No books here since 1954...

Most people who use and know the public Library in West Hampstead know it on the corner of Dennington Park Road.

But for a time (4-ish years!) after it was bombed out of Westbere Road it sought refuge in the corner of Mill Lane and Fortune Green Road.

The entrance is pictured here in Cholmley Gardens and has a small little plaque on the left hand side of the entrance.

I've touched on this topic briefly before
http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/02/from-councillor-to-tower-block-and-mp.html

It's a small historical link but a nice little piece...

I've also touched on the wider library story in Camden here
http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/10/has-public-philanthropy-currency-in-our.html

Has public philanthropy currency in our libraries?

The old Central Library on Arkwright Road has all the atmosphere of a grand old library in the philanthropic tradition and so it is not surprising to find that the cost was covered by a gift from Sir Henry Harben.

This further enforced when you learn that the reference library comprised 8,000 volumes of Professor Henry Morley's Library and a local archive collection including a survey of 1680 of the heath. After severe damage in 1940 and 1945 the adjoining bombed sites were bought for future enlargement, but in 1964 the library closed.

It is now a grade II listed building and serves as Camden Arts Centre.

Libraries in the local area have a long pedigree:

• 1833 saw the foundation of Hampstead subscription library
• 1887 started free lending to working-class readers from Stanfield House
• 1891 created a specific reading room for users
• 1892, Hampstead Vestry set up commissioners to provide libraries outside of Hampstead after the adoption of the Public Libraries Act
• 1894 saw the first local public library at 48 Priory Road, Kilburn
• 1896 was the start of construction of the Central Library on the corner of Finchley and Arkwrights Roads, designed by A S Tayler and opened the following year
• 1897 saw the Belsize branch library in Antrim Grove
• 1899 The Central Library began full lending library facilities
• 1901 saw West Hampstead branch library was opened on the corner of Westbere and Sarre roads
• 1907 Heath branch library opened as Worsley Road branch in the former school building
• 1909 saw the addition of a children's library to The Central Library
• 1910 Belsize was adapted from it's series of reading and reference rooms into an open-access library
• 1936 Belsize was closed due to structural defect and a new building opened on the same site the following year.
• 1940 West Hampstead branch Library was destroyed during the war and temporarily located
• 1950 the West hampstead library moved to Cholmley Gardens on Fortune Green Road and the corner of Mill Lane
• 1954 a new West Hampstead branch library was built as part of a housing development at the corner of Dennington Park Road and West End Lane where it continues today
• 1964 The Central Library was closed and transferred to the new swiss Cottage site

http://www.camdenartscentre.org/home/

Following a reburbishment by Tony Fretton Architects, Camden Arts Centre re-opened to the public in 2004. The beautiful and sensitively designed building combines the original victorian gothic features with a contemporary urban design to enhance space and light. The new galleries attract artists of the highest calibre, able to display a broad range of work including installation, film and video, light sensitive drawings and sculpture.

England's Lane to Hampstead Theatre...

Just walking around the patch is a joy and Eton Avenue is no exception - until 1800 it was pretty much a farmland estate and then was carved into the wide avenues it is today by a series of developers and business interests - and the architecture reflects the spread of ambition.

But I was really stuck by the grandeur and range of the gateposts - and within 100 yards or so captured these four great pictures.



If we have any modern understanding of what makes a place good, what makes a place special, what enhances people's pride and activity in maintaining an area it is this mix of quality in design and construction.

At either end of Eton Avenue is the England's Lane shopping area - seriously good range of local independent traders and at the other end Hampstead Theatre, Swiss Cottage Farmers Market and the Swiss Cottage Community Centre, Library and Leisure Centre. It's great to live here!

Ed Fordham

From councillor to Tower Block and MP

I thought it was time we entered the sphere of the engraved foundation stone - there are quite a few around so this should be a fairly rich vein.

Judging by the number of people I see stopping to read them I guess I'm not the only one who takes an interest in these.

This is West Hampstead Branch Library (obscured by the handrail!):

This stone was laid on 17th July 1954
His Worship The Mayor
Councillor Emmanuel Snowman JP

Councillor Geoffrey Finsberg
Chairman of the Public Libraries Committee

S.J. Butcher F.L.A.
Chief Librarian
P.H. Harrold O.B.E.
Town Clerk

Of course, Councillor Snowman now has a block named after him in Kilburn and Councillor Finsberg went on to be MP for Hampstead and Highgate.

Libraries - old fashioned, crucial or both?

I have always been a fan of libraries, in fact I'm a lover of books. I have just brought together my whole book collection and it currently occupies more than a square cubit and I can't deny being a little worried for the weight of the floor/flat!

When I was younger libraries were a key part of family life - every wednesday (late night opening to 7.30pm where I grew up) was a trip to the library with my mum and sister and it was just a feature of the week. As a result I have always read a huge amount and just enjoy the book world.

But of course the world has changed and the age of the computer has arrived. So it raises the question - is the age of the library over? Well, judging by the volume of computers in a good modern library then the answer is pretty clear... both live side by side.

There had been some concerns over the future of libraries in both Camden and Brent with the change of political administrations, but it's great to see that in fact there is a rennaissance taking place in Brent. £1.4million in lottery grant for Harlesden Library and a further £300,000 for libraries within the Council budget itself.

http://www.brent.gov.uk/www.nsf/b46bbda67104c5a980256e280052a265/02d674568bba29918025738b00576b5e!OpenDocument

I'm very pleased and my committment at least to libraries, books and of course the requisite computers remains. :-)

http://www.londonlibraries.org/servlets/home