The Maughan Library

From Medieval Sanctuary to Imperial Archive

The site's history stretches back nearly eight centuries, beginning in 1232 when King Henry III established the House of Converts, a sanctuary for Jewish individuals who had converted to Christianity. Following Edward I's Edict of Expulsion in 1290, the property evolved into the Rolls Estate, serving as the residence of the Master of the Rolls and repository for legal records. The chapel underwent several transformations, including a notable 1617 rebuild by the renowned architect Inigo Jones, where poet and priest John Donne preached at its consecration. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the building had become integral to England's legal and administrative infrastructure.

Birth of Britain's First Fireproof Building

The Public Record Office Act of 1838 mandated the safe preservation of national records, prompting construction of the central wing beginning in 1851 under architect Sir James Pennethorne. This pioneering structure earned distinction as England's first purpose-built fireproof building, a response to the catastrophic 1834 fire that destroyed the Palace of Westminster. The design prioritised compartmentalisation over comfort—storerooms functioned as isolated fireproof cells with cast-iron shelving and slate boards rather than wood. The building featured no heating or artificial lighting to eliminate fire hazards, instead relying on small windows for natural illumination and a prominent water tower for emergency supplies. Two search rooms were added in 1863, a clock tower in 1865, and subsequent expansions along Fetter Lane and additional wings designed by Sir John Taylor in the 1890s created the imposing structure visible today.

Architectural Distinction and Royal Iconography

The building's neo-Gothic facade is adorned with statues of English monarchs, including King Edward III and King Henry III, alongside four queens: Elizabeth I, Anne, Victoria, and the Empress Matilda—a particularly intriguing inclusion given that Matilda, though she claimed the title of Queen of England, was never actually crowned. These Portland stone sculptures, created by sculptor Joseph Durham, stand atop the tower above the main entrance and represent the building's symbolic importance to the nation's governance and heritage. The gatehouse leading to Chancery Lane, featuring the two kings, was added during the 1890s extensions and is now Grade II* listed.

Transformation into a Modern University Library

By the late 1990s, the Public Record Office had relocated to newer facilities, leaving this architectural gem without purpose. King's College London acquired the building in 2001, commissioning architects Gaunt Francis to undertake an ambitious £35 million renovation. The challenge was formidable: converting a rigid Victorian archive into a flexible, welcoming modern library while preserving its historic character and listed status. The architects retained two original fireproof cells in their pristine condition, complete with cast-iron shelving and slate boards, as testament to the building's past. They installed 31 kilometres of shelving, of which 26 kilometres are now in place, integrated contemporary amenities including lifts, security systems, student cafés, and group training rooms, and carefully restored painted zinc ceilings from the 1860s and a stunning tessellated floor from 1901. The transformation was recognised with the 2003 City Heritage Award.

Collections and Academic Significance

The Maughan Library now serves as King's College London's main research library and the largest new university library in Britain since World War II. Its collections span arts, humanities, sciences, and law, supported by six additional King's libraries specialising in medicine-related materials. Notable holdings include the Carnegie Collection of British Music with original manuscripts, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Historical Collection containing over 60,000 items including Britain's 1812 declaration of war on the United States, rare incunabula printed before 1501, the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, and extensive collections of 17th to 19th-century medical and surgical textbooks. The library also preserves papers and letters of Joseph Lister, the pioneer of antiseptic surgery, and the Modern Greek Studies Association maintains the UK's premier collections of books and periodicals in Modern Greek language, literature, and history.

A Living Monument to Institutional Memory

Opened by Queen Elizabeth II in November 2002, the Maughan Library represents a masterful marriage between architectural conservation and functional modernisation. Visitors encounter a stylish austerity where the original cast-iron doors, though removed from doorways, hang as sculptural elements beside door arches, and salvaged slate cladding reinforces the colour scheme. Warm wooden surfaces and contemporary lighting elevate the Victorian industrial aesthetic, while colour emerges from the books themselves and ubiquitous IT screens. The library's success lies not merely in its collections but in its ability to honour the building's singular past—as a fireproof strongbox protecting the nation's documents—while serving as a vibrant intellectual hub for thousands of students and scholars annually.