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37a Clerkenwell Green, Marx Library London, Marx Memorial Library London, Sheelagh Macdonald, Vist Marx Library
Self and Pankajam at Marx Library, London.
I got the rare opportunity to visit the Marx Memorial Library in London two days back on 28th June. During my last visit to London in 2010, I had gone up to the building, but it was closed. This time we, myself and my wife Pankajam, checked its website (http://www.marx-memorial-library.org) found the visiting hours and accordingly reached there by about 1330 hours. From London you have to go to Farrington Station by tube (metro) and then have about 5 minutes walk. The address is 37A, Clerkenwell Green.
We were warmly received by Comrade Sheelagh Macdonald and another comrade working there at the red door of the building. There is no big name-board on the building, but a small brass plate at the side of the door on the wall with the name ‘Marx Memorial Library’ and details of the visiting hours, telephone numbers etc.
Pankajam with Sheelagh Macdonald
They showed us rooms, Library and the important documents and explained the history of the library and memorial. The building was constructed in 1738 as the Welsh Charity School. In 1872 The Patriotic Club started functioning in the building. The Marx Memorial Library was started in the building in 1933, in connection with the 50th death anniversary of Marx ( 14th March 1983). At the time a Workers School was also functioning along with the Library. This was started as a ” fitting memorial in the form of a centre of working class education to the greatest thinker and revolutionist of all time, in the city where he lived and worked for the greater part of his adult life.”
Lenin’s Room at Marx Library
The Marx Memorial Library have thousands of volumes of books on various subjects. An entire section is allotted to the Spanish revolution and connected matters. The original volumes of ‘Das Kapital’ and other books by Karl Marx are kept there. The room where Lenin used to work while in exile and edited the journal ‘IKSRA’ is kept as it is. There are many medals and other artefacts connected with the various conferences and seminar held there. There are many inspiring paintings on the wall by well-known artists. In its entirety, it was educative and inspiring.
The Marx Memorial Library organisation is maintaining the tomb and the statue of Marx in the High Gate cemetary in London. This was damaged by the neo–nazis in the 1970s, but has been repaired and well maintained at present. During my last tour, I have visited the tomb.
Regular Seminars and workshops are organised and discussions take place on the relevance of Marxism and other issues. In 2012, a series of lectures were organised on the subject, “Marxism in the 21st Century’, in which Com. Prakash Karat, General Secretary, CPI(M) also gave a presentation.
Com. Sheelagh at the time our departure gave us some books, including one which described history of the Library and other details. We signed the visitors’ register and wrote our opinion.
The visit was inspiring and helped understanding a lot of information.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 
Fantastic! Most precious experience in the life of a Marxist indeed!
Thank You comrade. It really was a memorable experience.