Building    From 1840  To 1894

Westminster Library

Categories: Museums / Libraries

In 1856 the Vestry Council of St Margaret and St John in Westminster provided premises for a public library as described in the 1855 Public Libraries Act, thus beating other London parishes by 30 years.

From the Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science: Volume 33: "The old Westminster Literary, Scientific, and Mechanics Institution, occupying a site now covered by Church House in Great Smith Street, became the first Westminster public library and the first in London as a whole." At its source the image is captioned "The first public library in London, at Great Smith Street (1857)". 

The library function of this building was replaced in 1893 by the red brick "Old Westminster Library" on the opposite side of the street and that must be when (c.1894) the building pictured here was demolished, since Church House was, partially, built in 1891 - 1902.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Westminster Library

Commemorated ati

Old Westminster Library - foundation stone

Westminster Public Library The united parishes of St Margaret and St John the...

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Other Subjects

Sir Hans Sloane

Sir Hans Sloane

Physician, benefactor of the British Museum and an early benefactor to the Chelsea Physic Garden. Responsible for the addition of milk to chocolate to produce a palatable drink. Born Killyleagh, Ir...

Person, Benefactor, Medicine, Museums / Libraries, Race Issues, Science, Ireland

7 memorials
Victoria & Albert Museum

Victoria & Albert Museum

The South Kensington Museum opened on this site in 1857. It expanded and was renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899. A further expansion by Aston Webb opened in 1909. Also see Francis Fow...

Building, Museums / Libraries

4 memorials
Cecil Sharp

Cecil Sharp

Collector of English folk-songs and dances. Born Denmark Hill. Spent 1882 - 92 in Australia. Developed an interest in English folk-music in 1899 and began his prolific collection which later expand...

Person, Dance, Museums / Libraries, Music / songs, Australia

1 memorial
Major Ernest Edward Austen, DSO

Major Ernest Edward Austen, DSO

Ernest Edward Austen was born in 1867 in Dalston, Middlesex (now Greater London), the eldest of the five children of Ambrose Austen (1838-1924) and Eliza Burnet Austen née Smith (1839-1916). His bi...

Person, Armed Forces, Museums / Libraries, Africa, Brazil

War served, Other war
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Barking Lord Scruff

Barking Lord Scruff

Music critic, dog poet, photographic model and all round good egg.

Animal, Animals

1 memorial
Amber Sue O’Donnell

Amber Sue O’Donnell

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Muses - Apollo

Muses - Apollo

WC2, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery - Staircase Hall - Half-way Landing

Osbert Sitwell as Apollo, god of music, dance and lots more, plays a pipe to awaken the muses.

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Bruce Bairnsfather

Bruce Bairnsfather

SW7, Sterling Street, 1

Greater London Council Bruce Bairnsfather, 1888 - 1959, cartoonist, lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Sir Henry Cole - SW7

Sir Henry Cole - SW7

SW7, Thurloe Square, 33, Embassy of Republic of Kazakhstan

English Heritage Sir Henry Cole, 1808 - 1882, campaigner and educator, first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, lived here.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator