Stockport Central Library

Stockport Central Library is a red brick and Portland stone public library in neo-Baroque style, built in 1913 to designs by Bradshaw, Gass and Hope. A later extension to the south-east, supported on piers, is not included in the listing.

The building is constructed of orange brick laid in Flemish stretcher bond with Portland stone dressings beneath a Welsh slate roof. The rear elevations are in English garden wall bond.

The plan is L-shaped over two storeys, with the principal elevation facing south-west along Wellington Road South and the secondary elevation along St Petersgate to the north-west, arranged around a domed circulation bay at the west corner. A two-storey office range sits parallel to the principal block along Lawrence Street at the rear, enclosing the single-storey central lending library, which is top-lit.

The roofs are hipped over the main two-storey sections and pitched over the rear office range. The flat roof over the central lending library has a conical lantern. The building is classically proportioned, with seven bays to the south-west and six bays to the north-west, plus an additional corner circulation bay.

The principal elevations rest on a band-rusticated stone plinth containing the basement, which is fully exposed at the north-west but only partially exposed at the principal south-west elevation due to the sloping site. At the west corner, the circulation bay is topped by an octagonal Portland stone cupola with a zinc-clad dome and flagpole, lit on alternate facets by eight-pane windows over a two-tier corniced base. The corner is canted, and each side is lit by a window clasped by piers with alternate brick and stone banding.

The principal elevations read symmetrically with similar detailing, spanned by a modillioned cornice with full stone entablatures decorated with carved laurel wreaths resting on end bays which break slightly forward. These flank a set-back brick attic storey which lights the first floor rooms at high level and is finished with a simple lead-capped coping.

The breakfront bays are articulated by banded piers. At the principal south-west elevation, each contains a double-height stone arch with deep moulded architrave and scrolled keystone. The eastern one contains the principal entrance, which is rectangular and surmounted by a scrolled open pediment containing the Stockport Armorial Bearings with foliate pendants, with a shouldered multi-pane window above and the letters 'PUBLIC LIBRARY' fixed to an arched metal frame above that. The original door has been replaced with automatic sliding doors, although a pair of original cast-iron gates remain, again depicting the Stockport Coat of Arms. To the right of the door is a foundation stone bearing the name of the architect, other dignitaries and the date of 1 August 1912.

The windows are original multi-pane fixed timber inset with circular pivoting lights, generally set in moulded shouldered stone architraves with dripstones and projecting sills over plain apron panels. There is one to each breakfront. Those at the north-west have a horizontal three-light window in place of the arches at the principal elevation. Between them, the principal elevation is five windows wide, and the north-west elevation is slightly shorter with four windows between breakfront bays.

The windows at each floor are vertically aligned. Those at attic level are pivoting timber windows with eight panes in plain stone surrounds. The basement windows are boarded over, including Diocletian basement windows located at the breakfront bays of the north-west elevation. The letters 'STOCKPORT CENTRAL LIBRARY' are fixed to each of the main elevations.

The rear elevations are plainly detailed in brick and unadorned except for the easternmost bay, which continues the detailing from other elevations. Directly to its left, a large latticed arched window sits over the recessed former children's entrance, which is plainly detailed with an unadorned stone panel above. There are no features of special note, and the range is extended to the east. The rear elevations of the L-shaped wing are also plainly detailed.

Interior

The layout is substantially intact, although there has been some reconfiguration of uses within the building. The detailing has been partially altered, including loss of the original staircase, although most doors, plasterwork, and some library fittings remain intact. Original oak doors have been retained to most rooms and are generally double-leaf with stained glass upper panels, set in a deep moulded oak architrave on plinth blocks. Most have original name panels centrally placed above, some detailed with gilded room names, although others are covered by temporary makeshift or fixed plastic nameplates. Windows are original, those on the ground floor having internal secondary glazing. Floors are generally covered with laminate or carpet, although original floors may remain beneath.

Entry is between the basement and ground floor levels. To the left on entry, an open well stair descends to the basement (recently gated) and rises ahead to the main library floor, which has a large armorial stained glass fanlight above the entrance. The stairwell windows each have a stained glass central panel detailed with the name of a famous author. The original stone balusters have been replaced, although the original stairs appear to remain intact, and the stairwell now accommodates a new lift.

Accessed via double doors ahead is a corridor, formerly the Borrower's Hall, flanked left and right by open round-headed arcaded partitions, with the ceiling divided into coffers by lateral beams detailed with plain cornicing. Ahead, to the rear of a recently relocated borrower's desk, is a large stained glass window commemorating Corporate Reform, 1836.

The lending library is located to the right, lit from above by a substantial shallow domed leaded lantern, original and recently restored, supported by Doric columns on hexagonal plinths. The original one-way circulation route, which supported the open access system and was monitored by a series of staff enclosures, was formerly located inside the arcaded partition and has been removed.

The former reading room is located in the south-west wing and now forms part of the main library, although the original partition, also in the form of an open arcade, remains intact. The north-west wing is occupied by two separate areas divided by a glazed screen with central double doors. These comprise the former Ladies Room to the front, now the children's library, and the Magazine Room to the rear, which has also been incorporated into the general library. Original oak doors lead to a staff area at the rear, comprising two large offices. These are plainly detailed, and the former librarian's office has a large, plainly detailed fire surround with overmantel.

Passing up the main stair, there is a commemorative plaque detailed with the Stockport Arms recording the opening of the library on 14 October 1916, before reaching the first floor landing, which has a coved ceiling. The local heritage library occupies the former lecture hall in the south-west wing, and the former reference room to the north-west is now (2016) occupied by a staff workroom, terminated at either end by a former lecturer's room (also having access from the first floor landing, now disused) and rare books store respectively, both now (2016) in use for book storage.

Both main rooms have coved ceilings supported along the long walls only by oversized brackets with stylised Greek Key motifs, and are lit by a series of high-level windows. Former multi-pane laylights are still extant but painted out. No original fittings are retained in the local studies library, but the staff workroom, as well as the two smaller storage rooms, retain some original fitted oak shelving with panelled ends. The laylight in the former rare books store retains its glazing.

The rear wing contains a number of small offices and staff rooms accessed off a linear corridor, and access is also provided to an additional corridor, added around 1960, which provides direct access to the local studies library. There are few features of special interest in this area, although painted panelled doors are retained with original glazed top panels, and the former mess room, now an office, has a simple timber fire surround in the neoclassical style. The basement stair is located at the east end of the corridor and has an oak handrail supported on cast-iron balusters.

The basement is L-shaped, with services, original washrooms and janitor's office beneath the rear office wing, and the former children's library, patents store and minor hall in the north-west wing. The children's library and patents store are now amalgamated for storage and retain no features related to original use. The minor hall, still so-called, has been fully refurbished as a multi-functional studio space. Original floors are painted concrete, and a ramp now covers the original concrete stair which descends from the direct children's entrance at the rear of the building. Original painted timber half-glazed doors and glazed partition screens are retained.

A secondary entrance at the south-east provides direct access to the former first floor lecture room from street level. At the half-landing level is a projector room, marked as a cloakroom on original plans, but containing no features of special interest.