Monkwearmouth Branch Library And Attached Railings

The Monkwearmouth Branch Library, built in 1910, is a branch library designed by Edward Cratney, with the site gifted by JG Addison and funded by Andrew Carnegie, who opened it on October 21, 1909. The building is constructed of brick with an ashlar plinth, sill band, and dressings, topped with a Lakeland slate roof featuring ashlar gable copings and cream faience ridge tiles. It showcases a Free Baroque style and is a single-storey structure with four windows.

The central three-bay section has wide-swept steps leading up to a renewed door and overlight, which is recessed between narrow pilasters that support an entablature. The paired windows on either side of the door have Ionic shafts on moulded sills and leaded lights. Below the windows, foundation stones display the names of the architect and officials. The wide pilasters define the bays, with the central three featuring a recessed fascia, while the end bays are gabled with open pediments.

Heavy modillioned cornices are supported by aproned corbels on the pilasters, which break forward at the pilasters and rise to form corniced piers of a central blocking course. The pediments contain long Diocletian windows. Brick projections below the end windows carry ashlar aprons to moulded sills, and lugged architraves rise to wreath-carved triple keystones.

The wrought-iron railings are spike-headed, with principals paired and swept finials linked by crossed arcs. These railings run from the plinth of the end pilasters, along the forecourt, and curve up the steps to the entrance. The Corporation was offered £10,000 by Carnegie for two libraries, but with this funding, three were built, including the West branch on Kayll Road and Hendon.