Benchill Branch

The Benchill Library was an experiment in Manchester to meet the rising demand of library provision in the expanding housing estates at a time when fiscal economy was paramount. The Libraries Committee worked with the Education Committee to make use of the Benchill School three evenings a week as a temporary Library. The Library was opened 13 Feb 1935 by Alderman Birley. This experiment proved very successful and led to the establishment of further school based libraries. In Feb 1943 a new Benchill Library was opened at 325 Altrincham Road, Sharston in a converted shop. This library was closed on 31 Mar 1957 and replaced by the travelling library. See also M740/2/8/2/276.