Technical Institute and Public Library, Brierley Hill

Technical Institute and Public Library, Brierley Hill

This Grade II listed building is constructed of brick with terracotta dressings, both produced by the Ketley Brick Company, beneath a hipped blue slate roof. It comprises two principal storeys with an attic and basement. The library was originally housed at ground floor level, with the technical institute occupying the first floor, accessed by a richly decorated staircase.

The building fronts onto both Moor Street and Bell Street, with a quadrant corner that rises to a cupola at attic level. The Bell Street front contains five bays, with the quadrant positioned at the left. All windows feature plate glass to their lower bodies with cross windows above, each set within projecting surrounds of moulded terracotta. Ground floor windows are distinguished by triple keystones rising to meet projecting arched hoods. The central bay contains the library entrance, marked by a frontispiece with double panelled doors at ground floor level beneath an arched hood supported on brackets with banded Ionic pilasters. The words 'PUBLIC LIBRARY' appear in profile around the fanlight. Above the doorway, the first floor features paired windows below a panel of rich foliate ornament forming an apron. Banded Tuscan pilasters with panelled bases flank either side. A wrought iron bracket with stay rods, supporting a globe lamp, projects above the doorway. A gablet projects above the parapet on this bay, containing a figure moulded by Arthur Gibbons holding a book in her left hand and a shield bearing the word 'LIBRI' in relief.

The Moor Street front is nearly symmetrical with seven bays, the quadrant positioned to the left. The second and sixth bays contain paired windows, with the string course at the top of the wall projecting upwards into the parapet above each. The central doorway to the institute resembles that on Bell Street but has a single window to the first floor. The gablet niche contains a figure moulded by Albert Oakden identified as 'ART' on her shield. Relief lettering above the door reads 'TECHNICAL INSTITUTE'. A granite foundation stone below the sixth bay records the architect, builder and date. The quadrant corner bay features a three-light window to each floor. The cupola displays a series of arched lancet windows with shell heads, divided by banded pilasters. The stepped terracotta dome rises to a lantern and finial. At the centre of the hipped roof sits a further smaller cupola with arched wooden body and domed lead roof.

The library entrance lobby contains polychromatic tiling below the dado of richly architectural form, featuring paired Ionic pilasters flanking panels of foliage and fruit. The dado panel displays fluted ornament with cabling. A brass plaque records: 'THIS PUBLIC LIBRARY / WAS ERECTED BY / THE MUNIFICENCE / OF / ANDREW CARNEGIE ESQ. L.L.D. / OF SKIBO CASTLE. N.B. / OPENED / 15TH FEBRUARY 1904.' The library rooms have suspended ceilings, though the deep ceiling cornice remains visible above. Some window panes feature etched and cut glass decoration. The technical institute entrance hall displays terrazzo flooring and a dogleg staircase with cantilevered stone treads. The balustrade comprises wrought iron with a wooden handrail. Both hall and staircase walls are lined with a deep dado frieze of green tiles displaying a trellis design. The half landing features an arched window with stained glass panels, including one representing the Fine Arts.