Glebe Farm library

Glebe Farm library was opened on 22 April 1952. Constructed out of prefabricated reinforced concrete with large, modern windows and glass doors, the library took only a year to build and cost £7,750. The builders were Madocks and Walford Limited. The original library had 13,000 books including 2,500 in the children’s library.

In her book Stechford, Ward End and Glebe Farm, Marian Baxter says ‘Glebe Farm Library was my very first introduction to libraries as a young child, and it was my experiences at this library that convinced me at an early age that I wanted to become a librarian’. The library underwent a major modernisation and refurbishment in 2003. When the hall library was being repaired during this period a guinea dating from 1669 was found behind the oak panelling. The hall had fine oak panelling throughout with an oak staircase leading to five chambers, dressing rooms and closets. The gardens were well laid out and stocked with shrubs and roses and there was a walled garden and two orchards.