History

Built in 1904 (dated), designed by R and S Williams of Cardiff and built by W T Morgan at a cost of £2000. Following the Public Libraries Act of 1895 Whitchurch had opened a library in a private house. In 1899 the parish petitioned the Carnegie Foundation for a grant towards a permanent library building, but this was slow in coming.

Exterior

The library is built of red brick with Bath stone dressings and a Welsh slate roof. Single cell plan with lobbies at either end and the librarian's house attached at rear. Flemish Baroque style in the manner of a small C17 school or livery hall. The main elevation is in three bays with tall 2-light mullioned windows with two transoms and with vertically glazed lights above. These are separated by panelled pilasters which support a cornice and a central feature at parapet level, with an open pediment containing a small obelisk with ball finial. Under this is the date 1904 and below again a plaque FREE LIBRARY. Flanking the main building on the left is the single storey porch. Double panelled doors with light over and doorcase with rusticated pilasters and segmental broken pediment. Panelled parapet above. On the right is a single storey wing with a 2-light window. The gable ends of the main building have a tripartite window in a segmental recess, coped gables with ball finials. The rear is plain as is the attached two storey house.

Interior

The interior is now featureless as it has had a suspended ceiling inserted.

Reasons for Listing

Included for its architectural interest as a characterful public building which has historic interest in the centre of the Community

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Whitchurch Library official website
• Wikidata Q29503585

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

• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)