Chatham library

Brief description

A visit to the local archives provided a wealth of information about this library. Tenders were put forward in May 1901, but were considered too expensive, so the architect George E Bond, (a local man who designed many of the areas notable public buildings – including the Town Hall – now the Brook Theatre), was asked to prepare plans for a cheaper building. There was a note in the local paper that in December 1901 there was a proposal to borrow a further £2,580. The foundation stone was laid in October 1902 by the Mayor.

When complete, the committee invited Andrew Carnegie to come and open the new library, but he had other engagements, so declined. The weather for the opening ceremony was fine, and there was a large crowd.

The first librarian was from West Ham, and there is a note that he asked for a phone and typewriter, but these only materialised in 1943, after he had retired! The library remained closed access until 1943.

The library was expanded in 1962, by the addition of a (very ugly) prefab alongside, for a children’s section and staff workroom. The address was 221 New Road.

Current status: Closed in 1971 due to dry rot. Then demolished in May 1984. Brought back to life in 2021 as the subject of an online game (see link below).

• Year grant given (if known): 1901
• Amount of grant: £4,500 (total cost £5,000
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 7 October 1903, by the Mayor of Chatham, Councillor William D Driver, Chairman of the Library Committee

Old photo of library (postcard):

Later photos show that the library lost its rooftop urns, and the small stone semicircular piece at the top of the gable. The arches which appear to have been filled in with tiles at the start were later plastered over.

Web links and other references:

• An sort of ‘twin’ connection is that Chatham, Ontario also had a Carnegie library! Their $19,000 was received in 1902, and the library was opened on 14 September 1903.
• Details about this, and all libraries in Kent found in a 3 part article written by Martin Tapsell: The Hare and the Tortoise – some notable public library buildings in Kent, published in Bygone Kent 2001-02.
• As mentioned above, details also found in various editions of the Chatham News, and Chatham Standard, seen in Medway Archives.
• There is another postcard of the library stored in the Cityark – Medway Archives online collection.
• News article: Medway’s one-of-a-kind online escape room exploring local history launches (Oct 2021) The library is the first building to feature in a new online game.

Dartford library

Brief description

It was designed by Thomas E. Tiffin AMICE, the then Dartford Urban District Council Surveyor, and built by  Messrs H. Friday and Sons and Ling, using Portland and York stone. The library was extended in 1937, in the same style as the original.

The Carnegie UK Trust gave an additional £450 for books in 1933 – a different tack to the original grant which was specifically for the building – councils had to furnish and supply with books themselves.

Re-opened in November 2016 after a £650,000 refurbishment (link to news item with photos below).

Awarded Grade II listing in 1975.

Current status: Still open as a public library, run by Kent County Council (2016)

• Year grant given (if known): Between 1912-14
• Amount of grant: £7,400
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 1 January 1916, by  A. W. Smale, Chairman of the Dartford Urban District Council, and W. A. Ward, the Chairman of the Library Committee.

Photo of library today (2008):

Details:

Old photo of library (postcard):

Visited?

Yes, in 2008

Web links:

• Entry on the listed buildings register
• wikipedia entry
• Library reopens after £650,000 refurbishment Kent Online

With thanks to Christoph Bull, a Kent historian who provided additional facts for this entry. He was also District Manager of Dartford library 2009-2013.

Gravesend library

Brief description

The building was opened in 1905, and spilled over into the building next door in 1983. The architect was Edmund J Bennett, who designed a building in the palladian renaissance style. The builder was AE Tong. The library remained closed access until 1924.

Awarded Grade II listing in 1975.

Current status: Still open as a public library, run by Kent County Council (2016)

• Year grant given (if known): around 1904
• Amount of grant: £6,000 (which the town increased to £7,050 to cover the full costs)
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 28 September 1905, by GM Arnold, Mayor of Gravesend

Photo of library in 2008:

Photo of library in 2017:

and showing new entrance to the right of the Carnegie building:

Details:

Old photo of library (postcard):

Nothing in my collection yet

Visited?

Yes, in 2008, and again in 2017. The new extension is light and airy, with a mezzanine area which houses the local studies collection.

Web and other links:

• Entry on the listed buildings register
• Newspaper article on the 2010 £2.5m refurbishment
• Photos from the refurbishment project – Clay Architecture
• Discover Gravesham – incl a history of Gravesend library
• Details about this, and all libraries in Kent found in a 3 part article written by Martin Tapsell: The Hare and the Tortoise – some notable public library buildings in Kent,  published in Bygone Kent 2001-02.

With thanks to Christoph Bull, a Kent historian who provided additional facts for this entry. He is also a former District Manager of Gravesham libraries (and his tours are mentioned in Martin Tapsell’s article).

Ramsgate library

Brief description

Designed by Stanley D Adshead, following a competition judged by Henry Hare, the library was his first major commission. Pevsner described it as being in “refined, scholarly neo-Georgian” style.

Just before its centenary celebration, fire destroyed the building on 13 August 2004. It was however rebuilt, retaining the facade, but with a new building behind on the original footprint. It reopened in 2009.

Awarded Grade II listing in 1988, before the fire.

Current status: Still open as a public library, run by Kent county council (2021)

• Year grant given (if known):
• Amount of grant: £7,000
• Year opened: October 1904

Photo of library in 2009:

Details:

Stained glass window, installed to commemorate the fire. Previously the circular space had contained a window with the town’s coat of arms.

Old photo of library (postcard):

Visited?

Yes, in 2009, after it reopened.

Web links and other references:

• Entry on the listed buildings register (nb, not sure what happens to a listing after such a destructive fire? The front has been retained, but the building behind is completely different)
• Article celebrating the reopening of the library (contains a photo of it ablaze)
• Details about this, and all libraries in Kent found in a 3 part article written by Martin Tapsell: The Hare and the Tortoise – some notable public library buildings in Kent, published in Bygone Kent 2001-02.