Visiting the local history library

Southwark Local History Library

We look forward to welcoming you the local history library, which you will reach by entering the John Harvard public library through its front entrance on Borough High Street and walking through to the rear of the space. The Local History Library is located at the rear.

Hours of Opening

Monday and Thursday 10am to 7pm 
Tuesday and Friday 10am to 5pm 
Wednesday Closed 
Saturday 10am to 3pm 
Sunday Closed

How to get to the library

Train: We are about ten minutes' walk from London Bridge rail station 
Bus: 21, 35, 40, 133, 343 and 344 pass or stop near the library 
Car: On street car parking is very limited due to roadworks.  Contact Tranport for London for the latest parking situation in the area.
Tube: We are very close to Borough tube station (Northern Line) and also London Bridge underground station (Jubilee Line)
Map

Facilities

The John Harvard library, within which we are located, has disabled access and toilet facilities. The local history library has microfilm readers,  photocopiers and scanners all available for users of the local history library. We stock a range of local publications for sale. There are refreshment facilities on site and plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants in the surrounding area. 

What else is on offer

Books and other printed published material

• Copies of most printed books on the history of the area
• Pamphlets and periodicals produced by local organisations
• An extensive run of directories
• On microfilm, local newspapers from 1856 to the present
• Press cuttings and ephemera

Illustrations

There are some 20,000 photographs and prints, a collection of slides and also of watercolours. They provide a vivid visual record of Southwark over the last 200 years. Old photographs used on these web pages can be found in the collection.

Maps

The collection contains over 600 maps, ranging from copies of 16th century London maps to the most up to date large scale ordnance survey plans.

Videos, tapes and cd roms

Films, videos and tapes reflect life in the borough from the 1920s to the present.

Family history

On CD ROM is the Mormon Church's International Genealogical Index, a nationwide index to parish registers.

Archives

The core of the collection is the local government records of the area, the civil parishes and the Metropolitan Boroughs. Some of the records of the former civil parishes go back to the 16th century.

They include vestry minutes, taxation records and poor law records. We also hold copies of London County Council, and London School Board minutes. Some local organisations have also deposited their records including businesses, some non conformist churches and early schools. We also hold, on microfilm, copies of records held elsewhere, most notably census returns and parish registers. 

Facilities

The library has disabled access and toilet facilities. Microfilm readers, a photocopier and a photograph copying stand, for which there is a charge, are available for public use. A sales point stocks a range of local publications. There are no refreshment facilities on site, but plenty in the surrounding area.

Disabled access

There is full disabled access including a lift to the library on the fourth floor and the activity 'pods' on the fifth floor. To use the lift, please speak to a member of staff on the ground or fourth floors.

The following facilities are also available  

• disabled access toilets
• Reading Edge machine
• CCTV magnifier
• an induction loop at the counter
• evac chairs for emergency use