Our History

The organisation was founded as part of a nation-wide response to the demands of the Industrial Revolution and social change.  Its aim was “to promote useful knowledge amongst the working classes”.

In the same year, a library extension with classrooms on the upper floors were added. The Library and the well-stocked and used Reading Room for newspapers and periodicals gave the Institute an important status in the town.

Although not the oldest club in the country, it is believed to be the longest running chess club to have met continuously at the same venue.

The Institute’s journal, now published twice-yearly and received by members.

Borrowers were then allowed to enter the Library and pick out their own books instead of having them handed over personally by the Librarian.

The Institute suffered a decline and membership numbers began to fall. Commercial lending libraries, cinemas and radio broadcasting also contributed to loss of users.

The meetings showed that there was a strong will to keep the Institute going in spite of the difficulties.

The future of the Institute was assured by a merger with the University of Surrey which became a Trustee of the building.  The University assisted in managing the Institute and ran many of its part-time courses in the building.

The Board shared a wealth of academic and administrative experience as well as business acumen. They devised a strategy for the future, including plans for the redevelopment of the building.

Generous donations, grants and loans allowed huge improvements to the building, including moving the office to a more visible location, improving library and kitchen facilities and a more modern entrance way. The building was also made more accessible with the installation of a lift and ground floor toilet.

After 36 years of serving home-made vegetarian food, the current owners retire and the restaurant closes.