The Old Library, Dulwich College
THE OLD LIBRARY, DULWICH COLLEGE, COLLEGE 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:
- 1385421
- Date first listed:
- 21-Jan-1994
- List Entry Name:
- The Old Library, Dulwich College
- Statutory Address:
- THE OLD LIBRARY, DULWICH COLLEGE, COLLEGE ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2006-07-23
- Reference:
- IOE01/15906/14
- Rights:
- © Miss Deborah Bullen. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1385421
- Date first listed:
- 21-Jan-1994
- List Entry Name:
- The Old Library, Dulwich College
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE OLD LIBRARY, DULWICH COLLEGE, COLLEGE 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:
- THE OLD LIBRARY, DULWICH COLLEGE, COLLEGE ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Southwark (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 33133 73080
Details
SOUTHWARK
TQ3373 COLLEGE ROAD 636-1/15/232 (South side) 21/01/94 The Old Library, Dulwich College
GV II
Memorial library, now meeting room and classrooms. 1902-3 and 1910. By Edwin T Hall as a memorial to those formerly of Dulwich College (Old Alleynians) killed in the South African War. Lower addition to rear of 1910 by E Stanley Hall in tribute to Canon James Carver, first head of the school on its refoundation. Lower rectangular block to rear with narrow link the gift of the banker Henry Yates Thompson. MATERIALS: red brick with Portland stone dressings and copings, slate roofs save for copper dome over rotunda at southern end of rectangular double-height main library. EXTERIOR: the library is a 5-bay composition with Ionic columns standing proud over attached buttressing plinths and supporting a heavy cornice, volute brackets and scalloped parapet. These curves are contrasted with round-arched mullioned windows each with a heavy transom along the line of the thick cornice of the 5-bay rotunda projecting to the south. Stone dado carrying through prominent buttresses with volute stops and deep stone base emphasise the continuity of the composition through the two elements of the building. The glazing has been replaced but retains the historic leading. Entrance in 4th bay from north of main range, with double doors under segmental pediment rising behind to a shallow dome. Iron bootscraper a part of the original work. Stacks at either end of the main ridge disguised behind aediculed and pedimented niches. Timber cupola in centre and over copper dome. Figure of Justice over buttress of rotunda by HC Fehr, presumably in commemoration of the British victory. Memorial at northern end to the nine Old Alleynians killed in 1899-1902. The Carver Room has stone pedimented ends with triglyph frieze over Roman Doric columns flanking tripartite windows. INTERIOR: the library retains its barrel vault, oak panelling and chimneypieces with massive volute brackets and modillion mouldings under projecting flues topped with the school crest. The interior of Carver Room is square, with a box cornice and shallow saucer dome over fitted cupboards and panelling. (Piggot JR: Dulwich College).
Listing NGR: TQ3313373080
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 470818
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Piggot, JR, Dulwich College, ()
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 12-Jun-2026 at 19:45:04.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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