Announcing our new home

We are today sharing an important announcement that we will be relocating to a new home in Langhorne House. The move to the our new premises, situated just across the street from our current home in Charlton House and overseen by Charlton Triangle Homes, part of the Peabody Group, follows a collaborative effort with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust (RGHT) to make better use of existing space while enhancing the range of services available for the community.

We have benefited from a rent-free space within Charlton House for the past 24 years. However, this is no longer sustainable for Charlton House, which requires continual specialist and costly maintenance as a Grade I listed, publicly owned Jacobean manor house. In July of this year, we were made aware that it would need to find a new home. 

The decision to relocate to Langhorne House was made with careful consideration, and all parties are committed to ensuring minimal disruption during the move. While the new space may be different, it has been thoughtfully selected to meet our essential needs and provide a welcoming and safe environment for our members. 

We will occupy a space on the ground floor, which has been purpose-built for children under five. Previously housing a nursery, it offers step-free access, features child-friendly sinks, and has an area for the Library to continue its popular ‘stay and play’ sessions, making it a welcoming environment for the families that use our services.

John Stephens, our Chair, said: “While we acknowledge our strong and long-lasting connection with Charlton House, this move represents an exciting new chapter for the Toy Library. We are delighted to be staying in Charlton, close to the community we have served for over 40 years. Our new space will allow us to continue our services for years to come, and we look forward to shaping this new environment into a welcoming hub, ensuring that the Toy Library remains a cherished resource for the community.” 

Jasmin Thompson, Community Development and Programmes Manager of Charlton Triangle Homes, said: “We are excited about the opportunity to welcome Charlton Toy Library into Langhorne House. This move strengthens our collaboration with a local charity that has common values and allows us to support a vital service that has been a cornerstone of the community for decades. We are dedicated to ensuring that this transition is smooth and beneficial for everyone involved.” 

A spokesperson for the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust, said: “”We recognise the value that Charlton Toy Library, through the hard work of its staff and volunteers, brings to local families. We’ve worked together to find the Toy Library a new home so it can continue to serve the community.  This will allow Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust to rent the same space to a commercial tenant in Charlton House to generate an income that can help protect the future of one of the borough’s most unique landmarks – so it can always be enjoyed by local people and visitors alike.” 

We will move into our new home on 20 November and all members will be kept informed as plans are finalised for a date to reopen soon. We are committed to keeping members and the local community updated about next steps and any potential impacts. We invite everyone to celebrate this news on social media and to get involved with future plans.