CAN YOU HELP US????

This year we shall be celebrating 150 years of Public Libraries.

We wish to record the details of any local libraries which have existed however briefly, in and around Cranbrook. This includes all the local villages which we cover from here.

We know that there has been a County Library service in Cranbrook since 1929 when devoted volunteers opened a library in the Vestry Room: who were those volunteers? A small branch library was opened in Claremeont in 1955 - which room? Are there any photographs? May we copy them?

What kind of library service was available during the war? Does anyone have memories of libraries of that time? We should like to know any tiny detail - even such as "my aunt Ethel worked in the library for 2 weeks in 1940"!

We should especially like to hear from any ladies of the W.I. who ran the many volunteer libraries including those at Sissinghurst and Hawkhurst moor and probably other villages too. We hope to produce a history of the libraries in and around the Cranbrook area should enough information be forthcoming.

Please jot ANY information down and hand it in to your local library, or telephone Rick at the library 01580 712463. or fax us on 01580 715101 or email us at rick.baker@kent.gov.uk