Forest Hill Library

Infobox Historic building


caption=
name=Forest Hill Library
location_town=Forest Hill, London
location_country=United Kingdom
architect=
client=London Borough of Lewisham
engineer=
construction_start_date=
completion_date=July 1901
date_demolished=
cost=
structural_system=
style=Victorian Building|

Forest Hill Library is a public library in Forest Hill, South London. It was built in 1901 and is a Grade II listed building. It stands in the London Borough of Lewisham, in between Forest Hill Pools and
Sydenham School.

It is a local public library in Forest Hill, often visited by primary schools and local groups in the area. It has regular reading groups for adults and children, story and song times for Under 5s and a social group for Over 55s with a varied schedule of guest speakers and has facilities for meetings.

It reopened after extensive refurbishment work in December 2007.

Refurbishment

On 22 September 2006, Lewisham Council and English Heritage announced that the library - to safeguard the future of the it - was to undergo a £1 Million pound refurbishment, as the "Well-Loved" landmark enters its second century in community use.

The Council announced that approximately £1 million is available for comprehensive renovation work to be completed, whilst the building is brought in line with Disability Discrimination Act guidelines.

Cllr Chris Best, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said

" We will work closely with English Heritage in order to guarantee the future of one of Forest Hill's most cherished landmarks and ensure it is in line with current DDA guidelines. The Council is committed to providing local communities with first-rate library facilities and services."

It is expected to be completed by the summer of 2007, and will include thorough structural work on the roof and celling. The heating, lighting and power supply systems will also be overhauled during the renovation, which is expected to take around 6 months to complete.

In line with the Disability Discrimination Act, access will be improved at the front and back of the building, along with the accessibility of the toilets and signage throughout the library.

A number of the refurbishment's details are still under consideration, when the finalised plans are agreed a further statement will be issued.

The library will be closed for the duration of the works and at this early stage Lewisham Council is looking at options for local service continuity during the renovation.

The library reopened in December 2007.

Location

Forest Hill Library is located on Dartmouth Road, SE23. This is just on the South side of the town centre. There is a bus stop outside of the Library for London bus routes 122, 24-Hour Route 176 and 197. These terminate in destinations such as Woolwich, Crystal Palace, Penge, Croydon, Oxford Street and Peckham. The nearest train station is Forest Hill which has frequent trains to Central London and Croydon. Soon the East London Line will be extended to Forest Hill as part of London Overground.

Gallery

* [http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?PostCode2MapE&code=SE233HZ&account=LBL&arrow=Y&zoom=1&width=500&height=500&type=b&html=1 See location on this map]

See also

*Lewisham Council
*Sydenham
*SE23
*South Norwood Library

External links

* [http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/ContactUs/Contacts/ForestHilllibrary.htm Forest hill library website]
* [http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/LeisureAndCulture/Libraries/ForestHillProject.htm Forest Hill Library Project]
* [http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NewsAndEvents/News/JulySeptember2006/ForestHillLibrary.htm Library Extension Plans]
* [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ English Heritage]
* [http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/default.lbl Lewisham Council]