The Appleton Reading Room
Welcome to the Reading Room! Appleton-Le-Moors’ smallest and quirkiest venue.
Marking the entrance to the village, we overlook Appleton Common, home to hundreds of free-roaming sheep. From the outside, our little green shed may appear small and somewhat ramshackle. Inside, it's a gem: early 20th century design, kitted out with 21st century facilities.
Today, the Reading Room is used for a wide variety of events including talks, film screenings, exhibitions and yoga.
Marking the entrance to the village, we overlook Appleton Common, home to hundreds of free-roaming sheep. From the outside, our little green shed may appear small and somewhat ramshackle. Inside, it's a gem: early 20th century design, kitted out with 21st century facilities.
Today, the Reading Room is used for a wide variety of events including talks, film screenings, exhibitions and yoga.
Want to hire the Reading Room?
Here’s how much it costs:
1 hour £5
Half day* £15
Full day £30
* Morning (9am – 1pm) Afternoon (1pm – 5pm) Evening (6pm – 10pm)
Exhibition rental rates on request
For more information contact [email protected]
Here’s how much it costs:
1 hour £5
Half day* £15
Full day £30
* Morning (9am – 1pm) Afternoon (1pm – 5pm) Evening (6pm – 10pm)
Exhibition rental rates on request
For more information contact [email protected]
Facilities
· Ceiling mounted projector, surround-sound speakers and large pull-down screen.
· DVD player and connectors for computer or phone.
· Fast-acting electric radiators and fans
· Directional lights
· Flexible U-Rail picture-hanging system
· Seated capacity for talks and films: 32
Please note
· There’s no running water, kitchen or toilet
· It’s three steps up to the door, supported by a sturdy handrail
· We do not have a licence to sell or serve alcohol, however hirers can obtain their own licence as required
· Ceiling mounted projector, surround-sound speakers and large pull-down screen.
· DVD player and connectors for computer or phone.
· Fast-acting electric radiators and fans
· Directional lights
· Flexible U-Rail picture-hanging system
· Seated capacity for talks and films: 32
Please note
· There’s no running water, kitchen or toilet
· It’s three steps up to the door, supported by a sturdy handrail
· We do not have a licence to sell or serve alcohol, however hirers can obtain their own licence as required
Film Nights
The Reading Room holds regular monthly Film Nights showing a wide variety of films. For details of the 2026 programme, please email [email protected]
The Reading Room holds regular monthly Film Nights showing a wide variety of films. For details of the 2026 programme, please email [email protected]
A brief history of the Reading Room
Buildings like ours could be found all over the British Empire from the late 1880s to the 1930s. They were used for a wide variety of purposes – from chapels to isolation hospitals to sports clubs.
The Reading Room was built in 1911 as a place for local people to socialise without getting drunk! It was designed and erected by Speirs & Co, a Scottish firm specialising in the construction of galvanised iron and wooden structures. The building cost £75, funded by donations from the whole village, who gave not only money but materials and labour.
Sadly, by the mid-1980s people had lost interest in the building. With user numbers dwindling, the money dried up. So the electricity was disconnected and the building locked up.
In 2005, some intrigued villagers decided to look inside. After finding a set of keys – no easy matter after twenty-odd years – they discovered that the interior (including full-sized billiard table!) was largely intact. The walls were black with cigarette smoke and much of the furniture was riddled with woodworm. Since a window had been left open, the floor was scattered with thousands of butterfly wings.
A dedicated group of volunteers decided to bring this important building back to life. With the aid of a National Park grant, they repainted it, fixed the roof, put in new carpet and a stove. The rotten doors and windows were replaced with faithful reproductions.
Later, thanks to a further grant from Ryedale District Council, seating and blinds were added, along with a screen and speakers. The corrugated roof was replaced, ensuring that the building will stay dry and draft-free for years to come.
In 2021, thanks to a Covid-19 grant and funding from the North York Moors National Park, we installed better lighting, electric heaters and environmentally-friendly flooring. We also replaced the blinds and upgraded the audio-visual equipment.
We continue to repair and update the Reading Room, to make it dry, comfortable and fit for the 21st century. We welcome donations and commissions to help keep this fascinating and rare building alive.
Buildings like ours could be found all over the British Empire from the late 1880s to the 1930s. They were used for a wide variety of purposes – from chapels to isolation hospitals to sports clubs.
The Reading Room was built in 1911 as a place for local people to socialise without getting drunk! It was designed and erected by Speirs & Co, a Scottish firm specialising in the construction of galvanised iron and wooden structures. The building cost £75, funded by donations from the whole village, who gave not only money but materials and labour.
Sadly, by the mid-1980s people had lost interest in the building. With user numbers dwindling, the money dried up. So the electricity was disconnected and the building locked up.
In 2005, some intrigued villagers decided to look inside. After finding a set of keys – no easy matter after twenty-odd years – they discovered that the interior (including full-sized billiard table!) was largely intact. The walls were black with cigarette smoke and much of the furniture was riddled with woodworm. Since a window had been left open, the floor was scattered with thousands of butterfly wings.
A dedicated group of volunteers decided to bring this important building back to life. With the aid of a National Park grant, they repainted it, fixed the roof, put in new carpet and a stove. The rotten doors and windows were replaced with faithful reproductions.
Later, thanks to a further grant from Ryedale District Council, seating and blinds were added, along with a screen and speakers. The corrugated roof was replaced, ensuring that the building will stay dry and draft-free for years to come.
In 2021, thanks to a Covid-19 grant and funding from the North York Moors National Park, we installed better lighting, electric heaters and environmentally-friendly flooring. We also replaced the blinds and upgraded the audio-visual equipment.
We continue to repair and update the Reading Room, to make it dry, comfortable and fit for the 21st century. We welcome donations and commissions to help keep this fascinating and rare building alive.