Only Connect host Victoria Coren Mitchell will help launch the 90th anniversary celebrations at Belsize Library, a Grade II listed community hub in north London. The launch evening takes place at the Antrim Road venue on Thursday, October 15, featuring live music, refreshments, and speakers including Coren Mitchell, Tulip Siddiq MP, Rashid Iqbal of The Winch, and Anthony Isaacs of Friends of the Library.
A Community Staple Since 1937
Belsize Library first opened its doors in 1937 and has been serving the community ever since. In their newsletter, organizers write: "For nine decades, Belsize Library has stood at the heart of our neighbourhood. Opening its doors in 1937 as a public library, it has evolved over the years into so much more than a place for books—thriving today as a vibrant, community-run hub supported by the Winch, our incredible volunteers, and local partners."
The single storey, double height building replaced a previous Victorian library and was designed by seasoned library architects H A Gold and R de W Aldridge as a branch of the Hampstead Metropolitan Borough library. Above the central window is a panel bearing the now defunct Hampstead Borough Coat of Arms, with the motto NON SIBI SED TOTI—'not for self but for all'.
Architectural Heritage and Survival
The library was officially opened by the Mayor of Hampstead on March 18, 1937. According to English Heritage, which listed the building in 2016, it is an "exemplar of the small inter-war branch library." English Heritage adds: "Its stripped geometry and its luminous, open, understated interior demonstrates the skill and experience of its architects."
It says that "unusually for this type of building" it has survived well with its original shelving and seating and open plan design. Today the red English brick, handmade Italian clay tiles, oak block flooring and panelled double door with brass handles have also survived—although the library is no longer funded by the local authority.
From Threats of Closure to Community Management
Over the decades, the library faced repeated threats of closure and budget cuts, with the Friends of Belsize Library formed in 1988 in response to the threat. Camden Council ran the building until 2012 and is still the owner, but after threatening to close it altogether, local youth and family charity The Winchester Project stepped in to manage it as a library and community space.
The Winch is organizing events marking the library's nine decades of service, including an exhibition about the library's history, architecture, and role in the community. There will also be guest talks, family and children's activities running from October 2026 to March 2027. A short documentary made for the anniversary details how the service continues with backing from residents, volunteers, and local charities.
Recognition and Future Support
The library received the Community Heritage Award at the UK Locality Awards in 2025 and is seeking library champions to sign up to £25 a month donations to continue its work hosting community groups, activities, and providing a "safe, warm sanctuary open to all."
