Tiny library’s a novel idea for village
David Berridge and Brian Taylor have turned Ufford's telephone box into a book exchange. L-R Brian Taylor and David Berridge - Credit: Archant
A Suffolk village has brought new meaning to the term “phone book”.
Villagers in Ufford, near Woodbridge, decided to convert their redundant red phone box into one of the country’s smallest libraries.
David Berridge and Brian Taylor fitted the 9ft by 3ft space with bookshelves following a suggestion by the local WI.
The book exchange now stocks a variety of reads for people to borrow and replace with their own used volumes.
Ufford is now one of a handful of villages around the country to turn its unused telephone box into a book exchange.
Mr Berridge said: “It had just been sitting there redundant for a long time.
“The WI met and said it would be fantastic to turn it into something, so we were commandeered to help out.”
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Following an announcement in the local newsletter, books have steadily begun appearing on the shelves, giving the box a new lease of life after about 10 years of being inoperative.
Mr Taylor added: “It annoyed us to see it getting tatty and dirty. We hope people will come along to deliver and borrow books.”
The old phone box, near the village sign in Barrack Lane, is also being used to display local notices, advertisements, and a map of the heritage trail route, including St Mary’s church and its impressive 15th Century baptismal font.
As well as installing six bookshelves, Mr Berridge and Mr Taylor have cleared the area of stinging nettles and fitted a step at the entrance to the box, which is also due to be repainted.
