Publishing giant's gift to town gets all clear for upgrade

Plans for a £4m upgrade to a building gifted to his home town of Peebles by a 19th Century publishing giant have been approved.

William Chambers - along with his brother Robert - formed W&R Chambers which printed the Chambers' English Dictionary in 1872 becoming a leader in the field.

Preparatory work has already started on the overhaul of the category A-listed Chambers Institution.

The High Street building will be reconfigured, access improved and a new lift fitted as part of efforts to make the property accessible for everyone.

Concerns had been raised over some of the proposed changes, with historical organisations identifying alterations to the second floor art gallery - for accommodating the new lift - as having the most adverse impact.

Architects and historians both agreed that a planned lift enclosure would constitute heritage harm - but believed that creating access for everyone, on balance, was justified.

To accommodate the 18-month refurbishment, Citizens Advice has relocated to Newby Court, Go Tweed Valley has moved to School Brae, and the town's museum collections and staff are heading to the former Eddleston Primary School.

Library services will operate from a mobile van for the duration of the works.

William Chambers was born in Peebles in 1800 - the first of six children.

Forced to declare bankruptcy, his father moved the family to Edinburgh so that he could find work.

In 1832, along with younger brother Robert, William published the Edinburgh Journal and by April of that year they were printing 32,000 copies weekly and the firm of W&R Chambers was formed.

It ventured into dictionaries with the Chambers' English Dictionary.

William became Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1865 with the city's Chambers Street named in his honour and a statue also put up.

He died in 1883 and was buried in his home town.