Limehouse Library

{{Short description|Former library in Limehouse, London, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox library

| name = Limehouse Public Library

| image = Passmore Edwards District Public Library 6904310859.jpg

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| country = United Kingdom

| Location = Limehouse, London

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| established = {{Start date|1900|10|19}}

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| dissolved = 2003

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Limehouse Public Library is a historical building in Limehouse, London, formerly a public library. The library was first proposed for construction in 1888, but the required finances could not be raised until 1900 when John Passmore Edwards was approached for assistance. He subscribed a sum of £5,000[http://www.passmoreedwards.org.uk/pages/Libraries/Limehouse.htm Passmore Edwards Public Library, Limehouse] accessed 14 May 2008 and he subsequently laid the foundation stone on 19 October that year. The library was opened to the public in November 1901 by the mayor of Stepney.

More recently usage of the Grade II listed building fell, and it eventually closed in 2003.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/between-the-covers-at-limehouse-library-1-670326|title=Between the covers at Limehouse Library|date=December 2009}} It is currently boarded up to prevent vandalism. The local Tower Hamlets council put the building up for sale in a controversial transaction which has since been investigated during an enquiry into the behaviour of the borough's former mayor, Lutfur Rahman.[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jul/01/tower-hamlets-mayor-legal-bid-halt-government-inquiry-council Tower Hamlets mayor launches legal bid to question inquiry into council], The Guardian, 1 July 2014 The library building was sold to a restaurant company[http://www.poplarconservatives.com/news/mayor-rahman-sells-limehouse-library-%E2%80%94-what-next Mayor Rahman Sells Off Limehouse Library — What Next?] and is currently being redeveloped into student housing.[http://moderngov.towerhamlets.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=50873 638 Commercial Road/Limehouse Library (PA/13/2580 & PA/13/2581)], Tower Hamlets Council