Southwark Central Library and Cuming Museum
SOUTHWARK CENTRAL LIBRARY AND CUMING MUSEUM, WALWORTH 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:
- 1386027
- Date first listed:
- 17-Sept-1998
- List Entry Name:
- Southwark Central Library and Cuming Museum
- Statutory Address:
- SOUTHWARK CENTRAL LIBRARY AND CUMING MUSEUM, WALWORTH ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-06-21
- Reference:
- IOE01/04553/27
- 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:
- 1386027
- Date first listed:
- 17-Sept-1998
- List Entry Name:
- Southwark Central Library and Cuming Museum
- Statutory Address 1:
- SOUTHWARK CENTRAL LIBRARY AND CUMING MUSEUM, WALWORTH 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:
- SOUTHWARK CENTRAL LIBRARY AND CUMING MUSEUM, WALWORTH 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 32227 78589
Details
TQ3278
636-1/8/838
SOUTHWARK
WALWORTH ROAD (East side)
Southwark Central Library and Cuming Museum
GV
II
Public library and museum. 1892-1893, museum 1902-1906. By architect Edward I'Anson; builder J Grover and Sons; constructed out of parish rates by a special vestry committee. The museum was the gift of Henry Syer Cuming, in memory of his father Richard.
MATERIALS: red brick in Flemish bond with stone and terracotta dressings; roofs of slate.
STYLE: Dutch Renaissance Revival.
EXTERIOR: library: four storeys over basement, stepping up to five in five over centre in scroll gable; four-window range; single-storey library wing and entrance projecting from facade to line of pavement, its roof parapeted. All openings to ground-floor projection round-arched, with the entrance in third-window range set under a gabled aedicule on scroll brackets, the entablature of which bears an inscription, "Newington Public Library". Stone entablature and parapet to single-storey projection. Stone springing band to these and all other windows.
First and second-floor windows to main elevation gathered together under two-storey basket arches; the former flat-arched, the latter round-arched; storey band between first and second floors, springing band to second floor; keystones of basket arches intersect entablature which forms a sill band to third-floor windows, which are flat-arched and doubled, those in the outer ranges slightly narrower than the pair in the centre. Each bay of the third floor separated by pilasters, and an entablature with dentil cornice above lintels. The centre bays continue above the parapet terminating in a Dutch scroll gable pierced by a pair of flat-arched windows, set in a three-bay Tuscan aedicule; small keyed roundel in the very peak of the gable. The bays are marked above the parapet by finials. Cupola on axis with gable; to either side of gable are roundel dormers. Clustered stacks to fire wall.
On the short left return the library bears a 1914-1918 war memorial plaque. Plaque to the left of the entrance bears the following inscription: This stone laid on the 1st of November, 1892 by the Rev. Canon Palmer, MA, Rector of the Parish. Commissioners, GT Palmer, Chairman, HA Bridges, RC Davis, J Hattersley, TJ Hester, WJ Miles, N Nokes, J Piggott, GH Wavell, LJ Dunham Hon. Sec. EB I'Anson Architect and J Grover and Son Builder.
The exterior of the museum was not accessible.
INTERIOR: museum at rear of the complex, reached by a stair with handrail and balusters of original design, the ceiling to stair hall a half barrel vault supported by arched braces. Museum space is barrel-vaulted hall, the ceiling rebuilt; two storeys high, the long axis of which runs parallel to Walworth Road.
The Library and former Vestry Hall, Walworth Road (qv) form an important group.
Listing NGR: TQ3222778589
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 471448
- 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 22-Jun-2026 at 07:09:08.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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