Ligoniel Branch Library, 53-55 Ligoniel Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT14 8BW

Ligoniel Branch Library is a detached, gable-fronted three-bay two-storey building with attic, built in 1911-12 to designs by architect James Gardner Gamble. Originally constructed as a public baths and library, it is built from red brick with Portland stone dressings in the High Victorian style.

The building comprises a main south-facing block with a projecting two-storey single gabled bay to the north, single-storey red brick wings to the east and west, and a series of single-storey extensions to the north. It is set within its own grounds at the corner of Ligoniel Road and Springvale Gardens.

The pitched natural slate roof features a raised verge with Portland stone coping to the south, lead flashing, clay ridge tiles, uPVC guttering, downpipes and hoppers. Red brick chimney stacks to the north and south elevations are corbelled with projecting stone coping and red clay pots. The north and south wings have hipped slate roofs surmounted by continuous glazed roof lanterns, while the rear extensions have hipped slate roofs.

The walls are laid in Flemish bond red brick with ashlar stone quoins spaced at three-brick-course intervals and a moulded plinth. Window openings are square-headed with projecting ashlar surrounds and sills; most have replacement timber casement windows, except for some two-over-one sliding sash timber windows with scrolled horns remaining on the north elevation.

The principal south elevation is symmetrical. It features a pedimented gable with moulded stone verge and cornice over a plain Portland stone frieze, topped by a moulded string course and Portland stone kneelers. A central oculus with ashlar surround and raised keystones pierces the gable. Moulded brackets sit within the recessed central bay. First-floor windows are square-headed with ashlar surrounds and projecting sills. The ground floor has a central square-headed canted window with entablature, block ashlar surround and projecting sill, flanked by two round-topped arched openings with moulded hoods. Timber doors with glazed panels and fanlights sit within rusticated ashlar surrounds with moulded architraves. Stone steps lead up to the entrance level.

The three-bay single-storey wings to east and west flanking the main building feature oculus openings (now blind) to each bay framed by moulded brick headers. Continuous glazed lanterns span the full length of the hipped roofs over these wings.

The east and west elevations each have a chimney stack supported on a two-stage stepped corbel with a round-topped arched recess serving a two-storey abutment. The single-storey wings feature hipped gables with continuous glazed lanterns overhead and hipped roofs with lead flashings.

The north elevation contains a series of square-headed openings to the gabled rear projection, with brick soldier-course headers, and some of the original two-over-one sliding sash timber windows with scrolled horns.

The building sits within its own grounds, bounded to the south and east by a red brick dwarf wall with chamfered Portland stone copings and iron railings above. The wall steps in response to the site slopes. Gateways to the south and east feature square pillars with red brick and Portland stone banding, moulded Portland stone plinths and overhanging corniced coping stones, with cast-iron gates. The boundary to the north is a rendered wall with metal fencing, and there is hedging to the west. A ramp with modern metal railings at the south-west side leads to the west entrance door.