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Carnegie Library

188 Herne Hill Road

London SE24 0AG

BRIEF

for the Preparation of a

Conservation Statement

for the building, setting and internal fittings and fixtures

The Carnegie Library Project Group

The Friends of Carnegie Library

April 2013

CONTENTS

1 Introduction

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2 The History and Setting of the Carnegie Library

3 Current Uses

4 Council Policy Position

5 Potential Future Uses

6 Related Project Work

7 The Present Commission

8 Contents of the Conservation Statement

1. Introduction 2. Understanding the Building and its Setting

3. Significance

4. Condition of the Building

5. Conservation Issues and Capacity for Change

6. Outline Polices

7. Next Steps

9 Submission of the Conservation Statement

10 Copyright

11 Confidentiality

12 Timetable

13 Finance/Payment Terms

14 Access

15 Budget

16 Information for Consultants Tendering

1. Introduction

The Grade II Carnegie Library on Herne Hill Road in the London Borough of Lambeth is

currently in use as a local library and also houses a number of other borough-wide

library services. Lambeth Council is currently reorganising its library service and while a

local library will remain in the building much of it will soon become available for other

uses.

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Lambeth Council has designated the building as a potential “Community Hub”, to

house a wider range of community and other activities. The Carnegie Library has a

well-established and constituted “Friends of Carnegie Library” organisation, but in order

to attract additional stakeholders a Carnegie Library Project Group has been established

charged with bringing forward viable and sustainable proposals to deliver the

Community Hub concept. The Project Group has a strategy for this work and as a first

stage wishes to commission the preparation of a Conservation Statement (known also

as a Statement of Significance) to guide and inform the development of appropriate

proposals for the uses the building will house in the future and its future conservation

and management. The Statement will in due course be followed by the preparation of a

Conservation Management Plan (also known as a Conservation Plan) to be used:

to identify the significance of the building and its setting

in support of applications for statutory consents

in support of applications for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage

as a practical tool for the operational management of the historic building

to inform the preparation of the Business Plan for the successful commercial operation of the building and its long-term sustainability.

to assist in making the Carnegie Library an exemplar building conservation project

and the regeneration of an important heritage asset that is cherished by the local

community.

2. The History and Setting of the Carnegie Library

The Carnegie Library is a distinguished Edwardian public building, listed Grade II, and

situated on a main thoroughfare in a residential area of the London Borough of

Lambeth. In 1902 the Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth applied to Andrew Carnegie

for money to build a branch library for Herne Hill and Tulse Hill wards. A request the

previous year had been refused as the philanthropist was then making gifts only to

Scotland and, his adopted home-country, the United States of America. As Carnegie

believed in giving benefactions the community would continue to support, he asked

whether the site would be “sufficient for the proper maintenance of a library if erected.”

On Lambeth’s assurance the rates would be quite sufficient and there was “no danger

the library would be starved”, he agreed to supply the £12,500 needed “to complete

your library system.”

The Council purchased land from Mr. Robert Sanders, the indenture stipulating a public

library and reading room be built within five years and that the Council would make up

and pave new streets around the library. The Library Committee Chairman, Sir Edwin

Durning-Lawrence, offered to present 23 pictures if an art gallery could be

incorporated.

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Applications from 14 local Quantity Surveyors were considered and a tender was

accepted from Messrs Leaning. Of 48 architects given particulars, 25 submitted designs;

that of H Wakeford & Sons were chosen. The builders were Holliday & Greenwood.

Plans included a main lending library, magazine and newspaper reading rooms, children’s

library with separate entrance, staff office and workroom, room for files and repairs,

basement store room and heating chamber, plus upstairs lecture hall for public

meetings, talks and exhibitions. The building extends over three floors and a Librarian’s

residence was also included.

The library was completed in 1905, fitted out with oak bookshelves and furniture, and

opened to the public on 9 July 1906. It is a fine example of Edwardian civic architecture,

built with red Fletton bricks (substituted for London stock for budgetary reasons) and

terracotta, with some 45 “blue” bricks. It combines a classical framework with Tudor

style large mullioned, transomed windows. The Lakeland slate roofs feature bell

cupolas. The English Heritage Listing description notes the building as comprising “a one-storey front range of 7 wide bays with 2 bell cupolas on the roof ridge. The centre

and end bays project under gables. The front is framed in an Ionic Order with pilasters

to the windows and freestanding columns at angles of end bays. The open pediments

over windows contain draped cartouches. The round-arched central entrance in a

rusticated terracotta panel has Ionic columns supporting the open pediment with draped

cartouche bearing escutcheons. Above is a balcony with side balustrades. The two-bay

returns to the 3-storey wings of 5 and 4 bays with large windows and entablatures to

the floors, and a heavy modillioned eaves cornice”.

The library plus outside walls and railings were listed Grade II in 1981, sadly after most

of the tall oak bookshelves, which in the central room had fanned out in a sun-ray

design, had been removed.

Andrew Carnegie wanted a building worthy of its purpose. The superb windows, panels

and glass dome afford plenty of natural light, giving the rooms a bright, welcoming feel.

Parquet floors add extra warmth, and the graceful Corinthian columns provide further

elegance. There are many pretty fixtures and fittings, including metal finger plates and

base panels on internal doors.

The library sits in its own grounds surrounded by iron railings above a low brick plinth

with terracotta coping supported by elegant brick pillars, with a small enclosed garden

space at the rear.

The library was ahead of its time, the first to be designed for the open-access system,

i.e. it allowed borrowers to walk around and choose books from the shelves, instead of

having to ask a librarian if a book was available and then waiting for it to be fetched.

3. Current Uses

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Over the years former public rooms have been converted to office space for central

library and IT staff, used for storage or transit of material, and to house the borough’s

joint fiction reserve stock, including play-sets and music.

At some stage the librarian’s residence was divided into four council flats, two of which

were sold off in 1991. By November 1997, opening hours reduced to 16 per week

(from an already low 34), with a consequent fall in usage. The former music library

section was closed and the supply of new books diminished.

In 1999 the Friends of Carnegie Library was formed in response to Lambeth Council’s

plans to close the Carnegie and several other libraries. After a three-year campaign the

Council agreed not to close it although it did close some others. The book stock began

to improve, music cassettes (briefly) and videos (later DVDs) became available, Internet

access arrived and some refurbishment work began. From August 2003 opening hours

increased to 31 per week (lowest in the borough). CDs appeared in 2011; but book

stocks remain below what the Friends would wish to see. The Friends’ aims remain to protect Andrew Carnegie’s gift, revitalise the library and raise its profile within Lambeth,

the Southwark catchment area and beyond, and to liaise with others promoting local

libraries

The Art Gallery, which the Friends created from part of the largely disused former

magazine reading room, hosts a flourishing chess club and adult literacy reading groups.

Beginning in 2000 with a special exhibition of portraits of and pictures by John Ruskin,

Herne Hill’s most eminent former resident, it has featured prestigious displays on

occasion and has shown works by many local artists and projects by local school

children.

Central Stock Services, including mobile stocks, are currently housed in the building.

Funds from the sale of the former mobile store several years ago allowed urgent repair

and redecoration to be undertaken and the layout of some areas reconfigured to

accommodate the new services. With this architectural gem largely restored to its

former glory, Lambeth Libraries and the Friends hosted a community celebration on 9th

July 2006, the centenary of opening. A year later the Friends launched a Breathing

Places project, funded by the Big Lottery, to refurbish the garden; this highly successful

Reading and Wildlife Garden enhances the library-going experience. Volunteers of all

ages can get involved in planting, maintenance and enjoying events as part of this exciting

venture.

4. Council Policy Position

Lambeth Council is now reviewing its Library Service provision. It is committed to

retaining a local library service in the Carnegie but has removed some borough-wide

services to other premises and will re-locate most of the remaining ones later in the

year, so freeing up about half of the available floorspace in the building for additional

uses.

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A Condition Survey of the building has been undertaken and will be available to the

Consultant, and Lambeth is undertaking urgent and other repair works to maintain the

building compliant with legislation and fit for purpose. Broadly, the building is

considered to be in good condition.

In order that the building should remain in public use the Council has agreed to transfer

ownership to a new charitable body to be created for that purpose provided it can be

demonstrated that viable, fundable and sustainable new uses and management

arrangements can be set in place. The Project Group is now in the process of

developing those proposals to put to the Council.

5. Potential Future Uses

The Friends and the Project Group have undertaken extensive public consultation and

ascertained that there is wide public support to retain the building as a community asset.

They have also identified the broad mix of uses that the public would like to see accommodated in the building and have agreed a cultural and educational “Vision” that

places the library at the centre of activities. Other uses agreed are:

Performance space ( possibly also to be used as a cinema club)

Café

Community meeting rooms

Gallery

Commercially rentable space

Youth facility

Extensive public use and access.

This list is not final and will likely be amended in light of further information.

The Project Group now wishes to commission the preparation of a Conservation

Statement to set out the heritage and architectural issues, and the parameters that must

inform decisions about the changes needed to enable the above uses to be

accommodated and the building subsequently maintained.

6. Related Project Work.

The Project Group will also be commissioning consultants to prepare an Options

Appraisal (which may include an Activities Plan) showing how the uses can be

accommodated, and a Business Plan to set out the financial and management issues. The

Project Group is currently in discussion with Lambeth Council about funding for a

Project Manager post.

7. The Present Commission

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The Commission to prepare a Conservation Statement is being procured by the London

Borough of Lambeth on behalf of The Friends of Carnegie Library and the Carnegie

Library Project Group. However, the latter are the Client and will appoint the

consultant, be responsible for subsequent liaison, receive the report and approve

payments.

The Client will provide the names of two people to act on its behalf in liaison with the

Consultant.

8. Contents of the Conservation Statement.

The Commission is to provide a Conservation Statement (Statement of Significance) for

the Carnegie Library and its grounds that will meet the requirements of Lambeth

Council’s Conservation Officer, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Liaison

with other groups, such as the Friends of Carnegie Library, the Herne Hill Society and the national amenity body, the Victorian Society, may also be beneficial. The Report

should be written in a way that can be read and understood by an interested lay person.

Jargon should be avoided.

This work should include:

1. Introduction

A brief introduction to the building and the purpose and content of the

Conservation Statement.

2. Understanding the Building and its Setting

Set out an historical overview

Architectural overview, including description of the building, layout, fittings and

fixtures, and its special character.

Setting

Overview of Social and Community Value

3. Significance

An explanation of all factors that give the building its heritage significance and special

character and which must be protected in any future use. The report should also

identify any features of the building which detract from its integrity and character,

such as later accretions or alterations, the removal of which would be desirable. This

work should include a room-by-room analysis attributing levels of significance in

order to better inform any proposals for the re-use of the building as they emerge.

4. Condition of the Building

A description of any deterioration or damage, and any repairs needed, since the

recent condition survey. A general assessment of the existing services within the

building, including heating and lighting (the latter is considered to be very

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unsympathetic to the ambience and appearance of the listed interiors) with any

suggestions for improvements, would be welcome.

5. Conservation Issues and Capacity for Change

An exploration of issues likely to arise in converting, adapting or extending the

building to accommodate the library and the additional uses.

6. Outline Polices

How the building should be managed before, during and after its adaptation for the

range of new uses proposed

7. Next Steps

Recommendations on actions the Project Team and its Consultants should take in

order to ensure the appropriate conservation and adaptation of the building.

9. Submission of the Conservation Statement

The final Conservation Statement should be available as 3 hard copies of both the main

text and any appendices. These should be bound in A4 format with larger scale

drawings folded accordingly. An electronic copy on CD is also required, which should

be in PDF and Word formats and include images.

The overall objective is to make the Conservation Statement a user-friendly publication

with a long shelf-life.

10. Copyright

The copyright of the Report and material quoted in it will be assigned to and remain

with the Client who will retain rights to reproduce and distribute the reports as

necessary to support the project and its work generally.

11. Confidentiality

Should the Report contain sensitive material this may not be disclosed to third parties

without the prior approval of the Client. In contacting stakeholders in connection with

the work, the terms of approach should be cleared in advance with the Client.

12. Timetable

The timetable is set out below and is a condition of the appointment.

Tenders invited 6th May 2013 and returned by 31st May 2013

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Preferred Consultant appointed 8th June 2013.

First Draft of Report to be submitted to Client by 21st June 2013.

Final Report is submitted to Client by 31st July 2013.

13. Finance/Payment Terms

This Brief is being procured on behalf of the Carnegie Library Project Group and The

Friends of Carnegie Library (the Client) by the London Borough of Lambeth.

The Client will authorize the London Borough of Lambeth to make full payment on

completion of the commission provided that it satisfies the terms of the contract.

A payment of 50% will be offered after submission of First Draft.

14. Access

The Consultant will need to respect the fact that this is a working library. The

Consultant must liaise closely with the Client to arrange access.

All consultants should ensure that for the purposes of carrying out work on site that

they have appropriate levels of professional indemnity and public liability in place. It is

the consultants’ own responsibility to take due care and attention and to comply with

Health and Safety requirements.

15. Budget

The work will have a budget of up to £3000 (excluding VAT).

14. Information for Consultants tendering

Consultants are invited to submit a quotation to undertake this brief providing:

a description of their approach and methodology. Please include lead-in time and a timetable of the work and that of any sub-contractors.

evidence of their experience in undertaking this kind of work

curriculum vitae, company profile and track record

names and contact details of two recent clients for the consultant has prepared conservation management plans in the recent past;

fee proposal broken down into days and day rate, including all sub-contractors

15. Assessment Criteria

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Tenders will be considered on a best value basis against the following criteria:

Evidence of demonstrable understanding of the brief

Track record of the consultants in handling similar commissions

Robustness of proposed methodology for undertaking the commission

Experience and suitability of the consultancy team working on the project.

Carnegie Library Project Group

The Friends of Carnegie Library

April 2013