The Lyceum

The Lyceum is a club house built in 1802 by Thomas Harrison of Chester, originally established to house the first gentlemen's subscription library in England, founded in 1758. The building is constructed of ashlar in a Classical style and was originally one storey, but the roof was raised later to add an additional storey. It features a continuous base, frieze, cornice, and parapet. The central section of the facade has a slight forward projection, with Ionic columns and a pediment that forms a recessed portico containing four entrance doors, which have architraves, cornices, consoles, and six-panel doors. On either side of the portico, there are three-light windows divided by Doric columns that support a modillion cornice, with plain reveals and segmental heads forming blind lunette heads. The facade facing Church Street also has a forward central break, with Ionic columns and a panelled parapet above. It includes five windows, with the outer pair featuring architraves, cornices, and consoles; above the three central windows between the columns are sculptured plaques. The windows were boarded in 1984, and the portico is screened.

Inside, there is a large News Room with contemporary decorations, and a circular library featuring a gallery supported by reeded Doric columns with an iron balustrade and a saucer dome adorned with decorative plaster work.