Hidden gem in Nottingham city centre explores ambitious expansion after £70,000 windfall

Bromley House Library, known as Nottingham’s cultural hidden gem, is looking into expanding. More than 200 years old, it is one of the few remaining subscription libraries in the country.

As well as being home to nearly 50,000 books over three floors, the library, in Angel Row, has a secluded walled garden at the back. It has recently two significant grants from public funding bodies.

The National Heritage Lottery Fund has granted the historic library up to £60,000 to fund a comprehensive feasibility study, and the Architectural Heritage Fund is giving £10,000 for physical surveys and reports.

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The grants will enable Bromley House Library, based in a Grade II* listed building since 1816, to make an informed judgement about the expansion project. If the studies and surveys conclude that there is good potential, the library will carry out further fundraising for the scheme.

The ambitious plans include installing a lift to enable access to all floors of Bromley House and its walled garden, more space for public engagement in literary and heritage activities, and rentable offices for other cultural organisations.

Library director Clare Brown said: “We couldn’t have wished for a better start to the year. Bromley House Library already serves many of Nottingham’s readers and writers but we have more to offer. The opportunity to share our books and our heritage with a wider range of people is hugely exciting.”