Central Library (Blackpool)
Encyclopedia
Central Library is a public library
in Blackpool
, Lancashire
, England. The building that contains the library and the Grundy Art Gallery
has been designated a Grade II listed building by English Heritage.
artists Cuthbert and John Grundy. Construction started on the building in 1909, and it was completed in 1911. It was designed by Scottish architecture firm Cullen, Lochhead and Brown, who had won a competition for the project. In August 2011, the library closed to the public to undergo a year-long renovation that cost £3 million. It reopened in early October 2011.
s and is constructed of red brick with stone dressings
and striped pilaster
s. The library occupies the corner part of the building; the west and south walls have flanking pylon
s on plinth
s made of stone. The corner entrance is flanked by three ionic columns on each side. Over the doorway is a large, rectanguar window, and above that, a frieze
carved with the words "". At the top, there is an octaonal leaded dome, which has a finial
shaped like an urn.
On 20 October 1983 the building that contains the library, and the adjacent Grundy Art Gallery
, was designated a Grade II listed building by English Heritage
. The Grade II listing—the lowest of the three grades—is for buildings that are "nationally important and of special interest".
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England. The building that contains the library and the Grundy Art Gallery
Grundy Art Gallery
The Grundy is an art gallery located in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It's eclectic programme consists of regional historic to recent contemporary art exhibitions. Opened in 1911, it is owned and operated by Blackpool Council....
has been designated a Grade II listed building by English Heritage.
History
In 1908, a site was picked for a new library and art gallery on Queen Street. It was partly financed by BuryBury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
artists Cuthbert and John Grundy. Construction started on the building in 1909, and it was completed in 1911. It was designed by Scottish architecture firm Cullen, Lochhead and Brown, who had won a competition for the project. In August 2011, the library closed to the public to undergo a year-long renovation that cost £3 million. It reopened in early October 2011.
Architecture
The library is in the Edwardian Baroque style. It is on two storeyStorey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
s and is constructed of red brick with stone dressings
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
and striped pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s. The library occupies the corner part of the building; the west and south walls have flanking pylon
Pylon (architecture)
Pylon is the Greek term for a monumental gateway of an Egyptian temple It consists of two tapering towers, each surmounted by a cornice, joined by a less elevated section which enclosed the entrance between them. The entrance was generally about half the height of the towers...
s on plinth
Plinth
In architecture, a plinth is the base or platform upon which a column, pedestal, statue, monument or structure rests. Gottfried Semper's The Four Elements of Architecture posited that the plinth, the hearth, the roof, and the wall make up all of architectural theory. The plinth usually rests...
s made of stone. The corner entrance is flanked by three ionic columns on each side. Over the doorway is a large, rectanguar window, and above that, a frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
carved with the words "". At the top, there is an octaonal leaded dome, which has a finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
shaped like an urn.
On 20 October 1983 the building that contains the library, and the adjacent Grundy Art Gallery
Grundy Art Gallery
The Grundy is an art gallery located in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It's eclectic programme consists of regional historic to recent contemporary art exhibitions. Opened in 1911, it is owned and operated by Blackpool Council....
, was designated a Grade II listed building by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
. The Grade II listing—the lowest of the three grades—is for buildings that are "nationally important and of special interest".