civic
Mick Timpson, 1993
Croydon Clocktower, Central Library, 9 Katharine Street, Croydon
A series of events celebrating Croydon's Central Library building and its unique design. Croydon's first central library was moved to the Clocktower buildings when they first opened in May 1896. It was one of the first public libraries with open access shelves and offered one of the UK's first Children’s Libraries.
East Croydon, West Croydon
109, 119, 166, 312, 407, 433, 466, 60
The library is a 4 minute walk from the tram stop on George Street, and a 6 minute walk from the tram stop on Church Street.
09:00–17:00
Please note: this display is located on the first floor of Croydon Central Library, inside the Clocktower Building.
10:00–18:00
Please note: this display is located on the first floor of Croydon Central Library, inside the Clocktower Building.
10:00–18:00
Please note: this display is located on the first floor of Croydon Central Library, inside the Clocktower Building.
10:00–18:00
Please note: this display is located on the first floor of Croydon Central Library, inside the Clocktower Building.
10:00–18:00
Please note: this display is located on the first floor of Croydon Central Library, inside the Clocktower Building.
09:00–17:00
Please note: this display is located on the first floor of Croydon Central Library, inside the Clocktower Building.
Walking tour
14:00–15:00
Please meet in the Clocktower Atrium. Please note that this is a walking tour lasting 1 hour.
How to book
Please create a free visitor account to book your festival tickets.
Croydon's first central library was moved to the Clocktower buildings when they first opened in May 1896. It was one of the first public libraries with open access shelves and offered one of the UK's first Children’s Libraries. The Clocktower Building was opened in 1993, designed by award-winning architect Mick Timpson. Now retired from architecture, Timpson is Chair of Cheshire West and Chester Design Review Panel.
Join us for series of events celebrating the unique architectural design of Croydon Central Library and Clocktower Building: a tour of the building from its architect, Mick Timpson; and an accompanying exhibition display of Timpson's original architectural drawings, held by Croydon Archives.
The tour will provided unique insight into the building's design strategy, including the design of the Children’s library, the reason for the curved wall, how the glazed roof works, collaborating with an artist, the materials chosen to work with the original town hall, the creation of the cinema and how the new section came in under the Braithwaite Hall to make the entrance. how a detailed design response was developed which carefully balanced together Croydon as a place, the history and character of the original town hall, and the role of the library to help establish a new sense of place, centre and identity in the town.
