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enabling the Public Library Commissioners to purchase the freehold of the
ground at the above price within three years from the date of the agreement.
redemption of land tax.
The Commissioners have redeemed the Land Tax on the property for the
amount of £121 7s. 6d.
queen's diamond jubilee.
The original arrangement between the Library Commissioners and Mr.
Phipps was made in January, 1897. Some months, however, elapsed before
the details were finally settled, and in the meantime the announcement that
Her Majesty would pass along Borough Road on the occasion of the
celebration of her Diamond Jubilee, for the time being, considerably enhanced
the value of the land, which Mr. Phipps had agreed to hand over to the Commissioners,
but of which he was still in possession.
In view of this fact, Mr. Phipps approached the Commissioners, and
an arrangement was made whereby he should receive the sum of £100 for
giving up possession of the laud, so that the Commissioners might use the
same for a stand on the occasion of the Jubilee celebration, and for supervising
the erection of the stand on behalf of the Commissioners.
The Commissioners were fortunate in obtaining a substantial offer of £2000
for the land for this purpose from Messrs. J & S. Motion, of Moorgate Street,
along with Mr. E.J. Davenport, builder, of Balham. The amount was duly
received, and formed a very substantial addition to the subscriptions towards
the Library Fund.
plans of library building.
On the 19th May, 1897, the Architect submitted sketch plans of a proposed
Library building, but the amount of the estimate was very much in excess of
what the Commissioners deemed it advisable to expend. Instructions were
accordingly given to the Architect to prepare plans of a building at a total
estimated inclusive cost of £5000. Before these plans were submitted, Mr.
Phipps, the Architect, died somewhat suddenly. Mr. Jackson, his partner, however,
submitted drawings on the 2nd June, 1897. After various modifications, the
plans were approved and forwarded to Mr. Passmore Edwards for confirmation
on the 7th July, 1897. Tenders were obtained for the work, when it was
found that the lowest tender amounted to £5868. As the contractors subsequently
declined to carry out the work, the Architect was directed to again
modify the plans so as to further reduce the cost.
contract for erection of building.
New tenders were then obtained, and on the 8th October, 1897, the tender
of Messrs. J. Smith & Sons, of South Norwood, for erecting the proposed
building at the price of £5115, and for erecting the boundary walls for the
sum of £441, was accepted. The formal contract was entered into on the
18th October, 1897.