Actor Sir Henry Irving laid the foundation stone of Dulwich Library which was opened on 24 November 1897 by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Halsbury. It cost £5,800; John Passmore Edwards contributed £5000. The site was given by the Estates' Governors of Alleyn's College of God's Gift. Camberwell Vestry laid out the ground around the library as a public garden. On 9 September 1940 a bomb landed on the north-west corder of the library. After the Second World War an extension was built which included a junior library and a hall for public meetings. This was opened by the Mayor of Camberwell, Alderman JFW Lucas, on 25 September 1954.

We are grateful for permission to reproduce the text here to John D Beasley, from his book East Dulwich, available for £7.95 from South Riding Press, 6 Everthorpe Road, London SE15 4DA.