Canning Town Old Library

Canning town old library

Image by Cathy Buckmaster

Following our successful Levelling Up Fund bid, work is underway to transform Canning Town Old Library. Located on Barking Road, this Grade II listed building has been vacant since the new library facility in Rathbone Market opened.

We will transform this historically significant building, reinstating it as a valuable community asset which celebrates Newham’s heritage. Upon completion, it will house a new archive, reading rooms, a digital media suite, teaching and learning space, a café and new workspace.

The archive will house the majority of Newham’s heritage collection, providing residents with access to the borough’s extensive archives and museum collection as a hub for local heritage and creativity.

The centre will host a wide array of cultural and educational programmes, building upon the annual Newham Heritage Month, whilst meeting the objectives of the Council’s Cultural Strategy ‘Building Newham’s Creative Future’. Furthermore, both the construction and operation of the building will generate a range of jobs for local people of all ages.