Highgate Branch Library and Attached Railings, Piers and Lamp Holders

HIGHGATE BRANCH LIBRARY AND ATTACHED RAILINGS, PIERS AND LAMP HOLDERS, CHESTER ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1271883
Date first listed:
02-Nov-1995
List Entry Name:
Highgate Branch Library and Attached Railings, Piers and Lamp Holders
Statutory Address:
HIGHGATE BRANCH LIBRARY AND ATTACHED RAILINGS, PIERS AND LAMP HOLDERS, CHESTER ROAD
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Date:
2006-10-08
Reference:
IOE01/15682/22
Rights:
© Mr Anthony Rau. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1271883
Date first listed:
02-Nov-1995
List Entry Name:
Highgate Branch Library and Attached Railings, Piers and Lamp Holders
Statutory Address 1:
HIGHGATE BRANCH LIBRARY AND ATTACHED RAILINGS, PIERS AND LAMP HOLDERS, CHESTER ROAD

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
HIGHGATE BRANCH LIBRARY AND ATTACHED RAILINGS, PIERS AND LAMP HOLDERS, CHESTER ROAD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Greater London Authority
District:
Camden (London Borough)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
TQ 28738 86619

Details

CAMDEN

TQ2886NE CHESTER ROAD
798-1/13/211 (South side)
02/11/95 Highgate Branch Library and attached
railings, piers and lamp-holders

II

Library. 1906. By William Nisbet Blair, St Pancras Borough
Engineer. 1930s rear single storey extension originally for
children's library. Red brick with terracotta dressings.
EXTERIOR: single storey with attic over central bay.
Symmetrical design of 3 bays. Central bay forms a
distyle-in-antis arcaded stone loggia with Corinthian capitals
and terracotta keystones, flanked by brick pilasters
supporting a dentil pediment with Diocletian window having
terracotta architrave and keystone; above arcading a plaque
inscribed "Highgate Branch Library". All windows with glazing
bars. Recessed round-arched central window flanked by
entrances, each with pedimented terracotta doorcase and
panelled double doors. Identical flanking bays repeat arcading
in brick with terracotta keystones having 3 windows each.
Above arcading terracotta balustrades with brick dies
surmounted by terracotta urn finials.
INTERIOR: very simple. Original bookcases retained but
shortened.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: attached cast and wrought-iron railings
to areas with brick piers having elaborate wrought-iron
lamp-holders flanking entrance steps. Attached cast and
wrought-iron forecourt railings on low brick sleeper wall with
central gates in similar style and brick piers with stone caps
and balls.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Highgate was the 1st branch library to be
built in the borough, ending a long-running row between
ratepayers and the Borough Council. In 1904 the Council
acquired the Highgate site from Mr Burdett-Coutts, most of the
cost being borne by the Duke of Bedford. The cost of the
building, »4,000, was paid for out of a »40,000 donation to St
Pancras from Andrew Carnegie who made grants to 118 libraries
in Great Britain.



Listing NGR: TQ2873886619

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
476895
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.

Ordnance survey map of Highgate Branch Library and Attached Railings, Piers and Lamp Holders

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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