Registered Charity Number: 232749
THE READING ROOM
It is the second oldest secular institution in the village, the earlier being the Town Trust itself. Provided with newspapers and books, it afforded a place in which men of the village could meet regardless of the weather, to converse and read. Normally under the presidency of a retired shipmaster of the village, it was mainly used by mariners awaiting their vessels, by fishermen, boatmen, pilots, coastguards and shipwrights.
Over the years, the function of the Reading Room gradually changed because of the decline in the number of vessels trading in the port and their replacement by powered ships of greater tonnage, because of the consequent decrease in the number of seafarers visiting and living in the village and because of the contraction of the fishery.
ENJOY THE VIEW!
BAROMETER
OLD TOWN CRIER'S BELL
READING ROOM MEMBERSHIP
Anyone who would like to support the Reading Room is welcome to become a 'Friend of the Reading Room' with a suggested annual membership available from Robin Sainsbury at The Russell Inn.
The Reading Room is open to everyone to use, for a small donation of £5, as a meeting place and as a wider community space, for which bookings can be made on the calendar just inside the door.
