War Memorial Library And Hall

War Memorial Library and Hall

Public library and hall commemorating the dead of the First World War, built 1928-9 by the architects Dixon and Bamsey of Tiverton. The building stands on Angel Hill in Tiverton.

The structure is designed in Tudor style. Its front elevation features a concrete frame with walling of pink and yellow blocks resembling coursed squared rubble, the details finished in yellow to resemble limestone. The rear wall is of red brick. The roof is slated, with a pair of octagonal concrete chimneys positioned at each end of the ridge.

The building comprises two storeys with a semi-basement and a single-storey hall at the rear. The front elevation is eight windows wide. The left end, which includes one upstairs window, is splayed and contains the vehicle entrance at ground level. The remaining seven windows are symmetrically arranged with a projecting single-window entrance porch at the centre. All windows feature three mullioned-and-transomed lights; those at ground storey have two rows of transoms with continued hoodmoulds. Except for those in the semi-basement, all windows have small rectangular leaded panes. Above the second-storey windows runs a moulded cornice and tall parapet.

The entrance porch is carried out on two slightly bulbous Doric columns with matching half-columns against the wall face. From these columns spring round arches on the front and sides, with the taller front arch containing a keystone. Above this arch is a circular plaque bearing the town seal, bordered with the inscription "SIGILLUM OPPIDI DE TYVERTON". The dates 1914 and 1918 flank the plaque, with the words "TIVERTON MEMORIAL" below. The porch is crowned with a triangular gable and three ball finials. Within the porch is a plank door with wrought-iron strap hinges.

On each side of the upper storey is a niche with Tudor arch and hoodmould. The vehicle entrance to the left has a round arch springing from columns matching those of the porch. To its right, on the corner, is a similar niche. On the plinth below the ground-storey windows left of the porch are three inscriptions dated 30 May 1928, naming Lady Heathcoat Amory, Katherine Maud Lazenby JP, and Marjorie Lansdown Gregory.

The interior is very simple. An open-well stair, probably of concrete, features an iron balustrade and wooden handrail.

The plan comprises a central entrance hall and staircase; the Hall of Remembrance containing memorial plaques to the left, with the caretaker's flat to the right. An assembly, concert or dance hall with stage occupies the rear. A smaller assembly or social room is located in the lower ground floor together with kitchen servery. The library is situated on the first floor.

The War Memorial scheme was inaugurated in April 1919. The Angel Hotel, which formerly occupied this site, was acquired and opened as a library on 11 November 1920. An appeal was then launched to raise £11,000 for a rebuilding. A watercolour of the proposed building was prepared by Mr Ogden, headmaster of the school of art, who appears to have influenced its design; it was intended to match the early 17th-century Chilcott's School and the Great House of St George in St Peter Street.

Demolition of the former Angel Hotel (which projected further into the road than the present building) began on New Year's Day 1928. The stone-laying ceremony was held on 30 May, and the official opening took place on 3 April 1929. The architects were Captain Dixon and Mr CE Bamsey. The builders were Nicks Bros of Bradninch, with the facade supplied by The Wharf Lane Concrete Co of Ilminster.