In 1903 some private houses on the corner of Brackley Road and Park Street were demolished and a handsome stone building, with brick dressings and a slate roof, was built as a Young Men's Evening Institute by Miss Charlotte and Miss Ada Phipps, members of the local brewery family, who lived nearby at Yealm House, 9 Brackley Road.

The so-named Studio was built for the benefit of the young men of Towcester, with classes held in Bible Reading, Play Acting, Lino Cutting, Wood Carving, Sports etc. Many young men took part in the Studio activities, which boasted at least one football team. There was a stone tablet outside the building with the inscription

CAP. AP. NOT UNTO US. 1903

In 1910 some members asked Miss Charlotte Phipps to form a brass band. The two sisters bought instruments and equipment, and by October of that year the Towcester Studio Band was formed, which continues to thrive to this day.

In 1932 the building was sold to the Manchester Union of Oddfellows, who put up the datestone

MU ODDFELLOWS HALL 1932

It subsequently became the local Labour Exchange, and now the building is used for a mobile telephone business, Dialect (Direct Line Connections Ltd.).

Keith McLean, February 2002.

References:

1. "Towcester - The Story of an English Country Town" published by the Towcester and District Local History Society 1995 (ISBN 0 9524619 1 9).

2. Information from Tom Knowlton