Rottingdean Library to celebrate 60th birthday

Rottingdean Library marks its 60th anniversary this weekend (March 22) – with a special celebration including afternoon tea.

Winston Churchill was Prime Minister and food rationing had just ended when the village’s library opened in a former Georgian vicarage called The Grange.

The building had previously been a World War Two officers’ mess and the home of downland artist Sir William Nicholson between 1909-14.

But now it is a vibrant community hub which houses not just the library, but also Rottingdean Museum, The Grange Art Gallery and a display about the author Rudyard Kipling, who lived in a nearby house called The Elms between 1897 and 1902.

To mark it’s birthday a free event will take place at the library in The Green tomorrow (March 22) between 2.30-5.30pm.

There will be afternoon tea with special birthday cake, a photo display of the building’s history, craft activities for children and a quiz.

A new disabled-accessible toilet is also being built and should be open in a few weeks.

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, Brighton and Hive City Council’s lead member for libraries, said: “It’s a wonderful historic place, well worth celebrating, but now getting facilities people reasonably expect in the 21st century.

“This is part of a programme of improvements at libraries which reflects their continued importance.

“We previously had no toilets there, so the council has funded these to make the library a more viable and pleasant place to visit – including for people with disabilities.”

The library currently hosts computers, pre-school activities, toddlers’ group, homework club and a summer tea garden.

It is open Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby said: “Public libraries provide a valuable service for people of all ages across my constituency.

“The Rottingdean Library is a particularly special place, which has been an important feature of the local area for the past 60 years.

“I fought against the library’s closure as a councillor in East Sussex over 20 years ago, and so I am especially pleased that this impressive milestone has been reached.”