Once upon a time red brick met stone dressings and Edmonton Green Library was born. Welcome. The Edmonton Green Library is more than just a repository of books. It is a landmark building with a fascinating story etched into its walls.
Let’s step back to 1897. Imagine Maurice B. Adams carefully drafting the plans for a new library. This was no ordinary building. It was a Passmore Edwards library. John Passmore Edwards was a philanthropist who funded numerous libraries. Adams designed a symmetrical elevation that still impresses today.
Notice the red brick facade. It stands in Flemish bond. Stone dressings add an elegant contrast. The hipped slate roof completes the structure. The library stands three storeys high with three-window range. The projecting entrance bay dominates the front. Observe the stacked orders in stone. They rise to a segmental gable on the parapet. Bays on each side end in scroll Dutch gables. Diocletian windows flank the entrance on the ground floor. Flat arches sit above these windows. Segmental arches top the gable windows. Unusual angle buttresses mark the outer corners. The one on the left features elaborate floral carving.
In 1931 the Edmonton Borough Council engineer Cuthbert Brown extended the library to the rear. He ensured the new wing matched Adams’ original style. Look to the left return. It features three windows with a Dutch gable in the center. It steps down to a single-storey wing from 1931. This wing has an entrance in a stone aedicule. The right return mirrors the motifs of the front elevation.
Inside the Edmonton Green Library, the entrance hall once held treasures. In 1898 George Frampton ARA created two relief portrait plaques. Edwards funded these separately. They depicted John Keats and Charles Lamb. Both were local residents. These plaques are now at Community House nearby. Note the rear extension, which has columns and a coffered ceiling. Metal gates of an original design still grace the entrance porch.
The Edmonton Green Library served the community for many years. It closed as a library in 1991. Today, the Grade II listed building serves a new purpose. It is a religious and community center.
Consider the history held within these walls. The Edmonton Green Library has been a silent witness to countless stories. Generations have passed through its doors. The library has provided knowledge, comfort, and community. Take a moment to appreciate the architectural details. Think about the people who have walked these halls. The Edmonton Green Library is a testament to the enduring power of community and the pursuit of knowledge.