Newnes Public Library
NEWNES PUBLIC LIBRARY, DISRAELI ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1331702
- Date first listed:
- 13-Dec-1994
- List Entry Name:
- Newnes Public Library
- Statutory Address:
- NEWNES PUBLIC LIBRARY, DISRAELI ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 1999-11-04
- Reference:
- IOE01/02038/02
- Rights:
- © Mr Richard Hunter. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1331702
- Date first listed:
- 13-Dec-1994
- List Entry Name:
- Newnes Public Library
- Statutory Address 1:
- NEWNES PUBLIC LIBRARY, DISRAELI 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.
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:
- NEWNES PUBLIC LIBRARY, DISRAELI ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Wandsworth (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 24035 75146
Details
The following building shall be added:
DISRAELI ROAD TQ 27 NW (south side) 1207-/1/10021 Newnes Public Library II Public library, 1899 by Francis J Smith at the expense of Sir George Newnes. Red brick with extensive stone dressings. Roof not visible. Three bays, three storeys. Dwarf wall with four stone piers to front. Arched entrance within Ionic stone porch, bearing balcony inscribed in raised lettering 'NEWNES PUBLIC LIBRARY'. Central arched eight-light window with stone mullions and transoms; four-light window in right-hand bay. First floor has bowed six-light mullioned window in centre, between blocked Ionic pilasters, above solid balustrade carved with the borough arms and motto against an oak leaf background. Six-light mullioned windows on each side. Second floor has a bowed balustrade in front of central two-light windows set between three projecting Ionic pilasters. Four-light mullioned windows on each side. String courses at sill and transom levels, entablatures at first and second floor and attic levels. Brick parapet with stone finials above projecting strips between windows and on corners. Central frontispiece culminates in tall, segmental pediment, enclosing date cartouche. Obelisk finial above centre. Chimney stacks of banded brick and stone. Interior. Double entrance doors lead via vestibule lined with plaques to long corridor with vaulted domed plaster roof. Reading room at end with open timber truss roof of six bays with dormers. Linking corridor leads to 1977 lending library of no interest. Included as a very good example of a Norman Shaw-inspired library building in an eclectic Jacobean style, with an unusually lavish and intact interior. Now also houses the Wandsworth Museum.
Listing NGR: TQ2403575146
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 422726
- 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 18-Jun-2026 at 13:24:04.
Download a full scale map (PDF)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.