Brief description
The building was erected on the old Richmond House site and the architect was Henry A. Crouch A.R.I.B.A., much of the cost being born by Andrew Carnegie, Sir Robert Loder and Alfred Curtis. The success of the library owed much to the energy and vision of the Borough Librarian and Curator, Miss Marian Frost , who had been appointed to the post in 1901. She wrote to Carnegie, who refused at first, as “the town already had a library”. She persevered, explaining how inadequate it was, and he eventually agreed. The library continued in this location until 1975, when the new Worthing Library was built in Richmond Road.
Carnegie visited in May 1909, and was given the Freedom of the Borough.
Current status: Now just houses Worthing museum and art gallery (2017)
- Year grant given (if known):
- Amount of grant: £6,200
- Year opened (and by who – if known): 14 December 1908, by the Rt Hon Sir H Aubrey-Fletcher Bart, CB, MP
Photo of library today (2017):
Details:
Old photo of library (postcard):
Visited?
Yes, during a family weekend in West Sussex in September 2017. The former library on the left hand side is closed off at the moment, but we were allowed through to take a photo of the plaque. There are lots of original features still there, and the museum person told us they do have plans to renovate and reopen it, adding to the space the museum occupies.
Web links:
- wikipedia page (museum and art gallery)
- Article about Marian Frost and her dealings with Carnegie
