Closure of Bancroft Road Local History and Archives Library

[Chris]

I was at the Jewish East End presentation at the Museum in Docklands today, and heard some news that will be of concern to researchers. Apparently the Bancroft Road library building has been sold, and the local history and archives collections currently housed there will have to move out by December. It seems no arrangements have yet been made about their future, and the fear is that the collections will be split up and/or stored in an inaccessible location.

A campaign is being organised to keep the collections together. The person who announced this is Clive Bettington of the Jewish East End Celebration Society (http://www.jeecs.org.uk/).

[Chris]

More information here:
http://tinyurl.com/4vsoc9

Judging from this report, the situation isn't quite as serious as it sounded. Apparently what is being proposed is for the borough archives to be temporarily separated from the other collections, before being reunited with them in a new building. There seems to be some politics involved, as well.

[Robert]

Christ, how much of it will be lost in transit?

[The Grave Maurice]

I thought that this had already happened. When I was there about three years ago, one of the librarians told me that they were already packing parts of the collection in expectation of the move to Canary Wharf.

[Chris]

I thought that this had already happened. When I was there about three years ago, one of the librarians told me that they were already packing parts of the collection in expectation of the move to Canary Wharf.

All I can say is that I went there in early May - my first visit (and last, I suppose) - and everything looked as though it had been there for at least a century.

I gather the Whitechapel Society is supporting the campaign to keep the collections together.


PS to Robert. As I've said before, just "Chris" is fine.

[Robert]

Ha, ha! "Chris" it is!

[The Grave Maurice]

... just "Chris" is fine.

Har. Very good.

I certainly hope that they can keep the collection together: it's excellent. The staff too, for that matter...they are a very knowledgeable and helpful bunch.

[m_w_r]

Hi -

A quick reflection on the above.

The issue was brought to the attention of the Whitechapel Society at the last meeting (07 June 2008), and a petition attracted a number of signatures.

I understand that the Tower Hamlets archive is regarded as second only to that of Westminster in terms of its richness; but the service was recently assessed - by whichever body assesses such things - and the outcome was poor. I have to say that this conflicts with my experience, as, every time I have been there, the staff have been unstintingly helpful, but clearly there are questions about the provision at the moment. This may be convenient for those who wish to close the thing.

In the meantime, however, I propose that the closure be contested in the strongest terms.

Regards,

Mark Ripper

[The Grave Maurice]

Poor service? Phooey. On my five or six visits there the service was as good or better than any library/archive I've ever been to. This all comes down to the TH Council wanting to make a quick buck...sorry, pound...by selling the building to QMC. But, according to the link cited above, they are only asking 1.2 million for it. Are they nuts? The land alone is worth several times that.

[Septic Blue]

Apparently the Bancroft Road library building has been sold, and the local history and archives collections currently housed there will have to move out by December.

The building in question was the Vestry Hall of The Hamlet of Mile End Old Town. I sincerely hope that it is to be preserved !!!


Vestry Hall, The Hamlet of Mile End Old Town
Bancroft Road, Mile End Old Town, October 2007
from northwest


"1860"


Colin

[m_w_r]

Hi -

For details of the recent assessment, see this link.

Regards,

Mark Ripper