Brick by brick: Former Dudley library will open new chapter at Black Country Living Museum
An historic former library is to be moved brick by brick to the Black Country Living Museum to preserve it for future generations.
The relocation of Woodside Library in Holly Hall, Dudley, will be one of the biggest projects in its ambition new Forging Ahead development.
Now the museum is calling out for any memories from the 1960s, or earlier, of the library, which currently stands on Stourbridge Road and will become a dramatic centrepiece of its new 1940s-1960s Black Country town, opening in 2022.
Historical researcher Simon Briercliffe, from the museum, said: “Woodside Library played a huge role in the lives of the local community in that part of Dudley for over a century.
"By translocating it to the museum we will be able to salvage not only the beautiful architecture that made it such a distinctive sight on Stourbridge Road, but also re-tell the story of the community it served and the people of the Woodside area."
Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: “This is an important building with lots of history behind it and I am glad it is being kept in the borough for future generations to see. I’m sure local people will have many happy memories of visiting Woodside Library which will tell a fascinating story about this building.”
Woodside Free Library opened in 1894 after The Earl of Dudley offered the land for the library and Woodside Park in 1890, which was previously part of the Earl’s large Woodside Colliery.
Dances
On the day of the opening ceremony, the Earl and Countess of Dudley were escorted by the Worcestershire Hussars with a procession by carriage from Dudley Town Hall, to Netherton, and on to Woodside.
Woodside Library featured a reading room and lending library on the ground floor, and recreation and retiring rooms on the first.
The upstairs rooms were also used for a variety of local clubs and, most famously, dances led by local compere Horace Robinson.
After the Second World War, the library service began to expand, with Woodside incorporating both a children’s library and gramophone record library. It was renovated in the early 1970s to brighten it up and continued in use until 2008.
Anyone wanting to share their memories of Woodside Library can contact the museum by emailing collections@bclm.com or calling 0121 557 9643.
For more information about the project see bclm.com/forgingahead
