The Maughan Library
The Maughan Library with the Clock Tower
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| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Type | Academic library |
| Established |
1232 Domus Conversorum 1377 Chapel/House of Master of the Rolls 1851 Public Record Office 2001 Maughan Library |
| Location |
Chancery Lane London, WC2 |
| Coordinates | 51°30′55″N 0°06′38″W / 51.5153°N 0.1106°WCoordinates: 51°30′55″N 0°06′38″W / 51.5153°N 0.1106°W |
| Branch of | King's College London Library Services |
| Branches | 8 |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | Books, journals, newspapers, magazines, sound and music recordings, maps, prints, drawings and manuscripts |
| Size | 750k items (approx.) |
| Access and use | |
| Access requirements | Students and staff of King's College London and other University of London colleges, some SCONUL Access Card holders and members of the public with legitimate research needs |
| Other information | |
| Budget | £5,087,981 (Expenditure on print and electronic resources across all branches 2011-12) |
| Director | Robert Hall |
| Website | www.kcl.ac.uk/library/visiting/maughan.aspx |
The Maughan Library (/mɒn/) is the main university research library of King's College London, forming part of the Strand Campus. A 19th-century neo-Gothic building located on Chancery Lane in the City of London, it was formerly the home to the headquarters of the Public Record Office, known as the "strong-box of the Empire", and was acquired by the university in 2001. Following a £35m renovation the Maughan is the largest new university library in the United Kingdom since World War II.
Designed by Sir James Pennethorne and constructed in 1851, with further extensions made between 1868 and 1900, it is a Grade II* listed building. Inside the library is a dodecagonal reading room, inspired by that of the British Museum, and a former medieval chapel, now an exhibition space showcasing the special collections of the library. The library was named in honour of Sir Deryck Maughan, an alumnus of the university.
The library building seen today was built in 1851, however, its roots date back to the 13th century.
The Maughan occupies the site of the Domus Conversorum (House of the Converts or Le Converse Inn in Norman French), later known as the "Chapel of the Master of the Rolls". The House of the Converts was established by Henry III in 1232 to provide a residence and chapel for Jews who had converted to Christianity, and the chapel attached to it began the following year.
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