Public Library And Attached Wall, Railings, Gate Piers And Gates

Public Library and attached wall, railings, gate piers and gates, Binford Place, Bridgwater.

This public library was designed by E Godfrey Page and completed in 1905. It was constructed in English bond brick and ashlar with a pantile roof topped by a copper dome. The building was extended in the late 20th century. It is executed in the Edwardian Baroque style as a single-storey structure arranged in an L-plan, with the axis formed by a high domed entrance hall.

The principal north elevation features a canted corner containing a circular porch with a cornice and blocking course supported on 4 Ionic columns and 2 antae standing on a stepped platform. An octagonal parapet and dome crown the entrance hall, supporting a square cupola. Flanking an open pediment over a large semicircular window to the north entrance are semicircular lunettes to the north-west and north-east. The right-hand bay of the north-east facade, facing the river, is distinguished by a balustrade fronting a semicircular window to the drum of the dome, above a leaded 3-light stone-mullioned window. To its left stands a gauged flat arch with a tall stepped keystone dying into the eaves cornice, over a horned 6-over-6 pane sash window in a forward frame; the roof is hipped to the left. The lower rear range steps back and contains 2 windows in segmental arches with similar keystones, with the roof hipped to the left. The rear elevation of this wing has pebble-dashed parapets to 2 canted bays rising through the eaves over hollow-moulded segmental arches to 2-light casements.

The left range of the north-west wing displays a similar balustrade to that on the north-east, above 2 narrow leaded lights to the left of a door with a square overlight and a 6-over-6 pane sash window having a moulded cill and projecting stone apron rising from a moulded stone plinth with keystone detailing. The roof is hipped to the right and stepped forward from the main right wing; it carries a brick ridge stack to the left and a smaller cupola to the right of centre. Semicircular arches with tall keystones flank the wing: that to the left is glazed with a door, while that to the right is a semicircular window above a flush cill band. A large window breaking through the eaves features a moulded cornice to a shouldered segmental arch over a tripartite window. Below the moulded cill is a projecting stone apron bearing the inscription: "This Library was erected in 1905 by the liberality of Andrew Carnegie Esq. LLD. This stone was laid by Henry W Pollard Esq. Mayor August 10 1905."

The south-west end of the right wing, facing King Street, displays a moulded terracotta finial to the half-hipped roof. A large canted bay with a high pebble-dashed parapet features an ornamental segmental arch of red brick, Ham Hill stone and Bath stone with a keystone of the latter below an empty plaque topped by a moulded semicircular arch. Large 2-light casement windows and a segmental-arched overlight with glazing bars complete this feature. All windows throughout the building have wooden glazing bars and small panes.

Interior: The octagonal domed entrance hall contains trapezoidal windows within the dome and 5 semicircular recesses above the moulded cornice; the 3 recesses around the entrance are glazed. The 8 walls have recesses with moulded archivolts on pilasters with moulded cornices over various doors and notice-boards; the recess opposite the entrance door is glazed to the top, with the opening below leading to the main hall, which is simply ceilinged beneath the hipped roof and contains exposed metal struts.

The left wing comprises 2 rooms with high unpainted architraves to 2 openings; both rooms feature straight chamfered coved ceilings with moulding above and below the chamfer. To the left of the left-hand room, overlooking the river, is a large segmental-arched window; both rooms have a wide segmental arch to the rear fronting a canted bay with 2-light casement windows and a segmental-arched overlight.

The right wing forms a long hall with moulded bands dividing the segmental-vaulted ceiling into 3 bays. Two large semicircular openings with moulded archivolts to the left and one to the right in the rear wall lead to the main hall and a service room; a wide segmental-arched opening to the right (south-west) end fronts a large canted bay with 2-light casements and a segmental-arched overlight. The right-hand wall, backing onto Chapel Street, contains a large shouldered segmental-arched window to the centre and a semicircular window to the right; another entrance door is positioned to the left.

Subsidiary features: Low Flemish-bond brick walls with Ham Hill stone capping and pointed railings are attached to the north-west and north-east corners of the library, enclosing the north side of Blake Gardens (acquired by the Corporation in 1898). The railings have 2 horizontal rails to base and top, with scroll motifs in the square spaces above. To the rear and left of the building are substantial gate piers and gates. The piers comprise alternate Ham Hill stone blocks and 4 courses of red brick with egg-and-dart moulding to the cornices and pyramidal tops. Four piers to the rear, the outer ones supporting single gates, bear the inscription "BLAKE GARDENS" in Art Nouveau style lettering; the inner piers, with worn crests, support double gates. Two sets of piers to the left of the entrance support single gates. The gates are similar to the railings with added short railings to the base.