16 years between the laying of the foundation stone in 1982 and the opening in 1998. The Independent explains the delay: "The reason it has taken so long to build ... has relatively little to do with the competence, or otherwise, of architect and contractors. The project has been toyed with by successive governments. The building was designed for a different site in Bloomsbury. Time was wasted when it had to be redesigned to fit the eventual site alongside St Pancras Station. Successive governments have trimmed the budget. Each time they have done so, Colin St John Wilson and his team have had to redesign parts of the building."
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
British Library
Commemorated ati
British Library- Foundation Stone
The British Library H.R.H. The Prince of Wales unveiled this stone 7 Decembe...
Opening of the British Library
This inscription is opposite the entrance, below the Shakespeare statue.
Other Subjects
Henry King Lewis
Founded H.K. Lewis & Co. Ltd. in 1844 at 136 Gower St. 24 Gower Place added 1907. Incorporated 1915. Found on the web: "H K Lewis & Co Ltd, booksellers. Founded by Henry King Lewis in 1844...
1 memorial
Charles Townley
Antiquary and collector. Born Lancashire. Although he never married there are letters making it clear that this was not for lack of interest in the ladies. His collection of antiquaries was freely...
1 memorial
Thomas Grenville
Bibliophile and politician. He was commissioned briefly in the Coldstream Guards, and served as a member of parliament from 1780 to 1810. He started collecting books from an early age, and by his d...
Person, Armed Forces, Museums / Libraries, Politics & Administration
1 memorial
Sir Sidney Colvin
Born Norwood, Surrey. Art and literary scholar and museum administrator. He was director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge from 1876 to 1884, and then keeper of the department of prints and draw...
1 memorial
British Film Institute
In 1996 the BFI erected 126 plaques across Britain to commemorate the centenary of cinema. See the pdf.
15 memorials