Chorlton Library completes final phase of refurbishment

Chorlton Library has celebrated the completion of the final phase of its refurbishment.

The Grade II-listed library reopened to the public back in spring, having unveiled the building’s stunning dome at the venue’s entrance, along with the mezzanine gallery, which had been concealed for decades.

Alongside the internal restoration work, the exterior stonework and windows have been repaired and electrical and mechanical systems renewed, ensuring the building contributes to lower carbon emissions. The final phase of the restoration included the unveiling of new meeting rooms and a refreshed community garden.

Since reopening to the public in April, more than 58,000 people have already passed through the doors of Chorlton Library, and with more than 40,000 books borrowed, it has the second-highest borrowing of all our libraries after Central Library.

Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said: “Chorlton library is such an important community hub bringing people of all ages together, children and parents, teenagers and older people -and I am delighted that we can now declare the building fully open.  It is the last of our libraries to undergo a full refurbishment as part of our Library renewal programme.

“It is more than a building to our local residents; it is a hub to support our growing and changing community and the refurbishment of this flexible space with new meeting rooms will serve the library and the local community long into the future while meeting our sustainability plans and carbon neutral targets.”

Chorlton Library first opened in 1914, and was a gift from the famous Scottish American benefactor Andre Carnegie. The library has a fascinating link with the Titanic, as the original architectural drawings were sent on the Titanic’s maiden voyage, destined for the New York office of Andre Carnegie and those plans are presumed to have been lost during the sinking of the Titanic. Duplicates had to be sent by the Town Clerk at the time.