Corbett Community Library
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corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Corbett Community Library
@corbettlibrary.bsky.social
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A Volunteer-led Community Library Arts & Heritage Centre serving the community of Catford, Hither Green and Lewisham since 1907

https://linktr.ee/corbettcommunity
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corbettlibrary.bsky.social
118 years ago today, St Andrew’s Day, 30 Nov 1907, our library opens to serve the people of #Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13 #Lewisham

1907 also saw the serving of the first school meals and the start of London’s first metered taxi service.

Come in for more knowledge, fun, etc
The site for the Archibald Corbett Library was formerly tennis courts, and was donated by Archibald Corbett. The £4,500 construction cost was donated by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. “… presumably would have made good use of the new Library which opened in Torridon Road in 1907. The local council had wanted to build one for several years, and Corbett was willing to donate land, but they were short of funds so it wasn’t until Andrew Carnegie – world famous philanthropist and serial builder of around 3,000 libraries – stepped in with a donation of £4,500 that it finally came into existence. Sadly for the estate’s tennis fans it was the recreation ground that Corbett offered up for the new building: maybe he figured the new Mountsfield Park over the other side of Brownhill Road was close enough to provide for healthy exercise.” Extract from the history of the Corbett Estate on the Corbett Society website - see: https://thecorbettsociety.org.uk/the-estates/catford-hither-green/ Photo by Paul de Zylva, library volunteer, of a red Jaguar E-type on the road in front of the Corbett Community Library, known to many as Torridon Library on the junction of Torridon Road and Sandhurst Road in Catford, Lewisham, London, SE6. The commemorative plaque for the 30th November 1907 opening of the Archibald Corbett Library can be seen high on the right hand side wall as you enter the foyer of the library. The library was opened by Mrs ECB Philpott, who was the wife of the vicar of nearby St Andrews’s Church which opened in 1904. View of the library from the top deck of a London bus at the top of Sandhurst Road. It’s an odd thing that even from at that height, our magnificent dome is hard to see. Come in to see it from below.
November 30, 2025 at 9:21 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Come and join us for an evening of seasonal entertainment on Sunday 14 December, including music, magic and more!

Tickets cost £15 per person and include a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine!

Scan the QR code on the image or follow this link to book: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/lon...
November 28, 2025 at 10:29 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
We have a limited service on Saturday 29 November as we have our Christmas Fair.
November 26, 2025 at 10:25 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
You lucky people. Yes, it’s the Corbett Christmas:

- Mon 24 to Sat 29 Nov - it’s the Christmas Tree Festival at St Andrew’s Church

- Sat 29 Nov - Corbett Christmas Fair at our place & at St Andrew’s Church Hall

- Sun 30 Nov - Abbotshall Healthy Lifestyle Centre.

#Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13
Page one of the leaflet of Corbett Community Christmas events 2025 lists the Christmas Tree Festival, the Corbett Christmas Fair, and Christmas at Abbotshall. Page two of the Corbett Community Christmas leaflets shows details for the: - the Christmas Tree Festival from 24th to 29th November from 10am to 5pm each day at St Andrew’s Church Hall SE6 1XD and - the Corbett Christmas Fair from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 29th November at two venues: the Corbett Community Library at 103 Torridon Road SE6 1RQ and St Andrew’s Church Hall SE6 1XD. The third page of the leaflet details Christmas at Abbotshall on Sunday 30 November from 10am to 4pm including Santa’s Grotto, and Christmas Tree Sales. The fourth and final page of the leaflet sets out how to order a Christmas Tree from Abbotshall Healthy Lifestyle Centre. Order online at Abbotshallhlc dot org forward slash Christmas hyphen trees abbotshallhlc.org.uk/christmas-trees
November 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
The local Dinosaurs came to our Halloween event. Think they were lost (in time).
October 31, 2025 at 8:51 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
The Clue in the Haunted Library - hmmm will Barbie find clues at our Halloween Event?

Crafts, activities, tasty treats, and witches’ brew on Friday 31 October, from 5pm to 8pm.

Drop in at any time. All ages welcome. Entry for a £ donation to the community library.

#Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13
October 27, 2025 at 9:43 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
It’s the 10th #CatfordArtsTrail this weekend - Saturday 11 + Sunday 12 October, 11am - 5pm.

We’re venue 18 and there’s a cluster of other venues nearby to check out.

#Catford #SE6 #Lewisham
October 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Spookiest night of the year at our place: Fri 31 October, 5-8pm.

Crafts, activities, tasty treats & witches' brew.

Drop in on your way round trick-or-treating, show us your awesomely scary costumes, and see how the library transforms after dark!

All ages welcome, make a donation to enter.
October 1, 2025 at 12:39 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Aharr me hearties!

It’s story time again!

Join legendary pirate Jacky and her lucky parrot this Saturday 4 October at 11.15am for an hour of pirate-themed storytelling and craft!

Landlubbers of all ages welcome!
October 1, 2025 at 12:34 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Say hello to our newest customers - the doors are big enough, we're sure they'll fit in (if they're tidy)! Now we're busy wondering what police horses read...
September 27, 2025 at 7:01 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
There's a double rainbow leading into the library! Sadly we have no actual gold, but we have plenty of gold and gold-themed books (and as we all know, all books are a kind of treasure anyway!)! Come and have a browse and maybe take something home!
Photo of Corbett Community Library with a double rainbow arcing directly into it Pile of books on a table. Titles are: - Crusader Gold by David Gibbins - The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog Goes For Gold! by Jeremy Strong - Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King - Sisters of Gold by Annie Murray - The Prisoner's Gold by Chris Kuzneski - A Storm of Swords II: Blood and Gold by George R.R. Martin - Secret Kingdom: Leopard's Gold by Jenny Nimmo - Noah's Gold by Frank Cottrell-Boyce - King's Gold by Michael Jecks Photo of books on a table. All of them have golden spines. Titles are: - All the Rivers by Dorit Rabinyan - Inkheart by Cornelia Funke - A Victorian Story: Son of the Circus - Classic Football Heroes: Keane by Matt and Tom Oldfield - Eve of Man by Giovanna & Tom Fletcher - Shoe Wars by Liz Pichon
September 15, 2025 at 11:22 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
It's National Crime Reading Month!

Come and read a summer mystery from our collection - if you dare to cross the crime scene tape…
June 5, 2025 at 8:16 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
It’s our Spring Makers’ Market & VE Day Celebration.

26 stalls with makers, bakers, face painters, raffle, 40’s music, jerk chicken, cakes, tuck shop, coffee shop…

4pm - live 40’s singing with Ros. 4.30pm - Raffle. St Andrews Church Hall has a ‘Forgotten Treasures Sale’ with extra craft stalls.
On Saturday 3rd May we look forward to welcoming you here for our annual Spring Makers Market and VE Day Celebration. We have 26 stalls outside and in with artists, makers and bakers, face painting, a raffle, 40’s music, jerk chicken, cakes, tuck shop, our lovely outdoor coffee shop and more! We love hosting artists here and sharing the work of the talented people that live in and around the Corbett Estate. We also have some live 1940’s singing with local, talented resident Ros at 4pm, followed by the raffle at 4.30pm. NOTE: Our usual services will be extremely limited on Saturday 3 May. There will only be book returns available - no borrowing or computer access. Apologies for the inconvenience. On Saturday, also pop along to St Andrews Church Hall (just across the road) for a forgotten treasures sale! Between 11am and 4pm you can browse pre-loved goods and grab yourselves some treasure - so much is available, from books and clothes to building materials and fat quarters, and anything in between! They're also hosting overflow stalls from our Spring Makers Market, and between 11-3 will have a pop-up café! So go along to find yourself some treasure - and why not visit our market too while you're nearby? At 4pm on Saturday, as part of our Spring Makers Market and VE Day Celebrations, local talent Ros will be singing a selection of 40s hits, followed by the raffle draw at 4:30pm! Come along and enjoy some fabulous live entertainment!
May 3, 2025 at 7:08 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Fancy a chat? We’re listening.

Just pop into our place for a chat with a trained listener. That’s all. No catch. No hype. No problem.

Just pop in for a chat:
Mon: 9-11am; 1-5.30pm
Tues: 9-10am; 1-5.30pm
Wed: 1-5pm
Thurs: 9am-5.30pm
Sat: 10am-1pm

A cuppa awaits. #IWillListen
April 25, 2025 at 9:54 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
It’s StoryTime at our place on Thursday 10 April from 9.30am to 10am.

Interactive story time sessions for under 5s as we read you some of our favourite stories and have a singalong!

#Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13 #Lewisham
April 9, 2025 at 10:01 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Easter Braiding Workshops at our place:

Wednesday 10 April from 2.30pm to 4.30pm:

corbettcommunity.org.uk/listing/east...

Thursday 11 April from 11am to 1pm:

corbettcommunity.org.uk/listing/east...

#Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13 #Lewisham
April 9, 2025 at 9:25 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Check out everything going on at our place in April.

There's something for everyone, so come along and join in.
April 4, 2025 at 9:08 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
FREE - yes, free - events at #Lewisham Libraries in April.

Events include a Community Afternoon Tea at our place on Wednesday 9 April from 1pm.

Hot drinks, soup, cake, games.

A great chance to chat, relax and meet new faces.

#DementiaFriendly

For more on all libraries.Lewisham.gov.uk/events
FREE - yes, free - events at #Lewisham Libraries in April. Events include a Community Afternoon Tea at our place on Wednesday 9 April from 1pm. Hot drinks, soup, cake, games. A great chance to chat, relax and meet new faces. #DementiaFriendly For more on all events see https://libraries.Lewisham.gov.uk/events FREE - yes, free - events at #Lewisham Libraries in April. Events include a Community Afternoon Tea at our place on Wednesday 9 April from 1pm. Hot drinks, soup, cake, games. A great chance to chat, relax and meet new faces. #DementiaFriendly For more on all events see https://libraries.Lewisham.gov.uk/events
March 29, 2025 at 11:14 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
5 years ago today.

Thinking of the 5th anniversary of the Covid-19 lockdown, as we closed the library on 19th March 2019 (ahead of the official order) we took this last picture as we shut the front doors.

We left free books outside and a family chose from the selection.
As we closed the library on 19th March 2019 (ahead of the official lockdown order) we took this last picture as we shut the front doors. We left free books outside and a family chose from the selection.
March 19, 2025 at 10:16 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Ooo, Lewisham Libraries are awarded London Library of the Year in the 35th British Book Awards.
Lewisham Libraries are awarded London Library of the Year in the 35th British Book Awards.
March 13, 2025 at 9:22 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Get the picture?

The community jigsaw is coming along.

Pop in to add to it.

Who will put the final piece into place?

#Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE13
March 9, 2025 at 2:51 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
March events + activities at our place. Pop in for:

- Books to borrow / buy
- Use copier / computer
- IT skills
- Yoga Tai Chi Pilates
- Storytime
- Braiding for girls
- Bereavement group
- Writing group
- Councillors’ Surgery
- Free Toilet

For more scan QR code or visit linktr.ee/corbettcommunity
March events + activities at our place. Pop in for: - Books to borrow / buy - Use copier / computer - IT skills - Yoga Tai Chi Pilates - Storytime - Braiding for girls - Bereavement group - Writing group - Councillors’ Surgery - Free Toilet For more scan QR code or visit linktr.ee/corbettcommunity
March 3, 2025 at 5:54 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Calling all men!

It’s ‘Games Night’ at our place. Join us on Sat 1 March (7-9.30pm) for a FREE evening of games, refreshments and good company.

Play your favourite games and meet friends, new and old.

Board games, dominoes and cards available.

#Catford #SE6 #HitherGreen #SE12 #Lewisham
Poster with board games, tumbling dice, etc on a black bag round and large red text announcing ‘Games Night’. Calling all men! Join us on Saturday 1st March at 7pm to 9.30pm for a FREE evening of games, refreshments and good company. Play your favourite games and meet friends, new and old. Card games, board games and dominoes available.
February 27, 2025 at 11:34 AM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
On Saturday 22 February Darcel Osei will be running a free information session about the perimenopause!

Learn about changes, symptoms, and how to best support yourself through it!
On Saturday 22 February Darcel Osei will be running a free information session about the perimenopause! Learn about changes, symptoms, and how to best support yourself through it!
February 20, 2025 at 5:42 PM
corbettlibrary.bsky.social
Join us at the opening night of 50 Years of the Catford Cat:

- Our place
- 6 to 8pm
- Thursday 13 February
- Meet and chat with the artists
- Drinks available from our bar
- Chance to buy cards and prints.

#Catford #SE6 #SE13 #Lewisham #catfordcat #artexhibition #GallerySE6 #CorbettCommunity
February 7, 2025 at 3:51 PM