The second Charles Seely continued his father's concern for the education of the working man.

He designed and built the Reading Rooms for the men of the Brook and Brighstone. He also funded the first ‘free library’ on the Isle of Wight, now Nodehill School.

A plaque commemorates the laying of the foundation stone by his eldest daughter, Mary Florence Seely, in 1902.  As well as funding the building and the books, Sir Charles designed lockable oak bookcases some of which are still in use in village libraries today.