Lewisham Public Library

Lewisham Public Library is a public library built in 1901 by Alexander Hennell, with an extension added in 1929. The building is constructed of red brick and features extensive terracotta dressings, topped with a slate roof. It has a central entrance that rises two storeys and includes an attic, with a banded chimney stack located on the south side. The entrance is flanked by single-storey side ranges, each containing four bays.

The side elevations have two windows with a pedimental end leading to a clerestorey. The main lending library is situated at the rear and also consists of two bays with a clerestorey beneath a hipped roof. The entrance doors are set within an arched area inscribed with 'PUBLIC LIBRARY' and are accessed via steps adorned with jaunty iron railings. Above the entrance, there is a tripartite window topped with a broken pediment, and the windowsill features a scrolled, shouldered surround linked by dramatic voussoirs to the door below. Other windows on the front and return elevations also have shouldered surrounds above scroll-flanked aprons.

Inside, the lending library has a barrel-vaulted ceiling under the clerestorey, which is enhanced by coloured glass. This area is followed by a sequence of top-lit reference rooms and offices at the front. This library is one of Lewisham's earliest examples of terracotta-embellished architecture, showcasing a strong, clear design with a well-lit interior and effective use of materials.