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As I recall there were "reading rooms" provided as part of one or two of the semi-philanthropic "model dwellings" created in Londpon from the 1850s. I could dig out further details if required. Isobel Watson >From: Pamela Russell <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: "From: Local-History list" <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Reading Rooms >Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2003 14:23:10 +0100 > >I bekieve there were some reading room attched to public houses - let me >know if you want more info..... > > >>> [log in to unmask] 06/19 6:57 PM >>> >I don't suppose this answers your question fully but Harmsworth's >encyclopedia of 1920 has a short entry under READING ROOM as follows: >"Room, >usually in connection with a library, where accommodation is provided for >students and other readers." >The word "usually" seems significant. > >Another reference is in the OED where Cobbett is quoted saying that in 1817 >there were reading rooms all over the country. The OED describes it as a >room attached to a library or club. > >Brian Read > > > > > From: Hilary Ely <[log in to unmask]> > > Reply-To: "From: Local-History list" <[log in to unmask]> > > Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 14:11:34 +0100 > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Reading Rooms > > > > Apologies if this enquiry is simple or obvious. A question has stumped >me > > - easily done, as I am not an experienced local historian. > > > > Grateful for any information on the significance of the term Reading >Room > > to describe what in other places might be called the Church Room, Church > > Hall, Parish Room or Parish Hall, or sometimes School Room. > > > > Looking around, I find there seems to be a fashion for setting up >Reading > > Rooms, often associated with village or town Institutes, or Working >Men's > > Clubs, which in turn may have been set up with the support of the parish > > church, but generally as a separate organisation. Most instances I have > > come across of the use of the term date to the mid to late 19th century. > > > > However, close to where I live in Surrey, there is a village Reading >Room > > that belongs to the parish church, stands in for the church or parish > > room, and is not attached to an Institute or similar separate >organisation. > > Are these common elsewhere? > > > > What would have been distinctive about a Reading Room? (Nothing to show >in > > this one, these days, except possibly approx. 8 ft. of shelves, not >very > > well suited to a library!) Was there any sort of organised movement > > behind their establishment, or was it just a fashioable form of > > philanthropy? Was there any sort of blueprint for a Reading Room? Any > > pointers gratefully received. > > > > Many thanks > > > > Hilary Ely > > > > > > > > > > > > > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >* * * > > This email and any attachments with it are intended for the addressee >only. > > It may be confidential and may be the subject of legal and/or >professional > > privilege. > > If you have received this email in error please notify the sender or > > [log in to unmask] > > The content may be personal or contain personal opinions and cannot be >taken > > as an expression of the County Council's position. > > Surrey County Council reserves the right to monitor all incoming and >outgoing > > mail. > > Whilst every care has been taken to check this outgoing e-mail for >viruses, it > > is your responsibility to carry out any checks upon receipt. > > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * >* * * _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail messages direct to your mobile phone http://www.msn.co.uk/msnmobile