South Norwood Library

“The rough diamond of Norwood” Javier Pes

South Norwood Library as we know it, first opened its doors in 1968 and has remained synonymous with the area ever since.

For over 100 years the site has been home to a library, but Croydon Borough architect Hugh Lea designed this modernist, brutalist building as a purpose-built library with input from Croydon's Chief Librarian T.E. Callander and team.

First a closure of South Norwood Library was proposed in 2020. After public outcry (and some excellent protesting from our side) the council announced in May 2021, that the library service was to move to a smaller retail unit near Norwood Junction Station and operate a reduced service, with less book stock and a reduction in space and service at higher cost. Due to the financial difficulties of the council, South Norwood ‘Brutalist’ Library was earmarked for sale, and was under threat of demolition. 

We strongly agree with Oliver Elser, curator at the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) in Frankfurt/Main, who said ‘In our experience, when these buildings are demolished, whatever replaces them is never an improvement.’ 

A group of locals came together and we started the Brutalist Library Campaign SE25 to highlight the importance of protecting this incredible library. Genuine friendships have been born from a collective passion to preserve this unique civic building.

Inspired by this grassroot activism, Edwin Heathcote (architecture and design critic) wrote in the Financial Times, to allow the destruction of a building like this, with its embodied energy and social and cultural memory, is to completely misunderstand the city, learning, social mobility and the climate crisis.

  • Weekly protests in front of the library for nine months, come rain or shine

  • Reading protests

  • Two successful online petitions

  • Open House London participation since 2021 and inspiring many other Croydon locations to take part in the years following

  • Top Ten buildings to visit for London Open House, according to Wallpaper Magazin and Architect’s Journal

  • Jazz at the Library

  • Art Exhibitions

  • Featured and interpreted by a vast number of artists, both nationally and internationally

  • Featured by Paul Catherall, exhibited at Eames Fine Art Gallery

  • Feature location in the NIKE x Ted Lasso TV advert

  • Feature location in Croydon Unlocked: an exhibition by Rachel Adams

  • Feature location in the Twentieth Century Society’s Walking Guide ModMap

  • Building and installing planters and regularly litter picking and tidying the area

  • Hosting a variety of community events, supported by Arts Council, Croydon Borough of Culture and National Lottery Fund

  • Finalist at the Architecture Today Awards 2023

  • Hosting the Story Quilts SE25 sessions - with the incredible South Norwood Community Quilt on display at the Brutalist Library

In November 2022 the Mayor of Croydon Council, Jason Perry, announced that after listening to South Norwood residents, conservationists and architectural experts who have championed for protection and preservation of this outstanding and much-loved building he was committed to protecting it. We feel that the building has significant cultural, historical and sentimental value and are pleased that our council are now pledging to protect this community asset. 

We are incredibly happy that the Library is here to stay - as of January 2025 a third opening day has been introduced, with an increase to five open days a week, including a Saturday to be introduced in April 2025.

Thank you for your continued support!

Get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you!

Instagram - @brutalistlibrary | Write to us - brutalistlibrary@gmail.com