Newham Council has reached an important milestone in its project to transform Canning Town Old Library into a heritage centre that celebrates Newham’s history and stories.
Building work has now begun on the Grade II listed Canning Town Old Library, which has been closed since 2017, when library services relocated to the nearby Rathbone Market.
Councillor Rohit K Dasgupta, Deputy Cabinet Member for Equalities, Social Justice and Culture said: “The start of the building work at Canning Town Old Library marks the beginning of an exciting new era of cultural opportunity for this borough and its residents.
“The Old Library has always been a cherished and important building in Newham, but now its future as a heritage centre will cement Newham’s ambition to put culture, heritage and the arts at centre stage.
“We want residents to really engage with us to help shape this fabulous new resource, including helping us find its new name.”
Led by award-winning architects Haworth Tompkins, the completed heritage centre will feature a display space, a reading room, archive storage facilities, a media suite, and a learning space for all – bringing this much-loved Victorian building back into community use.
Support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will also enable a dynamic programme of activities, including volunteering opportunities, creative projects for young people, educational programmes, and new cultural partnerships with creative organisations across the borough. This investment will provide greater access to Newham’s archives and museum collection, with important cataloguing and conservation work planned over the next year. The project is being supported by cultural partners such as V&A East, UCL East, the Royal Docks Team, local schools, and a range of community organisations, all of whom will collaborate with Newham Council on events, workshops, and projects to shape the heritage centre.
The centre is set to open in 2026, and there are many ways for people living, working, and studying in Newham to get involved, including helping to choose a name for the centre. Newham Council is inviting suggestions for the name, which will be shortlisted, with a final name chosen next year. Submit your name suggestions here.
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