Sandown library

Brief description

The library was built on land donated by local businessman Mr Alexander Keller (builder of the Savoy Hotel). The architect was James Newman.

The article linked below notes: By 1906 there were 2,745 books available with an additional reference library, a ladies room had been opened, and fossils from around the Island (now housed at Dinosaur Isle) formed a geology collection. 

Current status: Still open as a public library, run by the Isle of Wight council (2021)

  • Year grant given (if known): 1903
  • Amount of grant: £2,000
  • Year opened (and by who – if known): 1905 by Lord Alverstone (Lord Chief Justice of England)

Photo of library in 2020:

Photo credit: Oriel Prizeman 2020. Image shared under CC license CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 Cardiff University AHRC Shelf Life project

Details:

The library has a sandstone plaque on the side of the building, recording the Carnegie gift. It has unfortunately become eroded and illegible – but the Friends group were trying to raise funds to revive it.

Old photo of library (postcard):

Nothing in my collection yet

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