The Next Chapter Project – What’s Happening This Week?
Find our what's happening during the construction phase of our project
What’s happening in September-October?
- The Lancaster Room is our site office, and the side carriageway, the Inner library and the Upper Reading Rooms are hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the back door and the double doors leading to the outer library and then out of the front door.
- The Inner library floor has been completed and is now open for use – we are awaiting the double display cabinets either side of the fireplace.
- The new ‘Blue Room’ has been decorated, the floorboards restored, lighting is being fitted and the fireplaces are being restored.
- The Cupola has been restored.
- The extension building work is complete. The lift is installed and the electrics and plumbing are underway.
- The former lavatory and office have been restored and are now ‘the Parlour’ and ‘the Green Room’. Floors in these areas and the hallway are being
- All services are now in the Inner library and reception is in the Courtenay room – thank you for your patience while we work on other parts of the building.
- Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the laundry room, adjacent to the garden gate.
What’s happening in May -July?
- The Lancaster Room is our site office, and the side carriageway, the Inner library and the Upper Reading Rooms are hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the back door and the inner library ‘secret’ door.
- The Inner library floor has been completed and is now open for use
- The new ‘Blue Room’ on the first floor has been decorated and the floor is now being sanded, waxed and polished.
- Conservation work to the cupola is taking place, both internally and externally, via a scaffold.
- Second fix electricals are beginning to be installed.
- Roofing of the extension is being completed and the space is being dried ready for insulation and glazing.
- All services are now in the Inner library and reception is in the Courtenay room – thank you for your patience while we work on other parts of the building.
- Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the laundry room, adjacent to the garden gate.
What’s happening in March and April?
- The Lancaster Room is our site office, and the side carriageway, the Inner library and the Upper Reading Rooms are hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the inner library ‘secret’ door.
- The Inner library is undergoing conservation to the floor, installation of the heating trenches, structural works, rewiring and redecoration.
- The dividing screen in the Upper Reading Rooms has been removed and the cupola opened.
- Conservation work to the cupola is taking place, both internally and externally, via a scaffold.
- The Upper Reading Room is being rewired and the walls are being prepared for decoration.
- The timber frame for the new extension is near completion and the first fix electrics and plumbing are going in. Insulation, roofing, and cladding are in process.
- The metal frame for the garden room has been erected and glass is being installed.
- All services are now in the Outer Library and ‘office’ reading room – thank you for your patience while we work on other parts of the building.
- Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.
What’s happening in February?
- The Lancaster Room is our site office, and the side carriageway, the Inner library and the Upper Reading Rooms are hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the inner library ‘secret’ door.
- The Inner library is undergoing conservation to the floor, installation of the heating trenches, structural works, and rewiring.
- The dividing screen in the Upper Reading Rooms is being removed and the cupola is being opened.
- The timber frame for the new extension is near completion and the first fix electrics and plumbing are going in.
- The metal frame for the garden room is being erected.
- All services are now in the Outer Library and office reading room – thank you for your patience while we work on other parts of the building.
- Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.
January 2024
- The Lancaster Room is our site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
- The timber frame is being erected for the new extension, ground floor and first floor. Windows are being delivered on 22nd
- We are moving the research service into the Outer Library – thank you for your patience while we undertake this move.
- We are protecting the books in the Inner Library with Tyvek covering but collections remain accessible via our bookable research service.
- The Upper Reading Room and Stirling room are now hard hat areas and not accessible. The dividing screen is being removed and the cupola is being opened.
- New heating infrastructure has temporarily connected to the old heaters, while trench heaters are installed in the Inner Library.
- Doorways to the new build have been made at ground and first floor level in the stairwell – but boarded from the inside for security and safety.
- Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.
4 -20 December 2023
- The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door
- The timber frame is being erected for the new extension.
- New heating infrastructure is being temporarily connected to the old heaters, while trench heaters are installed.
- Doorways to the new build have been made at ground and first floor level in the stairwell – but boarded from the inside for security and safety.
- Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.
1 -30 November 2023
- The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
- The extension floor is being levelled and the steel and concrete base is being positioned.
- Doorways to the new build will be made at ground and first floor level in the stairwell – but boarded from the inside for security and safety.
- Air source heating pipework and fans have been installed.
- We are testing the installation of new heating trenches in the Inner Library.
- The timber frame for the new build extension has been constructed off site.
- Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.
2 – 27 October 2023
- The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
- Doorways to the new build will be made at ground and first floor level in the stairwell – but boarded from the inside for security and safety.
- Ground works for the new build including drainage, party wall repair, timber repair and installation of heating pipework are underway.
- Piling work to support the new build takes place 9th-11th Oct (apologies for the noise levels in the libraries).
- A concrete slab will be laid to create the footprint of the new extension.
- The timber frame for the new build extension has been constructed off site.
- We are testing the installation of new heating trenches in the Inner Library.
- Our archaeology team continue their watching brief of the site, documenting any finds and advising the construction team. Some complete clay pipes have been found along with 13th-19th Century ceramic fragments.
- Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.
18 – 29 September 2023
- The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
- Demolition of the old boiler house and lavatory block are underway. Sorry for the noise while demolition takes place.
- Until the new build is completed, a temporary unisex lavatory is available in the front cloakroom.
- The timber frame for the new build extension has been constructed off site.
- We are testing the installation of new heating trenches in the Inner Library
- Connection of air source heat pump and testing of the boiler is underway.
- Our archaeology team continue their watching brief of the site, documenting any finds and advising the construction team.
1 September – 15 September 2023
- The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
- Our new electricity and gas supplies are being connected – sorry but we will be closed on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th September to accommodate this.
- Removal of old concrete and excavation continues in the side courtyard for drainage trenches.
- Demolition of the old boiler house and lavatory block commence. Until the new build is completed, there will be a temporary unisex lavatory available in the front cloakroom.
- The timber frame for the new build extension is being constructed off site.
- Our archaeology team continue their watching brief of the site, documenting any finds and advising the construction team.
8 August – 31 August 2023
- The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
- The back kitchen is now our plant room, containing boilers, air source heat pump tank and electrical panels.
- The front kitchen has been refitted to accommodate all appliances.
- Our new water supply is being connected.
- A door opening has been made where the external window was. The garden is still accessible.
20 July -28 July 2023
- The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
- The back kitchen is being fitted as a plant room, containing boilers, air source heat pump tank and electrical panels – our new utilities will come in from the back of the building.
- A door opening has been made where the external window was. The garden is still accessible.
- The front kitchen is being refitted and will remain operational – lunch will continue Wednesdays.
- The boiler house has been stripped and asbestos has been safely removed.
- UV panels are being scoped for the roof
26 June – 17 July 2023
- The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
- Our contractors are digging test pits in the side carriageway to locate services and remove redundant pipework and cabling before piling can begin. A temporary electrical supply will be installed.
- We are installing a temporary lavatory in the ladies cloakroom, which is not yet in use. In due course, this will enable demolition of the old lavatory block.
- The back kitchen has been stripped to make way for a plant room and our new utilities will come in from the back of the building. A door opening will be made where the external window is.
Week commencing 19 June 2023
- The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
- We are replacing lead waterpipes in the side carriageway.
- We are installing a temporary lavatory in the ladies cloakroom, which is not yet in use. In due course, this will enable demolition of the old lavatory block.
- We are installing a temporary electricity supply to enable old cabling to be removed.
- The back kitchen has been stripped to make way for a plant room and our new utilities will come in from the back of the building. A door opening will be made where the external window is.
- The boiler house has been stripped and we are awaiting the results of an asbestos analysis before it is demolished.
Week commencing 12 June 2023
- The Lancaster Room is now the site office, and the side carriageway is a hard-hat area and not accessible. Our fire exits are the front door and the back garden door.
- The back kitchen has been stripped to make way for a plant room and our new utilities will come in from the back of the building. A door opening will be made where the external window is.
- We have a temporary kitchen arrangement for catering purposes before the front kitchen fit-out next week.
- The boiler house has been stripped and we are awaiting the results of an asbestos analysis before it is demolished.
- The temporary lavatory will be fitted in the ladies cloakroom, to enable demolition of the lavatory block.