Willoughby Memorial Library and Art Gallery
Willoughby Memorial Library and Art Gallery, Bourne Road
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1062848
- Date first listed:
- 06-May-1956
- List Entry Name:
- Willoughby Memorial Library and Art Gallery
- Statutory Address:
- Willoughby Memorial Library and Art Gallery, Bourne Road
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 1999-08-30
- Reference:
- IOE01/01600/14
- Rights:
- © Mr David H Schofield. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1062848
- Date first listed:
- 06-May-1956
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 15-Dec-1986
- List Entry Name:
- Willoughby Memorial Library and Art Gallery
- Statutory Address 1:
- Willoughby Memorial Library and Art Gallery, Bourne Road
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Willoughby Memorial Library and Art Gallery, Bourne Road
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Lincolnshire
- District:
- South Kesteven (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Corby Glen
- National Grid Reference:
- SK 99975 24876
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 12 February 2026 to correct a name in the description and reformat the text to current standards
SK 9824-9924
14/74
CORBY GLEN
BOURNE ROAD (north side)
Willoughby Memorial Library and Art Gallery
(formerly listed as Old School)
6.5.56
I
Incorrectly shown on OS map as School. Former school, now Library and Art Gallery. Founded 1669, constructed 1673, extended 1691, with minor C18 alterations, restored in 1965. Ashlar and squared limestone rubble.
Steeply pitched sprocketed hipped Collyweston slate roof with lead dressings and finials. Central four shafted ashlar ridge stack with moulded base and cornices. Rectangular schoolroom with later master's house to rear right. Single storey with attics and basement, five bay front. Rusticated quoins, chamfered plinth, pulvinated frieze, moulded eaves. On the frieze the inscription "CAROLUS READ GENEROSUS HANC SCHOLAM DIS... GNATAM FUNAVIT ANNO DOMINI 1673"
Projecting two storey pedimented porch dated 1691 and inscribed with Robert Kirke and Hugh Wade, Wardens. First floor band, pulvinated frieze. Central panelled double doors in eared surround and keyblock, with pulvinated frieze supporting a broken triangular pediment containing a shield of arms. To first floor, lighting the parvise, a keyed oculus and in the pediment a circular window. To the right hand side at basement level is a single three-light mullioned window. The porch is flanked by pairs of cross mullioned leaded casements with moulded architraves. The two-light leaded casement dormers have hipped roofs and lead cheeks. The rear has a coved cornice and doorway with plain chamfered surround and cornice, inscribed on the lintel "Incredere ut proficias". To right are two cross mullioned windows and to left a C18 glazing bar sash in plain ashlar surround with raised keyblock. The added rear wing is of coursed square rubble with ashlar quoins, Collyweston slate roof, raised stone coped gable and axial ashlar stack.
The interior retains a half glazed doorway to the original school room with pulvinated frieze and cornice in moulded architrave. The girders are moulded with large shield plaque stops. The cellar has a large fireplace with chamfered arched head and deeply chamfered beams. On the first floor the octagonal ashlar stack has two chamfered and stopped fireplace surrounds. The schoolmaster's accommodation has a spiral staircase and simply chamfered beams. Charles Read of Folkingham left a sum of money for the establishment of free grammar schools at Corby and Tuxford in Nottinghamshire.
Restored in 1965 by the Earl of Ancaster and turned into a Library and Art Gallery as a memorial to his only son, Timothy, who was drowned at sea.
Source: Steel, 1979.
Listing NGR: SK9997524876
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 194048
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 12-Jun-2026 at 08:33:43.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.