Carnegie Library, 298-300 Shankill Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT13 2BN

Carnegie Library, 298–300 Shankill Road, Belfast

A free-standing corner-fronted two-storey-over-basement Carnegie Library, dated 1927–28 and restored in 2011, designed by architect Thomas W. Henry. The building adopts an L-plan and faces north and east, with its main entrance positioned on the angled north-east corner. An internal angle is infilled by a lower double-height block containing the lending library. The building occupies a prominent corner site on the south side of Shankill Road; it is abutted at the west by a double-height building and fronts a vacant site to the south.

The building is constructed of Flemish-bonded red brick with Portland limestone detailing, including a cyma recta moulded plinth course, projecting splayed sills, and plain window heads. Windows are square-headed multi-pane metal casements with brick reveals. The hipped natural slate roof covers the L-shaped plan and features blue and black ridge tiles, lead valleys, four large roof lights on the east and west slopes of the north-south aligned roof pitch, and two copper cusped and vented roof lanterns with finials positioned on each wing. A Portland limestone parapet with frieze and cornice crowns the elevation. Square cast-iron rainwater goods with decorative cast-iron hoppers are dated 1927. The lower double-height block to the south-west has a flat roof with former roof lights now enclosed by new bitumen covering.

The principal north-east corner elevation comprises a cyrto-style Doric portico offset from a limestone façade that terminates below the first-floor windows. Two Doric columns with pilaster responds support a frieze bearing brass lettering reading "PUBLIC LIBRARY", and a cornice with cyma recta moulding, modillions, and coffers containing circular insets. A stone stepped dome roof crowns the portico. Access is via three semi-circular plan bull-nosed granite steps (indented during the 2011 restoration), flanked by modern stainless steel railings. Original curved painted cast-iron railings and a gate enclose the portico on all sides. The entrance comprises a double-leaf six-panelled raised-and-fielded timber doors with brass ironmongery, contained within a deep reveal with an ornately carved stone architrave. Above the portico sits a window of paired 9-light casements surmounted by paired 6-light windows, each divided by limestone mullion and transom. A decorative low-pitched raking acroter bearing a Belfast coat of arms relief surmounts the entablature.

The east elevation is seven bays wide. Four equally spaced bays at the centre are divided by projecting brick pilasters and contain ground-floor windows lighting the main library space, whilst the first floor is blank with a continuous sill course. The left and right bays contain transom and mullioned multi-light windows at each floor. At the right, a raised-and-fielded timber panelled door gives access to the basement, with paired 2/2 windows beneath a shared lintel. A large double-height multi-paned stained-glass leaded window containing the Belfast coat of arms surmounts the basement door. To the left of the basement door is a series of replacement uPVC windows contained within the limestone plinth; to the right are three square-headed openings containing timber louvres, all fitted with replacement cast-metal vertical bars.

The south elevation is abutted at its centre by a straight chimneystack. Walls are devoid of detailing, smooth-rendered at ground floor and exposed brick at first floor. Basement access is positioned to the right of the central chimney stack. At the left of the chimney stack, a fire escape stair added circa 2011 accesses a galvanised steel dog-leg fire escape. The lower double-height block to the left is smooth-rendered.

The west elevation is abutted at the left by an east-west-aligned two-storey-over-basement block and at the right by the double-height block containing library space. The exposed section at first floor comprises three windows. The west elevation of the east-west-aligned block is abutted by a lower double-height building of no interest; the exposed section is blank with limestone parapet and classical entablature continued approximately two metres across the elevation to where a former adjoining building appears to have been removed.

The north elevation contains four windows at each floor, with no basement windows; outer windows at each floor are diminished in width. A disabled access door was installed in 2011 below the window at the right.