Brentford was slow to adopt the Libraries Act of 1855 that
allowed local authorises to levy a rate of one penny in the
pound for provision of a library service. The idea was first
mooted in Brentford in 1882 but met with some local opposition:,
don't be deluded by the Penny in the Pound story. It cannot be
done for double that amount', claimed disgruntled inhabitants.
However there was only one dissentients when the motion to
adopt the Act was voted on a public meeting in 1889.
In September of that year a librarian was appointed. This was
Fred Turner who was a librarian for 41 years and also the
author of The History and Antiquities of Brentford. The library
opened in 1890 in Clifden House, the headquarters of the
Brentford Local Board. Its nucleus consisted of several
donations particularly 1,000 volumes formerly belonging
to the Mechanics' Institute. Also displayed there were
archaeological and other objects from the collection built
up by Thomas Layton. The stock grew, the readers increased
and the rooms in Clifden House were bursting at the seams.
Fortuitously this was around the time (1902) that American
philanthropist Andrew Carnegie acknowledged his willingness
to fund library buildings. He was approached and offered
£5,000 to construct a library for Brentford Nowell Parr
designed it and the Countess of Jersey laid the foundation
stone in 1903. Future archaeologists. Please note, that
beneath the stone in a sealed glass bottle were placed a
copy of The Times for 27July 1903 and two copies of the
Middlesex Independent Carnegie himself opened the building
on 9 May 1904 saying it was 'truly more blessed to give
than to receive.'
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Last Updated: 21st NOVEMBER 2005
