Central Public Library

The Central Public Library is a public library built in 1900, with additions made in 1930 and around 1960, by JS Gibson. It is constructed of ashlar and brick, with ashlar dressings and a plain tile roof featuring single coped side walls and gable stacks. The design is in an Early 18th century style.

The main façade has a plinth, string courses, a modillion eaves cornice, and coped gables. The two-storey, five-window range is dominated by a projecting gabled section of ashlar. The centre of this section features a round-arched window with nine lights, cross mullioned and set within a recess with a wrought-iron balustrade. Flanking the window are double Ionic angle pilasters with shallow niches between them. Above the window is a shell niche surrounded by mouldings and containing a female figure. Steps lead to a splayed entrance flanked by two Ionic piers in antis and an entablature incorporating a sculpted coat of arms with supporters in the frieze. Segment-headed, shouldered recesses are positioned on either side of the entrance, leading to a half-glazed double door. Above, two 24-pane sash windows are set within projecting surrounds and corniced keystones, with semicircular stone balconies supported on brackets and with wrought-iron railings. Below, two round-headed recesses contain paired 12-pane sash windows. To the right is an octagonal corner tower rising up in three stages and topped with an octagonal dome. The lower stage has two segment-headed recesses with 10-pane sashes, and the middle stage features two shouldered segment-headed 18-pane sashes with moulded surrounds, corbelled sills, keystones and cornices. The upper stage has four segmental pedimented openings with linked cornices and detached columns resting on corbels.

A rear addition, constructed in 1930 along Baker Street, features an ashlar ground floor, brick first floor, and a pantile mansard roof. It is two storeys plus attics, with a four-window range. Single-storey wings extending either side of the Baker Street addition have round-arched windows with scroll keystones.

Internally, the original first-floor reading room has a plaster barrel vault and a central saucer dome. Central double doors are fitted with stained-glass panels. The room retains original fitted bookcases and cupboards, as well as original metal bookstacks on two levels, connected by an arched bridge spanning the central bay.