Diary entry

Diary  5 March 2016  There is more to tell about the Hampstead Central Library, and that mysterious vacant space next to the building, corner of Finchley and Arkwright Roads, London NW3.

From photographs of bomb damage I thought I’d worked out that the empty site was where the rest of the Hampstead Central Library stood before it was in part destroyed by enemy planes in the Second World War. Further research tells me that there was a ‘bomb site’ (UK Post-War talk) next door to the library, which was reported to have been purchased by the Library. What exactly does that mean? The Library had part of its own building turned into a bomb site and it bought another bomb site next door to their own bomb site?

          Obscure historical references in newspapers and documents can be confusing. Anyway, I had better visit that vacant block, which the present occupiers of the former library site, an arts centre, use for outdoor events.