Entire brick building to move to museum
Work to take down a Dudley library down brick-by-brick and transport it three miles across the borough is set to begin next month.
Woodside Library on Stourbridge Road is to become a key feature of the Black Country Living Museum’s ‘Forging Ahead’ development which focuses on the 1940s to 1960s.
The careful deconstruction of the two storey 19th century structure will mark a new chapter for the building which closed in 2008.
Andrew Lovett, chief executive of Black Country Living Museum, said: “Woodside Library will be one of the largest and most architecturally impressive translocation projects within the Forging Ahead development.
“It will enable us to tell stories about education and children’s lives, social life and the role of local authorities in Black Country society, as well as complementing some of the other new buildings in our new 1940s to 60s town in their portrayal of civic life during the post-war period.
“We are proud that we’ll be able to give this beautiful building a new lease of life.”
A planning application has been submitted asking for permission to take down the library in February, with the aim of handing it over to the museum later in the year.
As part of the works an adjacent fire station will also be demolished.
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley council, has backed the plan saying: “This is an important building with lots of history behind it and I am glad it is hopefully being kept in the borough for future generations to see and enjoy at the museum.
“We will be exploring options for use of the site if the permissions are granted for us to move forward with this scheme. But whatever we decide, we will make sure it benefits the local community.”
