Durning Library

The Durning Library, located at 167 Kennington Lane, is a Grade II listed building designed by Sidney Smith in 1889. This Gothic Revival structure features North Italian and Flemish design elements. It is a tall, narrow building with three storeys, an attic, and a basement. The left side includes a four-storey tower bay beneath a tall pyramidal roof. The building is constructed from Fareham red brick, accented with various stone dressings. It has a very steeply pitched slated roof with tall chimneys. The facade is elaborate, showcasing a blend of Gothic, Tudor, and Renaissance motifs. The ground floor projects with an open arcade, featuring a balustrade and set-back left and central entrances. Above the arcade, there are tile and terra-cotta decorations. On the second floor, an oriel window supported by an elaborate corbel features a highly decorated gable above it, with a griffin resting on a corbelled bracket below.