Rights Managed > Historic England > The way we were > Leisure
Library CC46_00597
Filename: cc46_00597.jpg
Size: 5456 x 4072 (10.9MB)
Date: 6th March 2019
Source: Historic England
Credit: Historic England Archive
Source: Historic England Archive
Owner URL: images.historicenglandservices.org.uk
© Historic England Archive
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Historic England
Library CC46_00597
Guys Hospital, The Borough, London. People reading books in the Free Lending Library. 1920s
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 18634964
© Historic England Archive
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> Historic Images 1920s to 1940s
> Photos of the 1920s
> Historic Images
> Historic Images 1920s to 1940s
> The way we were
> Leisure
> Libraries
> The way we were
> Women's History
EDITORS COMMENTS
This photo print, titled "Library CC46_00597" takes us back in time to the bustling streets of The Borough in London during the 1920s. Here, we witness a slice of everyday life at Guys Hospital, where people sought solace and knowledge within the walls of the Free Lending Library. The image showcases a cellar-turned-library filled with individuals engrossed in books that transport them to different worlds. Amidst rows upon rows of neatly stacked volumes, men and women can be seen sitting on wooden benches or standing against bookshelves, their faces illuminated by the soft glow emanating from nearby windows. One woman catches our attention as she sits near a window, her eyes fixated on an open book resting gently on her lap. Lost in its pages, she seems oblivious to her surroundings - perhaps escaping into a world far removed from the hospital's corridors. This photograph is not just about books; it captures a moment when literature became an escape for those seeking respite from their daily lives. It reminds us that even amidst busy hospitals like Guys', there existed spaces dedicated to nurturing minds and providing comfort through words. "Library CC46_00597" serves as a poignant reminder of how libraries have long been cherished sanctuaries for knowledge-seekers throughout history. Marshall Keene and Company's lens has frozen this scene forever, allowing us to appreciate both the architectural beauty of this underground haven and the timeless allure of reading itself.
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