Description

SANDWELL MB HIGH STREET (south-west side)
SP 0091 SW

14/103 Central Public Library

29.9.87
GV II

Public library. 1907. By Stephen J Holliday of West Bromwich. Red brick
with yellow terra cotta dressings. Main facade a symmetrical composition of
two storeys and five bays with giant engaged fluted Ionic columns on pedestals.
The central bay has an open pediment supported on outer antae and inner free-
standing columns. The ground floor windows have round heads with keystones.
The timber glazing bars incorporate Venetian lower lights with a central pedi-
ment. The first floor windows are of three lights separated by brick mullions,
except for the central one. This is of two round-headed lights under a round
arch within the pediment. The doorway is approached by stone steps and has a
round arch with glazing. Interior: open-well stair in central hallway has
mosaic and tile decoration which includes inscription: "This building is the
gift of Mr Andrew Carnegie to the Borough". (VCH, 72). Murals in stairwell and lending library, of c.1913-24, the latter illustrating the scenes from The Canterbury Tales. Some repartitioning of the library when it was re-organised in 1937-8, and these partitions and some shelving survives.

Listing NGR: SP0025191382

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26511305

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)