Putney Private Subscription Library

[J from Canada]

Would anyone have any memories or ideas where I could find out information about a private subscription library in Putney in which my mother worked in the early 1950's. She used to tell me that the "people in the big houses" used to send their maids to the library to pick up books for them. I believe she told me it was in the High Street and I dimly recall her saying something about it being located where the W.H. Smith's is (this was about fifteen years ago or so).

Many thanks for any information!

J from Canada

[dhhound]

I have a friend who has lived in Putney for many years near Putney high Street. I'll email him and see if he has any knowledge.

[J from Canada]

Wonderful. Thank you very much indeed!

J from Canada

[chasbaz]

I would also contact the Putney public library, reference section (part of the borough of Wandsworth), via their website.
Another good source (there is a strong local historical interest) would be the Putney Society:
http://www.putneysociety.org.uk/

[meles]

If you find out the building still exists, then I'll happily pop down and take a photograph. I live only 20 minutes away.

meles

[J from Canada]

Thank you very much everyone for this information and for your offer of a photo, Meles. I will certainly let you know if this is the case but I rather think it no longer exists.

J

[dhhound]

My Putney resident replied to my email

The W.H.Smith shop in Putney High Street has been there a long time.
My neighbour started work there in 1946 and the shop was not new then.
It has hardly changed up to the present.
 
There is a Public Library in Disraeli Road, a few hundred yards from W.H.Smiths.
I don't know exactly how long it has been there, possibly a long time.
I have never heard of a Subscription Library, I asked some other people who  have been here a long time, none of them have heard the term.

Hope this helps you.

[J from Canada]

Hello dhhound,

Thanks very much for forwarding the email. This information seemed to trigger a thought that the library was above where Smith's is but it was definitely not where the public library is. So that was helpful for me! I know it was a private library where local residents had to pay a membership fee to take out books and I know that it was there between about 1950-1952 when she left to get married.

I appreciate your kind assistance with this matter. The quest continues!!

J from Canada

[chasbaz]

I wonder if Smiths actually ran their own subscription library?  I remember in Wimbledon about 55 years ago that there was a library in Boots (the chemists).  I'm sure there were libraries at other Boots branches. In the second-hand book trade I still occasionally see a book with the Boots sticker on the front cover.