If you’ve noticed large bags of sand and heard the noise of power tools coming from the back of the bookshop recently you may be wondering what’s afoot…

We’re excited to share an update on our latest project, a hub for creative and well-being workshops, storytime, school sessions, and much more!

In place of the storage sheds built by Peter Lee in 1971 to store stock for his legendary wine shop will be a building to join up all the ideas, hopes and dreams for The Bookery.

Thanks to the support of the Crediton Hospital League of Friends, this exciting development will provide a cafe-style space behind the bookshop designed for our community to connect and grow, becoming the centre of The Bookery’s community outreach.

We’ll be working with partner organisations like Crediton Wellbeing Team, who aim to help people at risk of loneliness or isolation. Many of their projects began in care homes and the community before the Covid pandemic, then pivoted during the lockdowns – and today, they are an important part of many people’s lives.

The new building will also provide a space for activities run by The Bookery’s award-winning schools programme, working with schools and supporting reading, writing and well-being for local children.

It will link the back of the bookshop with The Hub, a two-storey space renovated in 2019 into a light and open shared working space with ultra-fast broadband, storage lockers, and other facilities.

League chairman, Louise Adams, explains:

“The League of Friends was initially set up to help in the care and comfort of the hospital’s patients through donations and legacies from members of the community. However, upon the removal of the beds, this income dried up, so the League decided to use the income generated from the investment of the remaining funds to offer modest grants to organisations and projects which support the health and well-being initiatives within the catchment area of Crediton Hospital. For some time, the League of Friends had been looking to support one large project by way of commemoration of all those who donated to the hospital funds over the years, albeit being used for a different purpose to that which they had intended at the time. To this effect, the League has chosen to fund the extension to The Bookery in support of the wide-ranging benefits it offers to the community.”

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped make this happen – especially to our brilliant builders: Ulrik for the vision, Shaun and Jack for the site prep, and Ian and Keith, who’ve been cheerfully working on this awkward site every day for weeks (except for jury duty), even managing to get the roof covered before the torrential rain, and who will be breaking through the wall into the back of the bookshop in the New Year!

If you’d like to stay up to date with our news, remember to sign up for the newsletter and follow us @thebookeryhq on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.