Teddington REWIND: The fascinating history of Hampton Wick's old library

By Ellie Brown - Local Democracy Reporter 5th Nov 2021

This week as part of our Teddington rewind series we take a closer look at the history of a Grade II listed building and old library near our town.

The old council chambers on Hampton Wick High Street is private housing today but it was once the centre-point of the town, records show.

Designed in an "exuberant" Jacobean revival style with an eye-catching terracotta exterior, the building has an intriguing history.

It was built in 1884 and originally housed the local board of the town and later the Urban District Council.

Historic England notes that the building was grandiose for its time with its three storey height and imposing gable, towering above the smaller houses that made up the village.

Inside was a council chamber with a classical design including white columns, feature fireplaces and Victorian brass lamps.

The chamber is still fairly intact today and Historic England notes that this is rare for UK local government buildings.

The building's gable depicts a stag and crown, the symbol of Hampton Wick, and is believed to have been designed by Sir Thomas James Nelson - a former resident of the town.

In the 1930s the building was transformed into the town's first library, and by the 1960 its upper floors had been turned into flats.

By late 1970 the library had moved to bigger premises on Bennet Close and the building became offices again.

But the council chamber remained and following a passionate local campaign the building was finally recognised by Historic England in 2013, giving it extra protection from redevelopment.

The building was also recognised as an example of civic pride due to its references to the town, including the old gable moulding.

In recognition of this, the ground and lower-ground floors which house the chamber were later sympathetically converted into a new 3-bedroom flat.

This is now on the market with local estate agents Cocoon.