Public Library

The Public Library, formerly known as the Literary and Mechanics Institute, was designed by J. Gibson and W. Johnson and established in 1830. This two-storey building is constructed of ashlar stone and features a five-bay front, with the three central bays recessed and supported by four columns. The ground floor showcases a Greek Doric order, with an entablature extending across the front. Above, the first floor is designed in the Ionic order, topped with an entablature and a tall panelled parapet. The recessed bays contain windows, while the end bays feature four-pane wide windows on the ground floor and recessed arched panels on the first floor, each adorned with a carved wreath in the tympanum of the arch. The panelled parapet projects over the end bays, with the panels separated by strip pilasters and a tile cornice coping that also breaks forward over each bay. The right corner of the building has one angled bay. The north side includes four bays with panels on the first floor and windows on the ground floor, while the south side features three arched recesses on the first floor. The Public Library, along with Nos 1, 2, 4, and 6, forms a cohesive group.