Birkenhead Library

Birkenhead Library

A neoclassical Portland stone public library built in 1933 to designs by Gray, Evans and Crossley. The walls are clad in Portland stone with red brick to the rear elevation, all beneath a hipped Norwegian slate roof. The central well is clad in glazed white tiles.

The building has a rectangular footprint facing north-west onto Borough Road, with a two-storey frontispiece over a basement. A single-storey lending library abuts to the rear with a shallow segmental rear wall. Suites of offices are located on mezzanine floors to the north-west.

The principal elevation is set back from the road onto a large paved plaza. It comprises a symmetrical arrangement of two six-bay wings placed either side of a full-height projecting entrance bay. The entrance is fronted by a giant prostyle distyle Tuscan portico raised on six stone steps, with the words "PUBLIC LIBRARY" incised into the frieze between two rosettes. At the base of the steps are the remains of a pair of cast-iron lamp standards on stone pedestals. Within the portico is the principal entrance with stone architrave and original timber panelled doors, surmounted by a double-height stairwell window with Wilfred Owen memorial window. Between the two sits a balustraded balcony bearing the lion and crozier of the Birkenhead coat of arms and the motto "UBI FIDES IBI LUX ET ROBUR" (where there is faith there is light and strength). A parapet runs around the entire building, raised over the entrance bay and detailed with a centrally placed stone cartouche depicting the full Birkenhead armorial bearings, flanked by two kneeling children.

The windows are generally uPVC replacements, although original Crittall windows have been retained within the central well, which lights the first floor storage room and toilet facilities. Those to the main block have drip stones and pediments to the second and fifth ground floor windows at each side of the principal elevation and at the centre of the south elevation. Basement windows are quoined, opening onto a wide basement well with stone parapet.

At the south, the basement contains the original entrance to the juvenile library, so inscribed on the lintel, quoined, with a floating overlight into which is set the remains of a statue known as "the girl in the gym slip", depicting a girl reading a book. The upper portion of the statue has been dislodged but is stored in the basement. The former juvenile entrance is accessed via steps descending at the south of the building from a small garden area.

The north elevation has windows to first floor only, with lugged aprons. The rear of the building has several abutments, including the large segmental lending library, and resting on it, diminished in size, the first floor storage room, which also has a segmental rear wall. All abutments have subservient detailing with brick walling topped with stone parapets. The two-storey canted office abutment to the north retains an original pedimented entrance door with a date stone reading "1933".

Internally, the original floor plan and detailing remains largely intact. The building is accessed via a small barrel vaulted vestibule beneath the main staircase with retained oak panelling and a pair of glazed oak doors with original bronze handles. Steps ascend with original wrought iron and brass rails, adjacent to which is a marble plaque commemorating the opening by King George V and Queen Mary on 18 July 1934. The steps ascend to a spacious entrance hall with a deeply coffered ceiling supported by yellow Travertine piers and a floor laid with black and white Travertine tiles. Decorative plasterwork includes guilloche mouldings to the beam soffits and Greek key cornice to a central panel with ceiling rose. The stairs are arranged around an open well with heavy square-plan piers, open string, turned balusters and moulded handrail, largely in cream Travertine. Oak panelling continues throughout, with original oak doors featuring moulded architraves and segmental entablatures. The stair is lit by the Wilfred Owen war memorial window (1995).

To the east of the entrance hall is an arcade of three arches with remains of original wrought-iron screens providing access to the main lending library. To the south is the former magazine room, now an IT suite. To the north the former lecture theatre, now used for storage, is accessed via an ante room with original oak panelled or glazed doors featuring original brass furniture, architraves and entablatures.

The lending library is single storey, top lit by original laylights, with a curved rear wall along which are ranged original slightly curved bookshelves. The roof is supported on a series of fluted oak columns and the original parquet floor is retained. Affixed to the north-west wall is the "Della Robbia" series of ceramic plaques, comprising a central allegorical panel flanked by depictions of agricultural scenes. The south-west part has been partitioned to create a disabled access corridor. The IT suite is plainly detailed, although oak panelled wainscoting is inset with unbleached linen panels.

Architectural details are carried through to the first floor, the landing having a central plasterwork dome with an original light fitting. To the south is the former reference library, now used as a local studies and reading room, lit on three walls with a barreled ceiling and original counter to the east. Behind is the original first floor store, retaining original shelving and fittings, timber panelled partition walls and display cabinets accommodating some of the stack collection.

The northern wing is subdivided into a number of meeting rooms and offices retaining a high proportion of original fittings and fixtures. It has a service stair arranged around a lift shaft, although the original 1930s cage lift has been replaced. A projector room is located off the stair at half-landing level, retaining apertures overlooking the former lecture room below.

The basement retains its original layout and detailing, including the original Trinidad mastic asphalt flooring. The juvenile library is now used as a store, but the original doors, oak wainscoting and mouldings have been retained, as has the oak-panelled and glazed internal entrance porch and terrazzo floor.