Fitzroy Memorial Library

The Fitzroy Memorial Library, now a house, was built in 1862 by Sir George Gilbert Scott for the widow of the Hon. Henry Fitzroy, M.P., in a neo-Gothic style. It is constructed of red brick with stone dressings and some black brick decorative patterning, and has a slate hipped roof with bell-cast.

The building comprises a two-storey front block and a double-height octagonal library to the rear. The front elevation features a stone-dressed plinth, a stone string-course with black brick chequering below, and a heavily bracketed stone eaves cornice, incorporating black brick chequering. A tall three-shafted stack is located at the left end, with stone dressings and caps, and the roof has finials and ridge cresting. A tall, central, Gothic-style aedicular cupola rises from the roof, with gables on two levels, corner finials on the lower level, and a finial at the top. The front has three windows, a central gabled semi-dormer with a stone parapetted gable, stone kneelers, and two marble columns with foliage capitals. A pointed central arch, with a moulded surround, is supported by two further marble columns, flanking a two-light window with cusped heads and a quatrefoil window above. The first floor has two-light windows in square surrounds, each with cusped heads, central marble columns with foliage capitals, and decorative stone lintels. Ground-floor windows flank the centre with cusped lancet windows in roll-moulded surrounds, again with central marble columns and flanking capitals. A central moulded, pointed-arched door surround has inset cusped decoration and is supported by two marble columns with foliage capitals. A large balcony, with iron railings and deep brackets, is above the doorway, supported by a pair of large marble columns with foliage capitals. The property has paired boarded and ribbed doors.

The right return front has two storeys and a parapet, with a stone string. Three bays have giant arched recesses, foliage capitals supporting brick and stone striped arches, and plate traceried rose windows in each arch. Two-light, round-headed windows are below, with impost bands, carved blocks, and central marble columns with foliage capitals.

The interior hallway has a single flight of stairs to the left, with a neo-Gothic balustrade. The octagonal reading room behind the hall is top-lit and has wooden galleries supported by columns, all decorated with neo-Gothic detail. Twentieth-century roof-lights have been installed.