Chatham Free Library was a public library in Chatham, Kent, England. Funded by Andrew Carnegie and designed by George E. Bond, it opened in 1903, closed in 1971 due to dry rot, was demolished in 1984, and its site now hosts social housing.
History
Funded in part by a £4,500 grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, Chatham Free Library (at 221 New Road,[1] near the Luton Arches) was designed by local architect George E. Bond – the same architect who later designed Chatham’s Town Hall and Theatre Royal.[2] It opened on 7 October 1903, with Mayor William D. Driver presiding at the ceremony[3] and more than 5,000 books on its shelves. Over time the collection grew and the library became a key cultural resource for Chatham’s residents.[4] In May 1962 a new junior library wing (a prefabricated annex) was added at the rear,[5] providing space for roughly 12,000 children’s books.[6] The library operated until 1971, when severe dry rot forced its closure.[7] After services moved to a new Chatham Riverside facility, the old Edwardian building stood vacant and was eventually demolished in May 1984.[8] The site of the former library is now occupied by social housing (Five Ways Court) and associated parking.[9]
Timeline
1901 – Planning and fundraising: Andrew Carnegie approved a £4,500 grant toward construction of a public library in Chatham.
1903 – Opening: The Chatham Free Library opened on 7 October 1903 under the chairmanship of Mayor William Driver, with a stock of over 5,000 books.[10] This was the first public library service in Chatham.[11]
1962 – Expansion: A junior library wing (a brick-and-prefab extension) was added to house the children’s collection, which then numbered about 12,000 books.[12]
1971 – Closure: Due to extensive dry rot, the New Road building was closed and library operations were moved to a new Chatham Riverside branch. (The Chatham Historical Society, which had met in the New Road library hall, moved its meetings in 1970.)
1984 – Demolition and redevelopment: The empty Edwardian library building was demolished in May 1984.[8] The site was later redeveloped for housing as the Five Ways Court flats, and the old library’s footprint now serves as parking and yards behind that development.[9]
^"Chatham library". The Carnegie legacy in England and Wales. 2016-09-23. Archived from the original on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-02. A visit to the local archives provided a wealth of information about this library. Tenders were put forward in May 1901, but were considered too expensive, so the architect George E Bond, (a local man who designed many of the areas notable public buildings – including the Town Hall – now the Brook Theatre), was asked to prepare plans for a cheaper building.
^"Chatham library". The Carnegie legacy in England and Wales. 2016-09-23. Archived from the original on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-02. Year opened (and by who – if known): 7 October 1903, by the Mayor of Chatham, Councillor William D Driver, Chairman of the Library Committee
^"Chatham library". The Carnegie legacy in England and Wales. 2016-09-23. Archived from the original on 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-02. The library was expanded in 1962, by the addition of a (very ugly) prefab alongside ....
