Description

1. CHRISTCHURCH ROAD 5186 (South Side) College of Technology and Central Public Library (Formerly listed as Municipal College) SZ 0991 20/64 19.12.73

II

2. Built as Municipal College, 1910-13, to design of F W Lacey, Borough Surveyor. Edwardian Baroque, red brick with stone dressings, situated at the Lansdowne roundabout. High tower at corner (prominent civic landmark) of red brick with rusticated quoins, tapered, stone clock stage with segmental pediments over dials; circular cupola with projecting pairs of blocked Ionic columns, carrying attic with portholes and dome. Elaborate entrance under tower: double staircase up to terrace (iron lamp standards), with balustrade of giant consoles, left uncarved, over rusticated basement arch. Doorway of thin panels and bracketed strips against rusticated piers, with segmentally pediment window and bull's eye embraced by main arch (big keystone). Christchurch Road frontage symmetrical, basement and 2 storeys, with continuously glazed north-light dormer to studios on roof. Tripartite centre with blocked Tuscan columns in pairs, fully glazed with arched glazing bars between, over basement with projecting stone bands forming 'plinth'; big brick frieze and stone cornice, raised brick and stone eminences at corners. Recessed wings, also with blocked Tuscan columns in pairs, flanked by cupolas with bull's -eye windows framed by rusticated pilasters, smooth stone domes over. At east end, remodelled buff brick and stone villa of circa 1860 (Strathearn), given entrance of 1912-13. Meyrick Road frontage also symmetrical. Centre 5 windows wide, 2 storeys and attic, segment-headed windows and rusticated stone strips to ground floor, loggia of blocked coupled Tuscan columns and wrought-iron railings with wreaths to 1st floor, with coupled pilasters framing windows inside loggia; brick frieze and eaves cornice with dentils, supporting recessed attic of rusticated lunettes between brick pilasters. Projecting wings, 3 storeys: rusticated stone ground floor with tripartite windows and stone strips, red brick 1st floor with tripartite windows recessed in elaborately shouldered frame, pedimented gable to 2nd floor with quasi-Venetian window between square corner eminences of brick with rusticated quoins and stone panels. Slate roofs, ridges of tile, brick chimneys with stone cornices. Rear elevation (Central Library) incomplete: double staircase to 1st floor entrance (scrolly iron railing) with bowed balcony over rusticated lunette of basement porch, tripartite window under pedimented gable to 2nd floor. Completed wing to left 3 windows wide, with tall shouldered maims to 1st floor windows and pedimented dormers with big keystones. Rear of college irregular and incomplete: assembly hall circa 1925 with segmental gable and windows; south wing enclosing courtyard of 1956.

Listing NGR: SZ0958591335

External Links

• Wikidata Q26403721

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