St Austell Branch Library

St Austell Branch Library is a branch library built between 1959 and 1960, designed by FK Hicklin, the County Architect. It features a steel frame with rock-faced, squared, and coursed local granite walling, along with turquoise-tinted clerestory glazing and flat roofs. The building has a T-plan layout, with a double-height space over the main lending area, a reference section at an upper mezzanine level, and a children's section below. A single-storey wing projects at right angles at the rear.

The main block includes a tall clerestory that cants inwards towards the top, featuring vertical panels of glass in metal framing. There are single-storey spaces at both the front and rear. The end wall of the gallery is clad in stained timber weatherboarding, and a prominent deep white-painted border defines all edges and roof-lines. The entrance is characterized by floor-to-ceiling glazing.

Inside, the clerestory lighting is a significant feature over the central space, which serves for reading and exhibition displays. The bookshelves are arranged at right angles to the windows, allowing light to enter while minimizing glare. This library is a well-detailed and thoughtfully designed example of a small-scale library by a skilled local authority architect, and it was awarded an RIBA Bronze Medal in 1961.