The project vision was to refurbish the Mansion House within Calderstones Park to create The Reader’s International Centre for Shared Reading. Alongside its International profile, The Reader is primarily a community based organisation. This project sought to build on that relationship and improve both the facilities and its offer.

The Mansion House was constructed in 1828 and is grade II listed. It includes an art deco outdoor theatre in the ‘secret garden’ to the rear of the house, added in 1945.