The Old Library, Cambridge

The Old Library, Wheeler Street, Cambridge, 7 Jan 2025

 

This was the Reading Room of the Public Library until the library moved to Lion Yard in 1975.

It was then the Tourist Information Centre until 2010. Old photos show that it was decorated in dingy beige and brown.

In 2010 "Jamies's Italian" took over, with a new utilitarian colour scheme. Grey on the lower levels and white above.

After that went bankrupt in summer 2019 the building was taken over by "Giggling Squid" as a Thai restaurant. Re-opening was delayed by Covid. In fact it was open for few weeks before another lockdown forced closure. But now thriving.

 

Finally we have decoration which brings out the glories of this interior.

 

Pevsner notes "the extremely grand reading room of 1883-1884 has a broad lantern held up by arches held up in turn by a circle of scagliola columns with fancifully prolonged capitols".

Done