Victoria Coren Mitchell Launches Belsize Library 90th Anniversary North London 2026

Key Points

• Anniversary Launch: Television presenter and Only Connect host Victoria Coren Mitchell will join local representatives to officially open the 90th anniversary celebrations for Belsize Community Library in North London.
• Launch Date & Event: A launch evening will take place on Thursday, 15 October 2026, at the Antrim Road venue featuring live music, refreshments, and keynote speakers.
• Distinguished Speakers: Guest speakers include Victoria Coren Mitchell, Tulip Siddiq MP, Rashid Iqbal of youth charity The Winch, and Anthony Isaacs of Friends of Belsize Library.
• Architectural Significance: Designed by renowned library architects H A Gold and R de W Aldridge, the Grade II listed red brick building replaced a former Victorian library and was listed by English Heritage in 2016 as an “exemplar of the small inter-war branch library”.
• Community Management: Managed by youth and family charity The Winch since Camden Council ceased management in 2012, the facility operates without local authority funding.
• Extended Programme: The anniversary will feature a six-month calendar of events running from October 2026 to March 2027, including guest lectures, family activities, a short history documentary, and a child-designed library card competition.
• Fundraising Drive: Having won the Community Heritage Award at the UK Locality Awards in 2025, the library is appealing for “library champions” to donate £25 monthly to secure its ongoing operations.

North London (North London News) October 7, 2026 – Television host and Only Connect presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell will help launch the 90th anniversary celebrations for Belsize Community Library in North London. The Grade II listed building, situated on Antrim Road, originally opened its doors in 1937 and has continually served the surrounding neighborhood for nine decades. The official launch evening will take place at the venue on Thursday, October 15, featuring live musical performances, light refreshments, and speeches from prominent local figures, including Coren Mitchell, local Member of Parliament Tulip Siddiq, Chief Executive of The Winch Rashid Iqbal, and Chair of the Friends of the Library Anthony Isaacs.

How is the local community celebrating nine decades of Belsize Library?

In an official newsletter released ahead of the anniversary, representatives of the library reflected on the venue’s long-standing role within the community, writing:

“For nine decades, Belsize Library has stood at the heart of our neighbourhood. Opening its doors in 1937 as a public library, it has evolved over the years into so much more than a place for books—thriving today as a vibrant, community-run hub supported by the Winch, our incredible volunteers, and local partners.”

The milestone will be marked by a comprehensive programme of public events scheduled to run from October 2026 through to March 2027. Organised by local charity The Winch, the schedule includes an exhibition detailing the library’s architectural history and civic importance, family and children’s creative workshops, guest lectures, and a short documentary film illustrating how the library operates through volunteer and charitable support.

What architectural and historical significance does the Grade II listed building hold?

The single-storey, double-height red English brick building was constructed as a branch of the former Hampstead Metropolitan Borough library, replacing an earlier Victorian structure. It was designed by seasoned library architects H A Gold and R de W Aldridge, featuring handmade Italian clay roof tiles, oak block flooring, panelled double doors fitted with solid brass handles, and a decorative panel above its central window bearing the defunct Hampstead Borough Coat of Arms alongside its Latin motto NON SIBI SED TOTI (“not for self but for all”).

The library was officially opened by the Mayor of Hampstead on March 18, 1937. According to statutory heritage body English Heritage, which awarded the site Grade II listed status in 2016, the building stands as an “exemplar of the small inter-war branch library.” In its official preservation assessment, English Heritage noted:

“Its stripped geometry and its luminous, open, understated interior demonstrates the skill and experience of its architects.”

The body added that, unusually for branch facilities of its era, the interior has preserved its original open-plan layout, oak shelving, and fixed seating.

How did Belsize Library transition from council control to community management?

Throughout its ninety-year operation, the library faced repeated threats of closure and severe municipal budget cuts. In response to an impending closure threat, local residents formed the Friends of Belsize Library campaign group in 1988. Camden Council continued to fund and manage the facility until 2012. Facing further public sector austerity measures, the council proposed permanently closing the branch.

To prevent loss of the amenity, local youth and family charity The Winchester Project (now known as The Winch) stepped in to take over day-to-day operations and administrative management. While Camden Council retains ownership of the physical property, the branch receives no operational funding from the local authority. It relies entirely on private donations, grant-making trusts, volunteers, and community partnerships.

In recognition of its transition and sustained service, the facility was awarded the Community Heritage Award at the national UK Locality Awards in 2025. To ensure financial viability, organizers have launched a campaign encouraging local residents to become “library champions” by committing to a regular donation of £25 per month.

Background of the particular development

The establishment of Belsize Library in 1937 was part of a major civic investment drive by the former Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead during the inter-war period, aimed at modernising public access to education and literature. Designed to blend functional efficiency with understated civic dignity, the branch served as a model for urban neighborhood libraries across suburban London. However, like many municipal facilities in the post-war era, Belsize Library became vulnerable to shifting local government priorities and spending reviews from the late 20th century onward.

The formation of the Friends of Belsize Library in 1988 established a precedent for community activism in North London library preservation. When public sector budget reductions led Camden Council to withdraw operational funding in 2012, Belsize Library became one of the early pioneers of the “community-run library model” in the United Kingdom. Management by The Winch transformed the space from a traditional municipal book repository into a multi-use hub supporting early years education, youth groups, isolated elderly residents, and local arts organizations.

Prediction: How this development can affect the local community and independent libraries

The 90th-anniversary milestone and launch of the £25-a-month “library champions” scheme are likely to have direct implications for both the local Belsize Park community and the broader public library landscape in urban Britain:

1. Securing Local Services and Community Cohesion: For residents of Belsize Park and surrounding Camden neighborhoods, the successful campaign and continuous operation of the library ensure the preservation of a free, heated civic sanctuary. This ongoing provision directly benefits vulnerable demographics—including youth seeking educational assistance, families requiring early childhood space, and elderly residents seeking social connection in a warm environment.
2. Financial Sustainability Model: The library’s reliance on community micro-donations (£25 per month) tests an alternative funding model for UK public assets operating outside council budgets. If successful, the scheme could offer a viable blueprint for other UK community-managed facilities facing rising energy, maintenance, and administrative overheads.
3. Preservation of Local Heritage: The elevated public profile generated by high-profile supporters like Victoria Coren Mitchell and local political leaders safeguards the Grade II listed structure against physical neglect or commercial redevelopment pressures. This ensures that its inter-war architectural features remain accessible to future generations.