South Norwood Library

South Norwood Library is a purpose-built public library in South Norwood, South London. Also known locally as 'Brutalist Library' it stands in the London Borough of Croydon and is part of the Croydon Libraries[1] arm of the council. The site on the corner of Selhurst Road and Lawrence Road has been home to a public library since 1897.[2]

South Norwood Library
South Norwood Library
General information
AddressLawrence Road, South Norwood, SE25 5AA
Town or citySouth Norwood, London
CountryUnited Kingdom
Completed1968
ClientLondon Borough of Croydon
Design and construction
ArchitectHugh Lea, Dip. Arch. (Leeds) A.R.I.B.A.
Website
www.croydon.gov.uk/libraries-leisure-and-culture/libraries/find-your-library/south-norwood-library

The library building is arranged over five open-plan levels, split across the front and rear of the building. The front part of the building has the ground floor entrance level, which houses the reception, and the second floor which houses the children's library. The rear of the building has the basement, first and third floors. The levels are offset so that the floors in the front and rear of the building appear like mezzanine levels to each other. There is a lift serving all five floors.[3]

The library service was due to be moved to a smaller retail site in Station Road, and due to open in 2019 but remains empty and not fit for purpose.[4] Since the COVID-19 lockdowns the library service has reopened in the purpose-built 1968 library with reduced opening hours.[5] The Friends of South Norwood Library campaign for the library service, supported by authors including Alex Wheatle.[6] The Brutalist Library Campaign is working to protect the building due to its architectural, historical and social merit.[7]

History

The library was designed by Hugh Lea, Borough Architect for Croydon in 1966[8] together with the Chief Librarian T.E. Callander and opened in 1968.[9] It is locally listed, within the South Norwood conservation area and a national listing application has been made to Historic England.[8]

The community take great pride in this central landmark of South Norwood, and in 2006 the participatory arts organisation 'Mosaic Art' worked with hundreds of children and community members in the borough to create a Mosaic design which would form a permanent art installation in front of the library. Passers-by can enjoy the mosaic heritage treasure map which contains many clues about the history of the area.[2]

Architecture

The library is a fine example of 1960s Brutalist architecture and shows the influences of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in its structural clarity and simplicity. South Norwood Library has been part of Open House London in 2021, which was organised by the Brutalist Library Campaign, and was featured in the must-see buildings of Open House London alongside 10 Downing Street and City Hall, London (Southwark).

Edwin Heathcote, the Financial Times's architecture critic picked South Norwood Library as one of six places to see during the Open House London Festival 2021.[10] The Architects' Journal also included South Norwood Library as one of their highlights of Open House London 2021.[11]

Services

Services available at South Norwood Library include Books & CDs for reference and loan at the reception area. There is a children's library on the second floor.

Other services include :

  • Enquiry service
  • Free access to PCs including the internet
  • Black and white photocopier
  • Books in community languages
  • Newspapers and periodicals
  • Community information
  • Reading groups

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 February 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "General 4".
  3. "South Norwood Library | AccessAble".
  4. insidecroydon (2 December 2020). "BxB-built library which has never opened is now to be closed". Inside Croydon. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  5. "South Norwood Library | Croydon Council". www.croydon.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  6. "Home | Friends of South Norwood Library". Friends of South Nor. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  7. "Save the building". Brutalist Library SE25. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  8. "General 4". Brutalist Library SE25. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  9. "South Norwood Library | Open House London 2021". openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  10. Heathcote, Edwin (24 August 2021). "London's big week for architecture fans". Financial Times.
  11. "Open House 2021 reveals 'top 10' must-see buildings in London". 11 August 2021.

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