Atkinson Library And Art Gallery

The Atkinson Library and Art Gallery is a public library and art gallery, now primarily an art gallery and part of the library, which is internally integrated with the adjoining Southport Library building. It was built in 1878 by Waddington & Sons of Burnley and was given by William Atkinson of Preston. The building is constructed of sandstone ashlar and features a slate roof, designed in the Victorian Classical style.

The exterior consists of three storeys and three bays, arranged symmetrically. The central section is pedimented and projects forward, featuring a channelled plinth, giant corner pilasters, a dentilled cornice with a panelled parapet, and a pair of domed turrets flanking a pavilion roof with cresting. The central pedimented area has engaged giant Composite columns arranged distyle in antis, an entablature with a frieze inscribed "ATKINSON FREE LIBRARY," a dentilled cornice with foliated modillions, and a tympanum with carved relief figures. It also includes a large round-headed blank arch with a stepped surround, enriched imposts and head, framing a square-headed doorway and a large carved roundel, above which is a pilastered band of three sunk panels.

The flanking bays each feature a foundation stone in the plinth, a three-light window (with altered glazing) set in pilastered arcades with carved tympani, and at the first-floor level, a band of three sunk panels with relief carvings of classical figures engaged in various arts.

The interior has not been inspected. The building forms a group with the Southport Arts Centre attached to the left and the Southport Library building adjoining to the right.