Boscombe library

Brief description

Library was designed by borough architect Charles Thomas Miles.

Current status: Demolished in 1965, after the library moved to a new home.

• • Year grant given (if known):
  • Amount of grant: Total of £10,000 to build 4 libraries: Westbourne, Springbourne, Winton and Boscombe. Boscombe was allocated £4,000
  • Year opened (and by who – if known): 22 June 1910, by Mayor G E Bridge

Old photo of library (postcard):

Nothing in my collection yet, but this image was shared (under cc licence) by Alwyn Ladell

Web links:

Branksome library

Brief description

The architect was SJ Newman. The library was extended in 1928 and 1960.

Current status: Destroyed by fire in 1967

• Year grant given (if known):
• Amount of grant:
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 1904

Old photo of library (postcard):

Nothing in my collection yet, but flickr user Alwyn Ladell has scanned a postcard:

Web links:

Winton library

Brief description

The first of four libraries to be built in Bournemouth following the Carnegie award.
It was built on land given by Lord Leven. the architects were Harry E Hawker and Victor Mitchell. The winning tender for the new library was from Miller and Sons who submitted an estimate of £1,833.

The library was modernised and redecorated in 1926 and extended in 1933. Forty years later in 1967 there was another major refurbishment which included new floors and lighting.

It was declared a Grade 2 listed building in 1976.

There were more refurbishments in 1993 and 2006 – when the library was fitted with a computer suite.

Current status: Still a public library, managed by Bournemouth borough council (2021).

• Year grant given (if known):
• Amount of grant: A total of £10,000 to build 4 libraries: Westbourne, Springbourne, Winton and Boscombe. Winton was allocated £2,000
• Year opened: 26 October 1907, by Alderman JA Parsons, Mayor of Bournemouth.

Photo of library in 2013:

Details:

Old photo of library (postcard):

Visited?

We visited in 2013.  It was busy, but the librarian had time to talk. She explained the back of the building used to house a bindery, but once that was no longer needed, it was refurbished and now houses a children’s centre.
The street off to the right is called Library Road!

Web links:

• Entry on the Waymarking site
• Entry on the listed buildings register

Springbourne library

Brief description

One of 4 built in Bournemouth with Carnegie funding – the second to be opened. The architects were Harry E Hawker and Victor Mitchell.

Current status: Still a public library, managed by Bournemouth borough council (2021)

• Year grant given (if known):
• Amount of grant: Total grant was £10,000 to build 4 libraries: Westbourne, Springbourne, Winton and Boscombe. Springbourne was allocated £2,000
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 27 March 1909, by Mayor G E Bridge

Photo of library in 2013:

Details:

Old photo of library (postcard):

Visited?

We visited in 2013. Unfortunately it had just closed, so we couldn’t see inside, but there was a lovely garden next door.

Web links:

• Brief mention in the Wikipedia page for Springbourne
• Book reference: The history of Bournemouth public libraries 1893-1913 (amazon link)

Westbourne library

Brief description

Arts and Crafts style building, the last of 4 built in Bournemouth with Carnegie funding. The architect was Charles Thomes Miles. The cost of the build by Messrs. Barnes & Pond was £1,887. The opening ceremony was a prestigious event attended by the Mayor of Bournemouth alderman Henry Robson, the Libraries Committee and Mr J A Longden. The latter of whom had made the library possible.

At Westbourne the difficulty was not only finding the money, but also acquiring a suitable plot of land. In 1914 the Carnegie Trust withdrew their offer due to the lack of progress in finding a site, but after an appeal in the local papers Mr Longden purchased the north portion of the garden of Wilton House on Alum Chine Road, and gifted it to Bournemouth Council.

At the opening ceremony, the Mayor was presented with a commemorative silver-gilt key by the architect Mr C T Miles, and Mr Longden, the borrower of the first book ‘Bournemouth 1810-1910’.

It closed in 1966 for 3 weeks to allow for extensive refurbishment – and this is when the new entrance was built. Then in the early 1990s it was extended into an ajoining site.

Awarded Grade II listing in 1976.

Current status: Still a public library, managed by Bournemouth borough council

• Year grant given (if known):
• Amount of grant: A total of £10,000 to build 4 libraries: Westbourne, Springbourne, Winton and Boscombe. Westbourne was allocated £2,000
• Year opened: by Henry Robson, Mayor on 13 May 1916

Photo of library in 2013:

Details:

Photo of the original suggested layout – taken by Alwyn Ladell (shared under cc licence)

Old photo of library (postcard):

Visited?

We visited in 2013

Web links:

• Plans for the centenary celebrations
• 100 years of Westbourne library – including a photogallery
• Entry on the listed buildings register
• This album of photos by Alwyn Ladell contains a lot of historical material that was on display during the library’s centenary celebrations