Bedales Memorial Library was designed by Ernest Gimson. It was built in 1921 to commemorate pupils and staff who died in the Great War. It is reputed to be one of the finest Arts & Crafts buildings in England. It was built using traditional materials and methods and is clearly based on an aisled barn with an extra floor in the two side aisles. The bookshelves are arranged in line with the aisle posts. It has arch braces supporting the crown-post trusses and the aisle plates.
As the photograph below indicates, the outside gives no clue to the beautiful wooden interior, but the large bay windows allo light to flood into the library. A spiral staircase in one of the bays gives access to the upper floor. Gimson also designed the furniture and fittings in the library and the Lupton Hall.
Although the school is not open to the public,I was able to visit with Travel Editions on their Hampshire Arts & Crafts tour.
