IT is not every day when a town gets a new library, and Ledbury people can celebrate the fact with a fortnight of free events and activities.

The fifteenth century Master's House, on St Katherine's car park, has undergone a £2.9m restoration and Ledbury's new library is now housed there, following its move from the Elizabeth Barrett Browning Institute.

One of the first through the doors was Jan Long of Bromsberrow, who said: "The interior looked simply stunning, with user-friendly lighting and signage, and a sympathetically engineered juxtaposition between historic building and brand new library facilities."

One of those new facilities is a self-service machine with which customers can use to check their books in and out.

Although the library is open, the Master's House will not be declared officially open until Saturday March 28, and then celebrations will begin in style.

Rachel Lambert, Heritage and Volunteering Coordinator at the Master's House said: "There will of course many more things on offer throughout the year, but we wanted to make this two weeks an event all on its own.

"It is just the beginning and we hope that the Master’s House will soon become a cultural and community haven for future creative and educational opportunities."

Attractions on the opening day, Saturday March 28, will include medical music with the Ledbury Waytes, from 9.30am to 2pm and poetry readings with the John Masefield Society, throughout the morning.

Other forthcoming attractions will include public tours of the Master's House.

A talk by architect Gary Butler, on "The Restoration of the Master's House" will take place in the Burgage Hall, Church Lane, on April 8, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

On March 28, April 4 and April 11, the Master's House will host "Terracotta Gargoyles" sessions, when Eastnor Pottery will help people to make their own medieval monsters.

The resulting collaborative terracotta sculptures will then reside in the Masters House kitchen garden.

On April 4, visitors will be able to meet the gruesome medieval surgeon, from 9.30am to 2pm, and on the same day, from 11am to 4pm, to celebrate 150 years of Alice in Wonderland, the library will host the Mad Hatter's Tea Party.

On April 11, from 11am until noon, Ledbury Community Brass Band "will entertain in the Master's House with a selection of their

favourite pieces".

Details of all the opening fortnight events, and free tickets if required, are available at the library.