Happy 20th Anniversary To Us!

It doesn’t seem over 20 years since four of us sat around Elizabeth Hammill’s kitchen table to hear her idea for a centre for children’s books in the uk which would conserve, promote and care for our rich heritage of books which were gradually being lost to other institutions, both home and abroad. The group was soon joined by Mary Briggs who fortuitously had recently retired, and another retiree, our first chairman, Jan Clements took the reins from librarian, solicitors, teachers and like minded people who met in premises ranging from a caretaker’s storeroom to posh legal offices on the Quayside!

We scoured the city looking for suitable sites but had little money and saw many buildings which were unsuitable. But then we were thrilled when Lindy Mckinnel offered the magnificent sum of £20000 from the estate of her late partner, Robert Westall and fate smiled on us again when a semi-derelict mill was found and kick started the project. Even a name was put forward by David Almond, what else but seven supposedly represented all the stories in the world and the building had, of course, seven stories!

I was given the opportunity to inspect the building by donning a hard hat and taking a hair- raising climb to climb between the scaffolding tarpaulins and the wall to the very highest point at roof level. And so, three years later, premises in Lime street were brought to a standstill when Jaqueline Wilson declared this magnificent building open, and we were off on a roller coaster journey which already had an enviable archive of material ranging from books to art work and amazing ephemera from teddies, typewriters and medals!

The integral bookshop did brisk trade and a programme of author visits and events was in place. There were Royal Visits – Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh; HM the Queen, and media royalty Kate Adie who demonstrated her fearless attitude by rapidly driving the wrong way up a one way street to arrive on time at a restaurant.

So Happy Birthday, Seven Stories, long may you continue to inform, delight and share the delights of children’s books!

–  Val Bierman

20 years old myself, I have fond memories of Seven Stories. Most memorable would be meeting Lauren Child, 5 year old me was obsessed with Charlie and Lola! Me and my grandma spent weeks collecting quality street wrappers, kitchen roll tubes or anything else we could repurpose to recreate the rocket ship in one of her books and 20 year old me is honestly still proud because it’s such a good replica! I also remember loving the dress up area and spent many weekends and holidays in seven stories.

– Lauren Robinson