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The Great Britain Guide

Historic libraries · London

Wellcome Library

Victorian♿ Wheelchair accessible

Wellcome Library — Library and research collection in London, England.

Wellcome Library, historic libraries in London

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Plan your visit

Typical visit
45 min–1.5 h
Nearest railway station
Euston Square · 0.0 km
  • Wheelchair accessible

About

Wellcome Library is a historic library in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1900. Designed by Septimus Warwick. Part of Wellcome Collection. Wikidata describes it as: "Library and research collection in London, England". Coordinates: 51.5257°, -0.1349°.

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From the Wikipedia article

The Wellcome Library is a free library and Museum based in central London. It was developed from the collection formed by Sir Henry Wellcome (1853–1936), whose personal wealth allowed him to create one of the most ambitious collections of the 20th century. Henry Wellcome's interest was the history of medicine in a broad sense and included subjects such as alchemy or witchcraft, but also anthropology and ethnography. Since Henry Wellcome's death in 1936, the Wellcome Trust has been responsible for maintaining the Library's collection and funding its acquisitions. The library is free and open to the public.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

Henry Wellcome began collecting books seriously in the late 1890s, using a succession of agents and dealers, and by travelling around the world to gather whatever could be found. Wellcome's first major entry into the market took place at the auction of William Morris's library in 1898, where he was the biggest single purchaser, taking away about a third of the lots. His interests were truly international and the broad coverage of languages and traditions is one of the library's strengths. Significant collections acquired during this early period included the library of Joseph Frank Payne, medical historian and librarian of the Royal College of Physicians, purchased in 1911, and the major…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.5257, -0.1349
District
Camden
Parish
Camden, unparished area
Postcode
NW1 2BF
Parliamentary constituency
Holborn and St Pancras
Established
1900
Nearest railway station
Euston Square0 km
Opening
Mo-Th 12:00-23:00; Fr 12:00-01:30; Sa 19:00-01:30

Sources

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Nearby

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Wellcome Library?
Wellcome Library is in London, United Kingdom (postcode NW1 2BF), in the parish of Camden, unparished area.
When was Wellcome Library built?
Built or established in 1900. Designed by Septimus Warwick.
How do I get to Wellcome Library?
The nearest railway station is Euston Square, about 0.0 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode NW1 2BF.