16 years between the laying of the foundation stone in 1982 and the opening in 1998. The explains the delay: "The reason it has taken so long to build ... has relatively little to do with the competence, or otherwise, of architect and contractors. The project has been toyed with by successive governments. The building was designed for a different site in Bloomsbury. Time was wasted when it had to be redesigned to fit the eventual site alongside St Pancras Station. Successive governments have trimmed the budget. Each time they have done so, Colin St John Wilson and his team have had to redesign parts of the building."
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
British Library
Commemorated ati
British Library- Foundation Stone
The British Library H.R.H. The Prince of Wales unveiled this stone 7 Decembe...
Opening of the British Library
This inscription is opposite the entrance, below the Shakespeare statue.
This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
British Library
Creations i
British Library - Anne Frank
The tree itself is almost entirely lost, half buried in a modern planting sch...
Other Subjects
Grant Museum of Zoology
A natural history museum that is part of University College London. It was established by Robert Edmond Grant (1793 – 1874, anatomist and zoologist) as a teaching collection of zoological specimens...
1 memorial
Sir Hans Sloane
Physician, benefactor of the British Museum and an early benefactor to the Chelsea Physic Garden. Responsible for the addition of milk to chocolate to produce a palatable drink. Born Killyleagh, Ir...
Person, Benefactor, Medicine, Museums / Libraries, Race Issues, Science, Ireland
8 memorials
Rotherhithe Picture Research Library
An educational charity, opened as part of Sands Films Studio, and situated in the same Grade II listed building. The library is home to thousands of old photographs, postcards and magazines. Pictur...
1 memorial
Frederick Horniman
Tea merchant, benefactor and politician. Born Frederick John Horniman at Bridgwater, Somerset. He inherited his father's tea business, which by 1891 was described as the biggest tea firm in the wor...
Person, Benefactor, Commerce, Museums / Libraries, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, India, Sri Lanka
3 memorials
Thomas Grenville
Bibliophile and politician. He was commissioned briefly in the Coldstream Guards, and served as a member of parliament from 1780 to 1810. He started collecting books from an early age, and by his d...
Person, Armed Forces, Museums / Libraries, Politics & Administration
1 memorial
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