Passmore Edwards Library, Dulwich

[jim_the_chin]

I was sitting in The Plough earlier looking at the library. I was thinking that the wing of the building on Eynella Road was a poor post-ww2 reconstruction following its destruction in the war, but then found this pic

http://www.passmoreedwards.org.uk/pages/Libraries/Dulwich.htm

that suggests it was a 'cheap' wing originally.

Anyway, love the place inside and out, but think it would look amazing with symmetrical wings.

[DeanE]

Glad you found the drawing of the library on my website, Jim. The earliest image I have of the actual building suggests a single story wing, rebuilt after the bombing to give the present two story wing. I was very pleased to be able to give a talk on Edwards in the upper room last year, to mark the centenary of his death. If you come across any more photos of the building, especially taken inside, I would love to be able to add them to my archive. Hopefully the library has a copy of my book, "Funding the Ladder", which will tell you a little more about the library's history. I also collect anecdotes of experiences connected with any of his buildings.

Dean

[computedshorty]

The Dulwich Library had two Public Air Raid Shelters in the gardens, one in the far corner near the adjoing church, the other was facing Vals Greengrocers in Lordship Lane, when the war finnished this shelter was changed to a Public Toilet, later a new toilet block was built to the side of the Library in Eyenella Road, then the toilets became a wing of the Library.

My father was an Air Raid Warden based in the Library.

[edhistory]

.

[DeanE]

A different view of the library. Probably taken before WW1? Thanks

[steveo]

Cheers John, another cracker. If it weren't for the infant mortality, imminent war and TB, it would be good to have been around then

[jim_the_chin]

Nice website Dean, quite an extraordinary fellow.

Nice pic also John, thats a lovely looking window, less 'cheap' than I thought perhaps. I wonder how/why they didn't follow a symmeterical theme with the building though? Did they want to and run out of money?

Or is this a Victorian habit of spending all the oney on the faceade - in this case the LL-face of the library. Or did Eynella road not exist when it was built?

[bonniebird]

As a child, I used to frequent the Passmore Edwards Museum on Romford Rd, East London, loved it there!