District Central Library

LYTHAM ST ANNES

SD32NW CLIFTON DRIVE SOUTH, St Annes 621-1/2/105 (South East side) No.254 District Central Library

II

Also known as: No.254 Carnegie Library CLIFTON DRIVE SOUTH St Annes. Public library. 1904-6, dated 1904 on east gable. Red brick in stretcher bond, with sandstone dressings, Cumbrian slate roof and copper-clad dome. Approximately rectangular plan formed by a tall open hall with an octagonal vestibule at the north-west corner, surrounded by single-storey reading rooms, offices, etc, including a porch in the splayed north-west corner. Eclectic style with Edwardian Baroque accent. Plain frieze, moulded cornice and brick parapet to both levels. The corner entrance has a round-headed doorway with banded head and a stone architrave including a pair of engaged columns with tall plinths and debased Ionic capitals, a pulvinated frieze, moulded cornice and an ogival-headed panel in the parapet with raised lettering "CARNEGIE FREE LIBRARY"; and is flanked by keyed oculi. Above and behind is an octagonal lantern (to the vestibule) which has 2-light mullioned windows, small pediments on the cornice over these (alternately segmental and triangular), a parapet ramped up at the angles, and a green copper dome with a finely-detailed apex lantern and finial. The west returned side has one transomed 6-light window and 5 canted bay windows in similar style, all of stone; and, above and behind, the hall has a clerestory of three 4-light windows similar to those of the octagon; and a ridge ventilator to the roof. The north returned side, which is stepped and terminates in a tall gable which has a pedimental apex containing a plaque lettered "AD 1904", is in similar style. INTERIOR: tiled dado to porch and vestibule, double doors with Art Nouveau stained glass; 3-bay aisle arcaded east side of hall, with fluted pilasters and keyed elliptical arches; office on south side with octagonal skylight.

Listing NGR: SD3239228353