Hidden Henley

THESE slightly curious and artistic decorations in my picture can be seen in the newly refurbished Henley library in King’s Road car park.

Public libraries date from the early 17th century and were usually funded by wealthy benefactors, although later an act of Parliament in 1850 gave power to local authorities to establish their own. The earliest ones had the books chained to the bookcases.

As reported in this newspaper, the extensive refurbishment of our library included new furniture made from recycled materials with some produced from plastic bottles that were landfill-bound or recovered from the sea. Useful new work and study places with their own charging points have been created and the whole place is smart and inviting.