Gateshead Central Library in Tyne and Wear is hosting a full day of free activities and workshops this Saturday, 7 March 2026, to celebrate its 100th birthday. Local residents are invited to visit the historic building on Prince Consort Road to mark a century of service to the community. This milestone event marks one hundred years since the library first became a focal point for the town’s history and education.
The centenary celebration is a collaboration between Gateshead Council and the local social enterprise Side by Side Arts CIC. Visitors can take part in drop-in creative workshops and family-friendly craft sessions throughout the morning and afternoon. A special heritage tour exploring the hidden history of the building also begins at 14:00 for those interested in the library’s past.
The event is also supported by the charity The Queen’s Reading Room as part of a wider partnership to mark the landmark year. The library originally opened its doors in 1926, after the Carnegie Trust provided a £15,000 grant for its construction. Although the funding was offered in 1916, work on the building was delayed by the First World War until 1918.
Over the last century, the building has adapted to modern needs, including a major internal refurbishment in 2009. The council aims to use the birthday celebration to share the magic of libraries with more people and highlight the role of the building as a creative hub. All activities on the day are free of charge to ensure everyone in the community can participate in the historic occasion.
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