Plaque: Beresford Pite
Erection date: 30/7/1906
This stone was laid June 30 1906 by Councillor T. F. Bryen, Chairman of the Public Libraries Committee.
C. Dearing & Sons - Builders
W. F. Dewey - Town Clerk
Beresford Pite - Architect
The text we have transcribed is off a very dull plaque on this wall near the ground. The photograph shows the name plaque, high on the building: "West Islington Branch Library, AD MCMVI {1906}" but, much more interesting, it also allows a close up of some of the alphabet letters with which this building is adorned.
Site: Islington West Library (2 memorials)
N1, Thornhill Square, Islington West Library
We were admiring the decorative brickwork on this 1906 building, rather hoping it might have a plaque so that we could include it. It has a plaque, quite dull so we have not photographed it, but the building has the alphabet integrated into the design, all 26 letters. The photograph shows F, G and H, each carved superimposed on a Greek palmette. We cannot think of a better decoration for a library but we've never seen the alphabet honoured in this way before.
Comparing the date on the plaque inside the foyer, with the date on the stone outside, we see that the library opened exactly one week before the stone was laid.
