04/01/2025
Come and learn more about this building and see inside on my Acton’s Lost Cinemas walking tour. The next one is Sunday 26 January. https://memorypalaces.co.uk/walks/actons-lost-cinemas/
OUR BUILDING TURNS 125 TODAY
The stunning Old Library building we are proud to call home was opened 125 years ago. Constructed from elegant red brick and Portland stone, it was praised as being “in the English Renaissance Style.”
The design was the work of Maurice Adams, FRIBA, of South East Acton, with the construction carried out by a firm of Sidney Powell of Woodstock Road.
The foundation stone was laid in December 1898 by Lord George Hamilton, the local MP. Just over a year later, on Friday, 3rd January 1900, at 3 PM, the Acton Public Library reading rooms were officially opened by the American Ambassador, Hon. Joseph H. Choate.
The ceremony was attended by notable figures, including EF Hunt, the Bishop of London, Lord George Hamilton, their families, and an audience of 1,396 local residents.
This historic building was completed at a total cost of £6,690, largely funded by the philanthropist J. Passmore Edwards - a testament to the lasting legacy and significance in the community.
We are grateful for all your support in turning the disused library into a thriving cultural hub.
Our heartfelt thanks go to artists Charlotte Berridge Studio, Haskett Prints and photographer Rod Souza for portraying the building so well, and to Dean Evans for a beautiful informative article ♥️
