Hunters Catford

ALT The commemorative plaque for the 30th November 1907 opening of the Corbett Library can be seen high on the right hand side wall as you enter the foyer of the library. The library was opened by Mrs ECB Philpott, who was the wife of the vicar of nearby St Andrews Church which open in 1904. The site for the library, which was donated by Archibald Corbett, had been tennis courts, and the £4,500 cost of construction was donated by Andrew Carnegie.

ALT The Archibald Corbett Library in 1907 was funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. “… presumably would have made good use of the new Library which opened in Torridon Road in 1907. The local council had wanted to build one for several years, and Corbett was willing to donate land, but they were short of funds so it wasn’t until Andrew Carnegie – world famous philanthropist and serial builder of around 3,000 libraries – stepped in with a donation of £4,500 that it finally came into existence. Sadly for the estate’s tennis fans it was the recreation ground that Corbett offered up for the new building: maybe he figured the new Mountsfield Park over the other side of Brownhill Road was close enough to provide for healthy exercise.” Extract from the history of the Corbett Estate on the Corbett Society website - see: https://thecorbettsociety.org.uk/the-estates/catford-hither-green/

ALT The front of the Corbett Community Library in 2018. Photograph: Paul de Zylva

ALT Leaflet about the Corbett Community Library and on how to become a Friend of the library and all of the activities and services it provides to the local area. For more on the library and everything that happens under our splendid dome see: https://corbettcommunity.org.uk