History Beaney House of Art and Knowledge

1 history

1.1 construction
1.2 1900–2009
1.3 refurbishment

history

dr j.g. beaney.



1899–1914.


construction

the tudor revival beaney institute building designed architect , city surveyor a.h. campbell in 1897 , opened on 11 september 1899 @ cost of £15,000, after dr james george beaney left £10,000 canterbury institute, , canterbury city council added £5,000 beaney s institute accommodate city s existing museum , library, transferred beaney institute building added name royal in 1898. existing museum , library had originated on guildhall street in 1825 canterbury philosophical , literary institution, been bought city in 1846 , established canterbury museum , public library in 1858; guildhall street building in sun yard contains local branch of debenhams , bears blue plaque. beaney colourful character, professional life beset controversy melbourne medical establishment. bequest left erection , endowment of institute working men in own portraits hung in main hall. canterbury have received £60,000 residue of will, beaney made differences melbourne , end of life codicil added melbourne received £60,000.

the public contribution institute s fittings included £1,050 joshua cox, , gift slater family enabled 1934 slater wing art gallery built @ back. free library , reading rooms on ground floor; museum , art gallery on first floor; basement contained natural history department, storage , workroom. mahogany cases came british museum, paid w. oxenden hammond , miss lawrence, , adapted cubitts. victoria , albert museum , royal doulton lent items display.

1900–2009

from @ least 1899 1913, francis bennett-goldney (1865−1918) honorary curator, henry thomas mead assistant or deputy curator , librarian , henry fielding secretary. between 1913 , 2008, library stock increased 12,000 volumes 2 million including 17th- , 18th-century texts, maps, local media , directories. designed rooms newspapers , journals, , magazine room lending , reference libraries. 200 scott-robinson books kent part of local history collection. in 1944 film canterbury tale, beaney institute building director michael powell s inspiration colpeper institute. joseph conrad centenary celebrated there in 1957, exhibition of books , papers.

ken reedie has been curator since 1970s. there exhibition of giles cartoons in gallery 20 december 2006 3 february 2007. century there has been tradition of pavement art in front of building. craig taylor among last in tradition, , after death in 2009 public left floral tributes on pavement.

refurbishment

together associated project redevelop marlowe theatre site, beaney s 2009–2012 refurbishment intended transform part of city centre vibrant cultural quarter . bidding started in 2003. heritage lottery fund granted project £6.5 million redevelopment of building , services provide space, facilities, displays, extension, disabled access, glass lift , educational spaces. space permit display of collections hidden public view. intention extend gallery , provide further galleries exhibitions.

plans library included enlarged space books , children s library , local studies centre, space teenagers. local people including teachers involved planning. canterbury city council, kent county council, private sources , donations made project funding £11.5 million, south east england development agency (seeda) contributing £975,000. planners john miller & partners; architects sidell gibson oversaw restoration of windsor castle after fire; interior designers casson mann, have devised theme of explorer points .

from 30 january 28 february 2009 museum held hungry heritage exhibition, supported £24,700 grant heritage lottery fund, in local young people created pictures of soon-to-be-missed exhibits. these pictures displayed in canterbury cafes while beaney closed. building closed refurbishment on 28 february 2009. 8 june 2009 2 councils had cleared out exhibits, partitions , office material building, exposing colours of decorations in process. had great difficulty in removing sidney cooper s huge charlie bull stairwell. project attracted controversy. archaeological dig canterbury archaeological trust started on site of new extension in september 2009.

temporary library building in pound lane.

during refurbishment library s lending service continued temporarily @ ede s garage, 35 pound lane. stock @ pound lane included books adults, children , teenagers; computer facilities; dvds, cds, talking books , reduced reference section. baby bounce , rhyme , story time sessions children continued, along other community services. part of local studies library accessible @ cathedral archives until 2012. on 1 day in may 2009 @ dane john gardens, kent libraries & archives staged lark in park educational entertainment event publicise library s move beaney pound lane location. building reopened in 2012.

closeup view of beaney s tudor revival facade.