the new Barkway Local History Museum.
Please come along on SUNDAY 29th MARCH between 10am and 4pm to see our new displays. All are very welcome.