Balham Public Library opened on 3 June 1898.
The land on which the library was built was owned by Henry Tate - the sugar magnate- who lived at Park Hill in Streatham. Tate gave £2k for the building on condition that the building was to be designed by Sydney Smith, architect of the Tate Britain.
The library is under the control of the Streatham Libraries Commissioners. The materials used in construction are red bricks, Portland stone and green slate while all arches are done in specially made red tile. The builder is Mt T Wallis of Balham and Mr Bull Clerk of works
Considerable difficulty was experienced in the foundations as the building is on the site of an old gravel pit and piers (on which the building stands) had to be carried down very deep.
The site was presented to the Commissioners by Henry Tate JP of Streatham and the library is being erected by them as a branch of the Steratham Library which will be the central one of several branches.
The Building News 15 April 1898
The land on which the library was built was owned by Henry Tate - the sugar magnate- who lived at Park Hill in Streatham. Tate gave £2k for the building on condition that the building was to be designed by Sydney Smith, architect of the Tate Britain.
The library is under the control of the Streatham Libraries Commissioners. The materials used in construction are red bricks, Portland stone and green slate while all arches are done in specially made red tile. The builder is Mt T Wallis of Balham and Mr Bull Clerk of works
Considerable difficulty was experienced in the foundations as the building is on the site of an old gravel pit and piers (on which the building stands) had to be carried down very deep.
The site was presented to the Commissioners by Henry Tate JP of Streatham and the library is being erected by them as a branch of the Steratham Library which will be the central one of several branches.
The Building News 15 April 1898
