The University of Buckingham celebrates official re-opening of Hunter Street Library
On Friday 12 December, The University of Buckingham celebrated the official re-opening of the library on their Hunter Street campus. The day celebrated generosity, heritage, and shared commitment to students and their learning.
The refurbishment of the Hunter Street Library was made possible by a bequest of £100,000 from the late Ronald Swains, alongside additional investment from the University. Six rooms have been transformed, alongside the staff kitchen and the toilets, all in the space of a year.
The result of this refurbishment is a brighter, more welcoming, and more inspiring library - designed with student input, modern in feel, yet deeply respectful of the building’s extraordinary history.
Among the newly refurbished rooms, the Ronald Swains Room is particularly special. This is one of the most intriguing rooms in the library and is home to historic graffiti carved into the beams when this building served as barracks for the Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry in the early 1800s. There are patriotic tributes to Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar, and bold declarations of “Burdett and Liberty forever,” as well as memories of great storms, floods, and even the price of bread. The markings offer a window into the everyday lives of young yeomen who once trained in space - reminders that learning, reflection, and community have long had a home at Buckingham.
This generous gift from the late Ronald Swains continues a legacy already felt across the University’s community.
Scholarships bearing Ronald Swains’ name have supported students for years, and those in attendance at the event were delighted to hear from one recipient, Dylan Davis, during the re-opening.
The University thanked Swains Solicitors, Estates and Library teams, and students who helped shape the design, and played a part in bringing the project to life.