East Finchley Library
EAST FINCHLEY LIBRARY, 226, HIGH 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:
- 1390575
- Date first listed:
- 18-Aug-2003
- List Entry Name:
- East Finchley Library
- Statutory Address:
- EAST FINCHLEY LIBRARY, 226, HIGH ROAD
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1390575
- Date first listed:
- 18-Aug-2003
- List Entry Name:
- East Finchley Library
- Statutory Address 1:
- EAST FINCHLEY LIBRARY, 226, HIGH 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:
- EAST FINCHLEY LIBRARY, 226, HIGH ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Barnet (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 27026 89932
Details
31/0/10441 HIGH ROAD 18-AUG-03 East Finchley 226 East Finchley Library
II Public Library. 1938, with minor later-C20 alterations. Percival T. Harrison, Borough architect and engineer, assisted by C.M. Bond for Borough of Finchley. Red and brown brick in Flemish bond with Portland Stone plinth, parapets and dressings. Hipped sand-faced tile roofs. Wrought iron balconies and steel frame windows by Rowe Bros. Neo-Georgian style 2-storey building with lower range behind.
PLAN: Main range to High Road has reading rooms flanking hall that leads to central circular inner hall, off which radiates the quadrant plan lending library with lower staff rooms and offices.
EXTERIOR: High Road elevation symmetrical and of 3 windows bays, those to side and first floor are full height with concrete balconies that have scrolled metal balustrades. Windows are small-pane with hoppers and margin lights that have bronze interlinked curved and vertical mullions. Central bay framed in rusticated stone with tall advanced stepped and moulded architrave and recessed wood door with scrolled overlight all under prominent stone arms of the former Borough of Finchley with motto REGNANT QUI SERVIUNT, blending into flat stone frieze with BOROUGH OF BARNET (formerly Finchley) PUBLIC LIBRARY. Stone frieze and parapet continues to sides where LEFT return has full height curved bay with similar balcony to first floor window, and RIGHT has additional bay with window under hipped roof. To rear, curved wall of lending library has horizontal clerestory windows with soldier course lintels. Lower first floor range with similar brick detailing, and chimney.
INTERIOR: Many of the original fittings survive, with joinery of Indian Silver Greywood. Stair has elaborately scrolled metal balusters to match those at balconies, brass handrail and brass finials in a handle shape to the newels. Curved glass and timber screen between inner hall and lending library. Original wood counters and bookshelves, those to lower shelves tilted upwards, in lending and children's rooms. Saucer dome ceiling with 3 circular roof lights in lending library. Lecture Hall on first floor with stage.
HISTORY: The Borough of Finchley (later absorbed into Barnet) adopted the Public Libraries Act in May 1930 and this was its third library.
SOURCE: Library Association Record January 1939.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 490523
- 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 08-Jun-2026 at 01:56:42.
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