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

Ligoniel Branch Library, at 53–55 Ligoniel Road, Belfast, is a former public baths built in 1911–12 to designs by James Gardner Gamble (c.1861–1956), the Belfast Corporation's chief architect. It is constructed in red brick with Portland Stone dressings in a Renaissance Revival style — described by architectural historian Paul Larmour as English Classical 'Wrenaissance' — and stands as a relatively late addition to Belfast Corporation's programme of public baths provision for the city's working-class population.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

By the late Victorian period, public health had become an urgent concern in heavily industrialised Belfast, where the majority of working-class families lived in terraced streets with little or no sanitation facilities. Belfast Corporation responded from the 1880s onwards by commissioning a series of public or 'slipper' baths across the city. The first to be built were Peter's Hill Baths in 1879 (now demolished), followed by Ormeau Baths in 1888 and Templemore Avenue Baths in 1891. Ligoniel was a later addition: as the Ligoniel area grew, the Corporation's Bath and Lodging House Committee resolved in 1910 to build new baths on Ligoniel Road.

Gamble, who had been clerk of works at Belfast City Hall during its construction between 1896 and 1906, designed the building along the standard layout used for the earlier Ormeau Avenue and Templemore Avenue baths, though with his own detailing. The local building firm of Isaac Copeland was appointed contractor; the contract was signed in June 1911. The Building News records that the slipper baths were added in 1912, and the completed building was valued at £80 upon completion. Contemporary photographs dating from around 1925 show that the appearance of the building has not been discernibly altered since that time.

The baths operated until they were closed during the Second World War. On 4 February 1946, the building reopened as a public library. Its rateable value was raised to £110 under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1937–56) and further increased to £208 by the end of the Second Revaluation (1956–72). Ligoniel Branch Library continued in use until its closure in June 2010.

EXTERIOR

The building is detached and gable-fronted, with three bays, two storeys and an attic, flanked by single-storey wings to the east and west. A projecting two-storey single gabled bay sits to the north, and there are a series of single-storey extensions further to the north. The building sits within its own grounds at the corner of Ligoniel Road and Springvale Gardens.

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

Red brick walling is laid in Flemish bond 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, fitted with replacement timber casement windows (except where noted).

The principal elevation faces south and is symmetrical. It features a pedimented gable with a moulded stone verge and cornice over a plain Portland Stone frieze, itself set above a moulded string course, with Portland Stone kneelers. At the centre of the gable is an oculus with an ashlar surround and raised keystones. The recessed central bay has moulded brackets. First-floor windows are square-headed with ashlar surrounds and projecting sills. At ground floor, a central square-headed canted window has an entablature over it, a block ashlar surround and a projecting sill. This is flanked by two round-topped arched openings, each with a moulded hood, and fitted with square-headed timber doors with glazed panels and fanlights over, all within rusticated ashlar surrounds with moulded architraves. Stone steps lead up to the entrance level. The two principal entrances reflect the original arrangement of separate male and female wings, a standard feature of public baths design.

The three-bay single-storey wings to the east and west have oculus openings — now blind — to each bay, framed by moulded brick headers. Continuous glazed lanterns span the full length of the hipped roofs over both wings.

On the east elevation, a chimney stack is supported on a two-stage stepped corbel with a round-topped arched recess to the two-storey abutment. The single-storey wing has a hipped gable with a continuous glazed lantern, itself covered by a hipped roof with lead flashings. The west elevation mirrors this arrangement identically.

On the north elevation, a series of square-headed openings serve the gabled rear projection. Some original two-over-one sliding sash timber windows with scrolled horns survive here, above brick soldier course headers.

Traces of influence from Belfast City Hall are visible in details such as the rounded hood moulds and the pediment.

INTERIOR

The original plan form is largely intact. The elegant glazed lanterns to the east and west wings are supported on steel trusses and tie rods that remain exposed internally. Several other internal features have also survived.

SETTING AND BOUNDARY FEATURES

The building occupies a prominent position along Ligoniel Road, directly opposite the entrance to Glenbank Park. Its grounds are enclosed by a red brick dwarf wall to the south and east, with chamfered Portland Stone copings and iron railings above; the wall steps in response to the sloping site. Gateways to the south and east have square pillars with red brick and Portland Stone banding, moulded Portland Stone plinths, and overhanging corniced coping stones with cast-iron gates. To the north is a rendered boundary wall with a metal fence; to the west is a hedge. A ramp at the south-west side, fitted with modern metal railings, leads to the west entrance door. These boundary walls, gate screens and stone-banded pillars with moulded caps and copings are included within the extent of the listing and contribute significantly to the character and setting of the building.