Wolfson Foundation has awarded Leighton Library grant of £50,000 towards cost of redeveloping Undercroft to create new exhibition space
Added at 10:58 on 28 July 2025
The Wolfson Foundation has awarded a grant of £50,000 towards the cost of redeveloping the Leighton Library Undercroft to create a new exhibition space. The Leighton Library Trustees and all other volunteers thank the Wolfson Foundation for this very generous award.
The redevelopment of the Undercroft is phase 3 of the Restoration Project for the Library. We are creating a new visitor facility, engagement space and exhibition area. 
As the library room was established on the upper floor, visitors must currently climb an original external forestair for entry and consequently the library is not accessible to those with limited mobility. The Undercroft will be fully accessible at ground level, enabling anyone to engage with the collection.
The proposed works include:
- The re-instatement of the second street doorway as the principal entrance to enable level access.
- The creation of a new exhibition space (software-driven interpretation panels, display cases etc).
- Temporary exhibitions to be held each year alongside the permanent interpretation in the Undercroft, with a second temporary exhibit in the library room
- Screen and seating for presentations, video and interactive 360-degree view of the library above.
- A welcome desk with information about the Library and the local area
- Disabled access
The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to support civil society by investing in excellent projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts.
Since it was established in 1955, some £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) has been awarded to more than 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review.