Box Library in Selwyn Hall Alan Payne July 2023
To celebrate the opening of the Selwyn Hall and County Branch Library on 3 July 1969, the county library service issued a 16-page brochure. (Photo courtesy this brochure)
Earlier Libraries
There had been a number of earlier initiatives to make books available to residents in the village, mostly small scale and involving just a few books. In August 1907 Miss Story Maskelyne opened a facility on Box Hill open only on Tuesdays for half an hour 6.30 to 7pm.[1] Its location was not stated but was likely to have been in Adult House. The library in the Bingham Hall was irregular as the needs of the village varied considerably, on its construction in 1906 the pressing requirement was for public baths and a billiard table.[2] By 1918 an extension had been put on the hall, known as Bingham Hall (Library).[3] The problem with these ventures was the cost of subscription and the private locations of books held at places like the School Room at Box House.[4]
Attempts to formalise a library in the village were set out in 1937 when the parish magazine stated that The Bingham Hall Library is not just the name of a small room .. a splendid collection of books is housed in this room.[5] The room was only open on Tuesdays from 3 to 4.30pm and 6 until 7pm. There was a charge of ½d per volume and Miss Vezey of Creffield, Devizes Road was the honorary librarian. It is pretty clear that the library room was just the name of this part of Bingham Hall and it was used for other purposes such as a weekly meeting of the whist club.[6] During the war, use of the room increased with whist drives to fundraise for servicemen and sewing groups producing items needed by the Red Cross.[7] Later, the Bingham Hall was requisitioned as a feeding and rest centre for wartime use. The books in the library moved to the Methodist Hall, considered to be safer.[8]
At the close of the Second World War, the parish council recognised the inadequacy of the current facilities. Chairman James Browning said that the supply of books sent to the Box Branch of the County Library during the last few years was such that people were not encouraged to read.[9] He claimed that the standard of books was inferior to other locations: Box got “absolute tripe that you would see in the penny box at a second-hand bookshop.
There had been a number of earlier initiatives to make books available to residents in the village, mostly small scale and involving just a few books. In August 1907 Miss Story Maskelyne opened a facility on Box Hill open only on Tuesdays for half an hour 6.30 to 7pm.[1] Its location was not stated but was likely to have been in Adult House. The library in the Bingham Hall was irregular as the needs of the village varied considerably, on its construction in 1906 the pressing requirement was for public baths and a billiard table.[2] By 1918 an extension had been put on the hall, known as Bingham Hall (Library).[3] The problem with these ventures was the cost of subscription and the private locations of books held at places like the School Room at Box House.[4]
Attempts to formalise a library in the village were set out in 1937 when the parish magazine stated that The Bingham Hall Library is not just the name of a small room .. a splendid collection of books is housed in this room.[5] The room was only open on Tuesdays from 3 to 4.30pm and 6 until 7pm. There was a charge of ½d per volume and Miss Vezey of Creffield, Devizes Road was the honorary librarian. It is pretty clear that the library room was just the name of this part of Bingham Hall and it was used for other purposes such as a weekly meeting of the whist club.[6] During the war, use of the room increased with whist drives to fundraise for servicemen and sewing groups producing items needed by the Red Cross.[7] Later, the Bingham Hall was requisitioned as a feeding and rest centre for wartime use. The books in the library moved to the Methodist Hall, considered to be safer.[8]
At the close of the Second World War, the parish council recognised the inadequacy of the current facilities. Chairman James Browning said that the supply of books sent to the Box Branch of the County Library during the last few years was such that people were not encouraged to read.[9] He claimed that the standard of books was inferior to other locations: Box got “absolute tripe that you would see in the penny box at a second-hand bookshop.
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Library seen before the official opening (courtesy Chippenham News, 4 July 1969)
Box Library Service
The Library and Museums Committee of Wiltshire County Council paid a grant of £6,000 towards the cost of the creating the Selwyn Hall. There were other similar grants, Department of Education & Science £10,000 and Wiltshire Education Committee £3,000. As well as providing a community facility there seems to have been a perception that educational facilities in the village needed support.
The Library and Museums Committee of Wiltshire County Council paid a grant of £6,000 towards the cost of the creating the Selwyn Hall. There were other similar grants, Department of Education & Science £10,000 and Wiltshire Education Committee £3,000. As well as providing a community facility there seems to have been a perception that educational facilities in the village needed support.
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The objectives of the library initiative were to be at the centre of local community life and the development of the reading habit in Box.[10] Previously the central library had deposited a collection of 600 books at the Methodist Church in the care of voluntary helpers. Now they could offer over 6,000 books on its shelves and these are interchanged with books at Chippenham, Calne and Corsham libraries, which together form the Chippenham District. Most importantly, the books catered for all ages: there is ample space for young readers to select books in comfort, or to sit and make notes for homework. The library was opened for three afternoons a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Books were free to borrow for a fortnight and could be renewed in person or by phone at Box 256. Right: cover of the library brochure, 1969 |
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It fell to Mrs WJ de P (Wendy) Applegate to officially open the service in Box with district librarian Mr AL Bamber in attendance. Mrs Applegate was a County Councillor, chair of the Wiltshire British Legion (Women’s Section), active in the Legion’s Children’s Homes, chair of the Royal Artillery Women’s Section and producer of the Bath Amateur Operatic Society.
The provision of a library in Box was a great commitment by Wiltshire Council, both in terms of their initial grant (today equivalent to £100,000) and payment of a proportion of on-going running costs. In our Information Age there has never been a more pressing need for reliable sources, which books can provide more accurately than transient on-line web articles. It remains to us to use the facility to borrow books and to work with Box Library to find additional uses of their marvellous facility.
References
[1] Parish Magazine, August 1907
[2] Parish Magazine, January and May/June 1906
[3] Parish Magazine, October 1918
[4] Parish Magazine, March 1919
[5] Parish Magazine, January 1937
[6] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 11 February 1939
[7] Parish Magazine, February and October 1940
[8] Parish Magazine, October 1941
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 25 June 1949
[10] Brochure, Selwyn Hall and County Branch Library, 3 July 1969
[1] Parish Magazine, August 1907
[2] Parish Magazine, January and May/June 1906
[3] Parish Magazine, October 1918
[4] Parish Magazine, March 1919
[5] Parish Magazine, January 1937
[6] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 11 February 1939
[7] Parish Magazine, February and October 1940
[8] Parish Magazine, October 1941
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 25 June 1949
[10] Brochure, Selwyn Hall and County Branch Library, 3 July 1969