The History of Horbury Library

By the end of the Victorian era, Horbury was growing in wealth and fame from its cloth and yarn spinning, to the point where it became an Urban District in 1894. Because of this growing importance, many in the town felt they were in need of institutions associated with civic pride, such as a library.

In 1904 Horbury District Council asked the government for permission to open a free library and asked for assistance from Andrew Carnegie. From 1882-1919 the Scottish-born industrialist financed 2811 libraries worldwide, saying he wished ‘to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge’ for all (Carnegie, 1881. In: Bentley and Lound, 2005, p.20). Carnegie donated £2000 and, with local donations, this was enough to begin work. The Council chose the house and garden of the Baines family on Westfield Road, who were generously compensated with 3s 3d for each yard of land and £200 for the house itself (Cudworth, 2000, p.21). Soon afterwards architect Benjamin Watson, contractor Henry Fellas and local painters, joiners and plumbers began work on the new library.

Horbury Library, the building on the right, shortly after it first opened.

The library officially opened on 14 February 1906 to great celebration. The building was made from Delph stone, except the back which was made from Morley stone, which has allowed it to endure to the present day. The Wakefield Express described what the first visitors would have seen. A central, glass-roofed hall went almost to the back of the building. To the left was the Newsroom, a section of which was specifically portioned for women To the right was the Lending Library followed by the Reference Library and Reference Room (Wakefield Express, 1906).

In those days the staff at Horbury Library took looking after the books seriously. Deliberately damaging books could be punished by 6 months in prison ‘with or without hard labour’ (Horbury History, 2016). They also originally operated a ‘closed access’ policy where borrowers were not allowed to touch the shelves and books! Instead they had to choose books from a catalogue and library staff would retrieve them.

On 10 July 1912 King George V and Queen Mary of Teck (great grandparents of the present King Charles III) went on a tour of Wakefield. As part of it they went through Horbury, passing the library as they waved to the cheering locals! The library staff worked hard to make sure it was decorated to mark the royal visit.

Just before the Second World War a gas decontamination unit was built next door to the library. It was created in case the Luftwaffe dropped gas on Horbury. Since the war it has remained abandoned and in 2024 plans to turn it into war themed café were rejected. Although built of modern brick the gas decontamination unit is actually a listed building, just like the Library next door.

Even though the library has remained in the same building, it has changed greatly since it’s early days. Because of growing demand and footfall, the closed access policy became impractical, so in 1934 customers were allowed to pick up books from the shelves as they pleased. Over the years the Reading Room’s opening hours were reduced until it eventually disappeared. It eventually became the children’s area. Even though the library has remained in the same building, it has changed greatly since it’s early days. Because of growing demand and footfall, the closed access policy became impractical, so in 1934 customers were allowed to pick up books from the shelves as they pleased. Over the years the Reading Room’s opening hours were reduced until it eventually disappeared. It eventually became the children’s area.

Two pictures of the library in 1975; on the left is the children’s section, on the right the help desk and adult fiction.

1979 saw a major refurbishment of the library, the library was closed for six months and Horbury residents had to borrow books from Primrose Hall and Westfield Congregational Church on a temporary basis. The old heating system was replaced, new electrical wiring installed and more shelving was built for 3000 more books. A ramp was also built at the back of the building for the benefit of wheel chair users. Overall the project was a success, with most residents saying they approved of the redesign (H&D News, 1979).

To mark the library’s centenary, the dedicated local volunteers worked to put together a tapestry showcasing Horbury throughout the ages. It took around 70 people to sew it in sections and put together. The tapestry is on permanent display in the library. That same year the library and it’s friends group hosted a VE Day celebration, which included a bouncy castle and brass band. Bizarrely a short while afterwards the library’s iron railing gate disappeared (Wakefield Express, 2006)!

The Horbury Tapestry being unveiled, 2005.

The tapestry today.

In 2013 the library went through another major refurbishment, in which it was given new and improved furniture, lightning, blinds, carpet and was repainted. The library also gained a self-service machine. Horbury Library remains beloved by its community, not just as a source of books but for great events (including children’s story time, the reader group and ‘Knit and Natter’ club). With Ossett’s library being closed for refurbishments in 2023, horbury has provided a warm welcome for borrowers from nearby Ossett with extended opening hours and additional events..

References

Books

Bentley, P.L. and Lound, M (2005) Castleford Free Library, 1905-2005. Castleford Press, Castleford.

Cudworth, C (2000) Looking Back on Horbury. Self-published: Horbury.

Photographs

Twixt, Aire and Calder (1912). Town Hall and Horbury Library, Westfield Road, Horbury. [online]. [Date Accessed: 7 March 2024]. Available at: https://www.twixtaireandcalder.org.uk/image-detail/?id=8755

Twixt, Aire and Calder (1912) George V visits Wakefield, 10^th July 1912. [online]. [Date Accessed: 20 February 2024]. Available at: https://www.twixtaireandcalder.org.uk/image-detail/?id=10095

Twixt, Aire and Calder (c.1975) Horbury Library, Westfield Road, Horbury. [online]. [Date Accessed: 20 February 2024]. Available at: https://www.twixtaireandcalder.org.uk/image-detail/?id=12876

Twixt, Aire and Calder (c.1975) Horbury Library, Westfield Road, Horbury. [online]. [Date Accessed: 20 February 2024]. Available at: https://www.twixtaireandcalder.org.uk/image-detail/?id=12997

Yahoo (2024) Part of the former gas decontamination site. [online]. [Date accessed: 28 February 2024]. Available at: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/plan-turn-ww2-gas-decontamination-143141193.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADqzMq8TXTjDywjspYJCioGqbhFWup3QOfb_LeGZBArVbcD7WiqntOA6cVr7roZmnNcFfuwVOFN8vpBQsZKpwUI9115tZcngrSOGRaVbZq33HcFkohrWkVCclhayWZFYkqyOQdiIDzY5evYgDHjaaUhL1xf0klRDTx2cGgW-H3UR

Webpages

The Carnegie Legacy in England and Wales (c.2013) Horbury Library. [online]. [Date Accessed: February 3 2024]. Available at: https://carnegielegacyinengland.wordpress.com/2016/09/04/horbury-library/

Horbury History (2016) Library. [online]. [Date Accessed: 17 February 2024]. Available at: http://www.horburyhistory.org/Library/

Newspapers

Anon (1906) untitled. Wakefield Express. 17 February. no pagination.

Anon(1979) New-look Library is proving a success. Horbury and District News. Undated. No pagination.

Anon (2006) untitled. Wakefield Express. 15 September. p.13.