community/cultural
Gold and Aldridge, 1936
Farm Fields, South Croydon, CR2 0HL
Sanderstead Library, built in 1936 in the moderne style, has been closed since late 2024. This weekend, it reopens for the first time as the future home of The Story Sanctuary - a creative health and wellbeing hub in the making. The building is still empty, but full of potential. Come, explore, meet A Collective and help us shape what it will become.
Purley Oaks, Sanderstead
403, 412
Basic toilets are available but are not accessible. They can only be reached via a staircase or steps. There is limited seating.
The building is empty with a high ceiling so the space is echoey, we will ask visitors to respect others and talk quietly wherever possible.
10:00–17:00
Sanderstead library is unusual in that it is the style of an open book with the spine being the main entrance and two small 'wings'. It has large Crittall-style windows at either end and most of the original fitted furniture in situ: the dark wood bookcases in the main library hall and fitted cupboards in the staff room.
Designed by architects Gold and Aldridge in the Moderne style along with Purley, Kenley and Coulsdon as part of a single project. Gold and Aldridge were well known in the interwar years for designing libraries.
Constructed by Messrs Truett and Steel Ltd, of Thornton Heath, a firm who also built many residential houses in Sanderstead, for example in Glebe Hyrst.
“Many things make us human, but our desire to share stories about who we are, where we come from, and what we mean to each other is the most extraordinary and essential.”
We are looking to open as a space to make, share, rest, laugh, and reconnect – working with local residents and creative and voluntary organisations from across Croydon. From visual arts and writing to movement, song, games, gardening, and more; we aim to gently transform the building into a warm, creative space where everyone feels they belong.
As part of the Open House Festival and the London Mayor’s Weekend, we’ll be opening the doors to everyone to join us in the first shared reimagining of what the space could become.
On Friday, whilst setting up, we will welcome visitors informally, listening to memories, hopes and ideas as the space begins to transform. On Saturday, our main opening day, we will have low-tech creative activities for playful participation: masking tape lines on the floor and simple wall prompts like "What should go here?" and "What could you offer?".
A Collective team members and volunteers will be on hand to guide visitors; postboxes and pledge boards will be available for those who wish to contribute non-verbally.