The Reading Room

BERWICK ST JAMES READING ROOM

The Reading Room was converted from an old building then used as sheds, in the early 1890’s, by a group of villagers.

It was probably intended to be an alternative meeting place to the pub for the men, and has been continuously used as a Village Room for 134 years.

The first AGM of Berwick St James Reading Room was held in 1892.

In 1910 the then landowner Mr Furness raised the roof and added ventilators. It was described as  “a pleasant room for the use of the village”.

A library of books was provided , with many from Mrs Cook at Asserton, with fresh books obtained every few months from Wiltshire County Libraries, newspapers were also provided. For many years the secretary was Tom Kitley.

It was used for a playgroup in the 1970’s, and in the 2000’s. A small school in the 1950’s – it was always cold!

It has continued in use since that time with many events, WI meetings, etc and now provides talks, art appreciation, yoga, village meetings, Tea and Chat, and many other events.

Improvements have been made over the years, including the addition of the entrance lobby, the fire door (in 1971), replacing the wooden floor, relining the walls, the installation of heating, double glazing and more. 

The Reading Room was made into a charity in 1981, and the Bucknell family gave the Room to the village in 1999.

The main building is made of cob, brick, flint and old breeze block repairs with a thatch roof. The lobby is brick with a tin roof. The entrance door was moved in 2019 for safety and to create storage inside.

It is on the site of an old house which, in 1815, included buildings, yard, garden and orchard and 33a

Researched and written by Nicky Street.