Westminster Reference Library


Westminster Reference Library is a reference library in St Martin's Street, London, in the City of Westminster.

History

The library was opened by W. Foxley Norris, dean of Westminster, on 8 October 1928 to replace the former library of the parish of St Martin in the Fields. The Leicester Fields chapel, built by the Huguenots in 1693, was once located on the site. Isaac Newton lived on a house on the site from 1710 to 1727, and later the house was occupied by the novelist Fanny Burney. The cellars of the house are part of the current building. The library was designed by the architect A. N. Prentice for Westminster City Council, and built by Walden & Company of Reading. It was modified in the 1950s and 1980s.

Collections

In addition to a general reference collection, the library has specialist fine art and performing arts, business and law collections.