Streatham Library
Steatham Library
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| Country | United Kingdom |
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| Type | Public library |
| Established | 1890 |
| Location | 63 Streatham High Road London, SW16 |
| Branches | 1 |
| Website | www.lambeth.gov.uk/places/streatham-library |
Streatham Library is located at 63 Streatham High Road, Streatham, in the London Borough of Lambeth, England. The Library opened in 1890, and is one of several historical libraries in the vicinity which were built by Henry Tate. It is a public library.
Henry Tate was the financial and organisational force behind the foundation of Streatham Library. The son of a clergyman, when he was 13 he became a grocer's apprentice in Liverpool. After a seven-year apprenticeship, he was able to set up his own shop. His business was successful, and grew to a chain of six stores by the time he was 35.
In 1859 Tate became a partner in John Wright & Co. sugar refinery, selling his grocery business in 1861. By 1869, he had gained complete control of the company, and renamed it to Henry Tate & Sons. In 1872, he purchased the patent from German Eugen Langen on a method of making sugar cubes, and in the same year built a new refinery in Liverpool.
Tate rapidly became a millionaire, and donated generously to charity. In addition to his donations which eventually gave rise to the Tate Gallery, his anonymous and discreet gifts included £42,500 for Liverpool University, £3500 for Bedford College for Women, and £5000 for building a free library in Streatham; additional provisions were made for libraries in Balham, South Lambeth, and Brixton. There was £10,000 for the library of Manchester College, Oxford, and, also to Manchester College, £5000 to promote the ‘theory and art of preaching’. In addition he gave £20,000 to the (homoeopathic) Hahnemann Hospital in Liverpool in 1885, £8000 to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, and £5000 to the Queen Victoria Jubilee Institute, which became the Queen's Institute for District Nurses. In 1887 he gave £5000 to the Tate Institute in Silvertown.
Tate was made a baronet in 1898, the year before his death. He lived at Park Hill by Streatham Common, south London. He married a second time after moving to London in 1881, and his wife, being born locally, influenced Tate in benefacting libraries in the local area. He is buried in nearby West Norwood Cemetery, the gates of which are located opposite a public library that he endowed. Park Hill became a nunnery after his death until refurbishment as housing around 2004.
Mr Sidney R. J. Smith was employed as the architect for the Streatham and Lambeth Central (Brixton) Libraries. He also designed the Tate Gallery.
Tate was appointed chairman of the commissioners for the library in 1883, and remained in office until his death. Streatham was the only library established under his control. The Streatham Free Library Act was passed in December 1889, and on the 24th of February 1890, a special body of library commissioners were appointed by the parish vestry. Of the 7,550 voters on the register, 2,470 voted for and 1,326 voted against the Act.
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