History
Limehouse Public Library is a historical building in Limehouse, formerly a public library. The library was first proposed for construction in 1888, but the required finances could not be raised until 1900 when John Passmore Edwards was approached for assistance. He subscribed a sum of £5,000 and he subsequently laid the foundation stone on October 19 of that year. The library was opened to the public in November 1901 by the mayor of Stepney.
More recently usage of the Grade II listed building fell, and it eventually closed in 2003. It is currently boarded up to prevent vandalism. The local Tower Hamlets council put the building up for sale in a controversial transaction which has since been investigated during an enquiry into the behaviour of the borough's former mayor, Lutfur Rahman. The library building was sold to a restaurant company and is currently being redeveloped into student housing.
Explore
I'll start by saying that this is little more than a glorified construction site but there is still the odd nice touch inside. I stumbled upon an access point as I was seeking a rooftop to celebrate my birthday on top of (I was actually inside as the clock rolled over to midnight). I have since had a secondary explore where I had slightly more daylight to play with so this will be a mix of both explores.

There we have it. Nothing too much but still a fun little explore. Just a little note that the second to last pic is lit up entirely by the DLR that passes directly behind it.
Limehouse Public Library is a historical building in Limehouse, formerly a public library. The library was first proposed for construction in 1888, but the required finances could not be raised until 1900 when John Passmore Edwards was approached for assistance. He subscribed a sum of £5,000 and he subsequently laid the foundation stone on October 19 of that year. The library was opened to the public in November 1901 by the mayor of Stepney.
More recently usage of the Grade II listed building fell, and it eventually closed in 2003. It is currently boarded up to prevent vandalism. The local Tower Hamlets council put the building up for sale in a controversial transaction which has since been investigated during an enquiry into the behaviour of the borough's former mayor, Lutfur Rahman. The library building was sold to a restaurant company and is currently being redeveloped into student housing.
Explore
I'll start by saying that this is little more than a glorified construction site but there is still the odd nice touch inside. I stumbled upon an access point as I was seeking a rooftop to celebrate my birthday on top of (I was actually inside as the clock rolled over to midnight). I have since had a secondary explore where I had slightly more daylight to play with so this will be a mix of both explores.

There we have it. Nothing too much but still a fun little explore. Just a little note that the second to last pic is lit up entirely by the DLR that passes directly behind it.
