The Reading Room movement has its roots in the mid-nineteenth century. Reading rooms were funded by wealthy individuals and institutions such as the Church as means of encouraging self-improvement, literacy and sobriety amongst the working and lower middle classes – especially men.
Our own Reading Room dates back to 1910, when the buildings then described as the ‘Old Poor Houses’ were purchased by a committee of trustees
In 1912 the uses of Reading Room were formally laid out:
“1. As a reading room for the use of parishioners of Kingston Parish
2. As a Class or Lecture Room for Religious or similar instruction
3. For Meeting of Local Committees… for the promotion of any religious or charitable purpose
A photograph likely to be from the early 1900s taken on the steps of the Reading room with the church roof just visible top right.
In 1940 the Reading Room was formally registered as a charity under a sealed order
As the 1940s and 1950s progressed The Reading Room’s uses became more varied..
Into the modern era and the Reading Room underwent extensive improvements..
Kingston Reading Room 