Sydney Smirke
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Smirke was born in London, England, as the fifth son of painter Robert Smirke and his wife, Elizabeth Russell. He was the younger brother of Sir Robert Smirke and Sir Edward Smirke, who was also an ar
Sydney Smirke, 1860s
Lower Sandgate Road, Folkestone, with Tollhouse (1847) by Sidney Smirke
British Museum Reading Room
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The British Museum Reading Room, situated in the centre of the Great Court of the British Museum, used to be the main reading room of the British Library. In 1997, this function moved to the new Briti
Sydney Smirke
…The Derby Hall, Derby Hotel and Athenaeum in Bury (1849–52; the latter two now demolished) The circular reading room at the British Museum (1857) King Edward's School, Witley, Surrey (1865…
Inside the Reading Room, before its conversion to an exhibition space
Detail of the ceiling with its oculus
A panorama showing an almost 180-degree view of the interior of the Reading Room
The reading desks