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
David Copperfield Children's Library
Founded by the American Rev. J. Brett Langstaff. The picture is from 1947. The New York Times, 19 March 1922 carries a letter reporting on a performance of a play for the benefit of this library....
1 memorial
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
Thomas Park F.S.A.
"The poetical antiquary", bibliographer and engraver. He published his own verse but mainly he edited historical and literary works. Father of John James Park.
1 memorial
British Empire Exhibition
The exhibition was held in Wembley Park. It was a showcase of aspects of many of the British colonies at the time. It had 18 million visitors in 1924, but failed to break even. The main stadium was...
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
Previously viewed
George Hibbert
Merchant and politician. Born in Manchester. Along with Robert Milligan, he was the driving force behind the creation of the West India Docks. MP for Seaford from 1806 to 1812. Helped found the Roy...
1 memorial
Alice Zimmern
NW5, Lissenden Gardens, 41-50 Clevedon Mansions
These flats were completed in 1906 and Zimmern was one of the first residents to move in.
1 subject commemorated,
2 creators
John Payton
A local business man, he had the vision to create Camden Passage antiques market in the early 1960s. We can't prove that he was also a sculptor but his surname is inscribed on the Cruden relief bus...
1 memorial
Giotto
W9, Blomfield Road, 25
This entrance is in Randolph Road. We can find nothing about this bust and have no explanation for its presence here. A legal decision p...
1 subject commemorated