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Streatham High Road, LONDON, SW16 1PN

The building with clock and dome is Streatham Tate Library, the entrance is down Pinfold Road on the right. A grade II listed building of 1890-1.

The building behind the bus with the green dome and the large clock is Streatham Public Library

Like all the Edwardian buildings in this area of the High Road, turrets and decorative gables abound. The section in the foreground dates from 1900, the further section from 1888. The intruder dates from c1970 and makes no concessions to its neighbours. The council report comments that it "creates a dead area along the red brick frontage", but even so the terrace as a whole is within the Streatham High Road and Streatham Hill Conservation Area. The course of Streatham High Road has been a major highway between London and Sussex since Roman times. Its current appearance is largely attributable to two major spells of development. The first was during the late C19th following the opening of Streatham Hill station in 1856, and the second was after 1911 when the line to Victoria was electrified. Though much-maligned and undoubtedly blighted by heavy traffic, closer examination reveals that the road is lined with a number of interesting buildings, some of which reflect the period between the wars when Streatham was a fashionable centre of entertainment. Information from Lambeth Council (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/exeres/CE4B5CE1-0387-40ED-B5A9-273A5160C34A.htm ).

Designed by Sidney Robert James Smith in 1890 in a free Classical style with a copper dome. The clock was added in 1912 by A Brock. Smith built several libraries in Lambeth, including Brixton's, which Pevsner describes as being "enjoyable examples of minor late Victorian municipal showmanship". The library was partly paid for by Sir Henry Tate who lived locally at Park Hill, and whose name (with Mr Lyle) resonates through sugar bowls across the land. It is within the Streatham High Road and Streatham Hill Conservation Area. The course of Streatham High Road has been a major highway between London and Sussex since Roman times. Its current appearance is largely attributable to two major spells of development. The first was during the late C19th following the opening of Streatham Hill station in 1856, and the second was after 1911 when the line to Victoria was electrified. Though much-maligned and undoubtedly blighted by heavy traffic, closer examination reveals that the road is lined with a number of interesting buildings, some of which reflect the period between the wars when Streatham was a fashionable centre of entertainment. Information from Lambeth Council (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/exeres/CE4B5CE1-0387-40ED-B5A9-273A5160C34A.htm ).

The Tate Library is seen here across Pinfold Road with Streatham High Road to the left. The Tate Library was erected in 1890 as a gift to the people of Streatham by Sir Henry Tate, the sugar magnate of Tate & Lyle. He lived in Park Hill, a large house which is now St Michael's Convent at the top of Streatham Common. The clock was added to the building in memory of King Edward VIIth and was unveiled on Saturday 5th October 1912.

South of the Odeon, the 1930s architecture of the High Road is replaced by Victorian and Edwardian. This small group of c1900 exhibits many of the characteristics of the rest of the road - Dutch-style shaped gables, patterned stonework, and an oriel at the corner. It is within the Streatham High Road and Streatham Hill Conservation Area. The course of Streatham High Road has been a major highway between London and Sussex since Roman times. Its current appearance is largely attributable to two major spells of development. The first was during the late C19th following the opening of Streatham Hill station in 1856, and the second was after 1911 when the line to Victoria was electrified. Though much-maligned and undoubtedly blighted by heavy traffic, closer examination reveals that the road is lined with a number of interesting buildings, some of which reflect the period between the wars when Streatham was a fashionable centre of entertainment. Information from Lambeth Council (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/exeres/CE4B5CE1-0387-40ED-B5A9-273A5160C34A.htm ).

On Streatham High Road; according to an inscription, "Tate Free Public Library", and a plaque, "A Gift to the Inhabitants of Streatham from Henry Tate Parkhill"; dated 1890. http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/LeisureCulture/Libraries/LocalLibraries/StreathamLibrary.htm

A decoratively carved plaque inscribed with the name of the terrace. A full view of it can be seen here: Image]