Blackley Branch

The Blackley Institute and Public Free Library was built in conjunction with the David Lewis Trust situated near the entrance to the Lewis Recreation ground. The Institute was to provide a public & recreation room as well as a lending library and reading room. The institute was opened on the 10 October 1901 by Mr Benn W. Levy. During the First World War, between Feb 1917 and Jul 1919, the branch was occupied by the local branch of the British Red Cross. When the library was vacated it was renovated and re-opened. Correspondence in files M740/7/7/1 & M740/2/8/2/279 detail the co-operation between the two organisations and gives details of the building. See also M740/2/8/2/59.