The Reading Room’s flag was flown on Friday 7th October in recognition of the 244th anniversary of Captain Rayley’s birth.
The building of the Reading Room, which opened on 2nd June 1864, was funded at a cost of £546.40 by Mrs Frances Rayley in memory of her husband Captain Rayley RN who died in May 1863.
Captain Rayley was a wealthy man who lived for part of his later life in Southwold on the corner of Lorne Road in the house now known as May Place. Whilst living in Southwold he was involved with a number of local organisations including being the Chairman of Southwold Union Book Club. His wife decided that building a reading room in Southwold would be a suitable memorial to her husband.
