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12
Mar 2022
Refurbishment reveals 'ghost sign' of former Harrogate library
Refurbishment of a former Chinese takeaway on Leeds Road, Harrogate, has unveiled a "ghost sign" of a tiny library that closed around 50 years ago.
Liberty Library was a subscription library where readers paid a nominal fee to rent books. It's believed it was there from the 1930s until the early 1970s.
Subscription libraries were popular alternatives to larger public libraries in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Harrogate's Boots chemist also offered a subscription library service in the town at the time.
Pannal and Harrogate historian, Anne Smith, said she remembers visiting Liberty Library in the early 1960s.
She said the books were not "highfalutin" and catered mainly to the female reader. It also sold toys, sweets, stationery, stamps and newspapers.
Ms Smith said:
The sign was made by a business called Wilson Signs
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Leeds Road
Liberty Library also sold annuals for children such as School Friend, Dandy, Beano, Knock Out and Film Fun. Children would save up their pocket money throughout the year and come before Christmas to pick up the end-of-year editions.
Ms Smith said the section of Leeds Road looked different in those days. Some of the buildings that are shops today were houses and had gardens where there are now usually parked cars.
Other notable Leeds Road businesses at the time included Paul's Bakery, Padgett's greengrocers and Scott's.
Leeds Road in 1955, with Liberty Library on the left. Photo credit: unknown.
Liberty Library closed in the early 1970s as subscription libraries went out of fashion.
Two people on social media shared their memories of Liberty Library with the Stray Ferret.
Brian Skinner said:
John Carr said:
Mr Carr has a directory of businesses from 1948 that lists Mrs E Worfolk as the proprietress of Liberty Library.
He added:
The sign was spotted by Ghost Signs, a website and social media account that is dedicated to the fading remains of hand-painted advertising.
https://twitter.com/ghostsigns/status/1501112670853996547?s=20&t=dkqkHZA6M1Gp8U3WxY-Eeg
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