Huddersfield Library and Art Gallery is a Grade II listed building in the Kirklees local planning authority area, England. First listed on 4 August 2005. A Twentieth Century Library and art gallery. 12 related planning applications.
Huddersfield Library and Art Gallery
- WRENN ID
- pale-tin-frost
- Grade
- II
- Local Planning Authority
- Kirklees
- Constituency
- Huddersfield MP: Harpreet Uppal (Lab)
- Country
- England
- Date first listed
- 4 August 2005
- Type
- Library and art gallery
- Period
- Twentieth Century
- Address
- Huddersfield Library and Art Gallery, Princess Alexandra Walk, HD1 2SU
- OS grid reference
- SE 145 164
- Coordinates
- 53.64451, -1.78159
- Source
- Historic England listing
Description
Huddersfield Library and Art Gallery is a library and art gallery built in 1937, designed by E H Ashburner. It features a steel frame and is faced with local sandstone. The building has a square plan with a central atrium that contains the main staircase, extending through three storeys plus a basement.
The main entrance facade has a prominent central section with an entrance doorway supported by ogee-curved consoles and a cornice. This is flanked by two tall metal-framed rectangular windows with slightly recessed architraves, along with five additional windows at the first floor level, which also have a cornice above. A decorative panel is situated above the cornice. There are three windows on each side on the ground and first floors, while the second floor has no external windows. A bas-relief frieze in a classical style is located between the ground and first floor windows on either side. The windows maintain a consistent style throughout, including those in the basement. Flanking the entrance steps are two free-standing statues in a classical style with modernist influence, representing the Spirits of Literature and Art, created by James Woodford. The right return features a similar facade with a projecting centre that has eight windows; the ground floor windows have moulded stone surrounds and hood moulds, while the eight windows above have flush surrounds.
Inside, the entrance hall boasts an original coffered ceiling and lights, with marble lining. There is a fine Imperial staircase leading to all floors, complete with a brass handrail. The floor is paved with a chequer design, although it is currently hidden by carpet. The landing walls are panelled in wood veneer, and the landing floor features original cork tiles. The meeting room is also fully panelled in wood veneer and retains its original doors and fittings. The library contains some original bookcases and original doors throughout.
The building was opened as a library and art gallery in 1940 and continues to serve this purpose today.
Local climate
Huddersfield Library and Art Gallery sits in a wetter-than-average part of the UK, with an average of 990 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 79% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 72% of listed buildings.
It experiences an average of 48 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 90% of listed buildings. Of these, 28 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.
Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.
More on this building
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- Full EPC report — heating system, energy costs, size, glazing, construction etc.
- No sale records on file
- Related listed building consents — 12 applications
- Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
- Flood risk assessment
- Radon risk assessment
- Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.
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