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

Willesden Library

Willesden Library

The newly built up Willesden area was provided with a library, completed in 1894. It was extended at the back in 1907, part funded by Andrew Carnegie. The whole back section was rebuilt with addit...

Building, Museums / Libraries

1 memorial
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
St Mary Aldermanbury church

St Mary Aldermanbury church

This church, destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666 and rebuilt by Wren in 1676 was damaged in WW1 and then gutted in WW2, and then left roofless waiting for demolition - Londonist has a photo. On 5 ...

Group, Museums / Libraries, Religion, USA

2 memorials
Thomas Layton

Thomas Layton

Councillor for over 50 years and was Chairman of the Brentford Local Board from 1876 and first Chairman of the Brentford Urban District Council in 1894. FSA, Chairman Brentford Library Committee. ...

Person, Museums / Libraries, Politics & Administration

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