Poplar Public Library

Poplar Library in Poplar High Street was built between 1893-4 and opened in 1894.  

In 1890, the Poplar Vestry had taken the decision to build a public library in the parish.  A site on East India Dock Road was chosen and plans were drawn up by John Clarkson, a local man and a District Surveyor.  However, the property could not be obtained.  Instead, a site was chosen in Poplar High Street.  This site had a wider street frontage than the original one.  So, in order to accommodate the new site to the original plans, two wings  were added to front of the Library .  This gave the Library the shape of a “ T ”, with a narrow road frontage.  

During the Blitz, Poplar Library was severely damaged.  The Poplar Library closed in 1957 when a new Library was opened in the then new Chrisp Street Market nearby.  The old building later became part of Hackney College and is now part of Tower Hamlets College.