Romford Central Library opening remembered in pictures

Romford Central Library in St Edwards Way, marked its 60th anniversary last month.

People were queueing to get in (Image: Havering Libraries – Local Studies) According to Havering Libraries, it was the product of a new library authority after the London Government Act of 1963 established Havering as one of the London boroughs. 

 A new library in Romford was planned and built by Essex County Council, with the increased size of the new build leading to questions about how to go about stocking it.
The lending library (Image: Havering Libraries – Local Studies)

The development cost £180,000 and was built by Dagenham company F.R. Hipperson. 

A picture from before the opening captured what appears to be a long row of tiles lined up in front of the library.

Before the library was stocked (Image: Havering Libraries – Local Studies) READ MORE: Romford car park redevelopment branded ‘garish’ and ‘poor quality’

Inside the library in its dedicated reference floor, a photo shows empty shelves and stands ahead of stocking. 

Romford Central Library was opened to the public on July 3, 1965, debuting revolving entrance doors and a separate children’s library. 

The opening was met with “long queues” according to a past Recorder publication, with a picture from the same year showing people lining up.