Old Library Building
OLD LIBRARY BUILDING, 14-16, KNIGHTS HILL
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1250518
- Date first listed:
- 15-Feb-1993
- List Entry Name:
- Old Library Building
- Statutory Address:
- OLD LIBRARY BUILDING, 14-16, KNIGHTS HILL
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 1999-09-12
- Reference:
- IOE01/00931/15
- Rights:
- © Mr David March. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1250518
- Date first listed:
- 15-Feb-1993
- List Entry Name:
- Old Library Building
- Statutory Address 1:
- OLD LIBRARY BUILDING, 14-16, KNIGHTS HILL
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- OLD LIBRARY BUILDING, 14-16, KNIGHTS HILL
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Lambeth (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ3189472125
Details
TQ 3172
963-/31/10008
KNIGHTS HILL
Nos 14-6 (Old Library Building)
II
Adult education institute, formerly library. Designed in 1887 by R.J Smith and opened in 1888. Flemish style. Red brick in Flemish bond with Ham Hill stone dressings and some bands of roughcast. Mansard tiled roof and brick and stone chimneystacks.
Two storeys and attics, ten windows. Right hand portion is a symmetrical composition with three hipped dormers with casements. Central two storey loggia with elaborate swansneck pediment above with date in carved brick 1887. First floor has seven stone terms with busts of Homer, Sir Walter Scott, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Dickens and Socrates and inscription in panels below reading "Free Public Library". Ground floor has four partly fluted and partly plain columns with Venetian-type capitals. Wings have two casements set in arches on first floors with terracotta cherubs above and aprons below. Ground floor has one four-light mullioned and transomed arched window. Plinth. Left-hand side is in matching style. One hipped dormer with casement, three casements to first floor, five-light window to ground floor and left side doorcase. This is one of the earliest free public libraries in central London.
Listing NGR: TQ3189472125
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 432908
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 17-Jun-2026 at 03:45:16.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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