PEAK FOREST READING ROOM RENOVATION

Peak Forest Reading Room is a registered Charity (No. 520493). The building is Grade II listed with historic connections to the Devonshire Estate and was built in 1880. The front of the building incorporates the ‘Venetian’ window, which was removed from the original Peak Forest Church when the ‘new’ church was built. This window dates from 1657 and is of historic significance.

Several works to the roof and exterior of the building have already been undertaken, but the interior was in very poor condition, having suffered from damp penetration over the years. A program of internal works was agreed and approved by Peak Park Planning Authority, this included removal of an ugly false ceiling, re-instatement and repair of the original ceiling together with re-wiring and new lighting. This has been another big project for the Reading Room Committee. The project was funded with £10,000 from the Duke of Devonshire Charitable Trust, £2,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the balance of the funding from the Reading Room’s own funds.

Without this support this project would not have been possible. The trustees look forward to the re-plastering the interior of the main hall next year if all their funding bids are successful.