Castleford Forum
Opening Ceremony Video
9th December 2013
Click on the image to watch the YouTube video.
This is a phone based video recording of the Castleford Forum Opening Ceremony on the 9th December 2013.
The new Forum/Museum was officially opened by the late Winnie McLoughlin, introduced by Castleford Town Crier Reg Lavine with speeches by Wakefield Council's (former) Leader Peter Box and (current) Leader Denise Jeffery.
We apologise for the rather poor sound quality in this recording.
Short New Library Video Presentation
A short slide show video presentation of the Library.
Click on the image to view the presentation.
New Library and Museum
Slide Show
A member-produced slide show of images from the new Library and Museum.
Click on the image to view the slide-show.
History of Castleford Library
By the turn of the nineteenth century more people were able to read, but books and newspapers were unaffordable for the masses. In 1841 an average miner in a town like Castleford earned around 9-13 old pence a week, while The Times cost 4d (old pence) per single issue (Bentley and Lound, 2005, p.13). There were several early attempts to make reading more accessible to Castleford residents. A subscription newsroom where fee payers could read local and national newspapers came into existence in the 1840s, but very little is known about it. In the 1850s a ‘Mechanics Institute’ was opened in Castleford. Mechanics Institutes were venues for working class people to take evening classes to learn new skills and experience culture (i.e. dancing and music) outside normal working hours. In 1858 the Castleford branch moved to Sagar Street, and included a library for its members......
Click here to download the full document courtesy Wakefield Council.
Castleford Library and Museum
also known as
the Castleford Forum
The Friends Of Castleford Library from its conception in 1998 recognised that the town's library and small museum were totally unacceptable for modern-day users. On formation we made it one of our aims to work tirelessly towards building a new library and museum.
The idea of a new library was not a new one, it had been recognised there was need for one in the 1940s. The council had relatively little or no money to build one without a commercial partner. In 2000 the alliances of FOCAL, the newly formed Castleford Heritage Group, and the Castleford Town Centre Partnership pushed forward for modern facilities. They attained funds to write an independent strategy plan for such a new library/museum or heritage centre.
It was at this point the local council joined the three groups to develop such a building. The project was also given a new name by the townspeople - 'Castleford Forum'. Some 2000 years ago Castleford was an important Roman station. The Roman word forum, a place to meet and gather, reconnects the town's past and lends itself to a new centre of learning.
The project was put out to consultation and a RIBA (Royal Institute of Architects) competition took place to select an architect. Over the next few years plans and designs were worked up along with applications to national funding bodies. Unfortunately none were successful.
Due to national changes in government and funding, the best way to move forward in 2010 was to deliver a new but somewhat smaller scale library/museum. The new project was to redevelop the original library site in Carlton Street with council funding.
We are pleased to say that after all the hard work of the local people of Castleford a project that was a concept in 2000 finally came to fruition in December 2013.
The Castleford Forum consists of the old Carnegie Library and three new floors of library and museum, built at the rear.
The Original 1905 Library
December 2011.
Castleford library, Carlton Street,
The Carnegie library opened in 1905 - the refurbishment kept the original library and frontage as shown.
Below are some internal images prior to the renewal.
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