Central Library, 126 Royal Avenue, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 1EA

Detached symmetrical three-bay three-storey red sandstone classically styled public library with advanced end bays, dated 1888, to the designs of W.H.Lynn, extended to the rear as a seven-storey block built c.1962 and a two-storey extension built c.1980. Square on plan and facing southeast onto Royal Avenue. Slate roofs with glazed sections hidden behind balustraded parapet wall with moulded coping. No rainwater goods visible. Coursed red sandstone ashlar walling, band rusticated to the ground floor with a flush granite course below sill level and a stepped polished black granite plinth course. Ground floor topped by a dentilled cornice. Corinthian colonnaded first floor and balcony. First floor topped by continuous entablature and crown cornice enriched with dentils and modillions. Second floor has a series of semi-circular attic windows and further dentilled entablature over. Square-headed window openings with timber casement windows. Symmetrical front elevation is seven windows wide with advanced end bays and an arcade to the ground floor having a recessed entrance portico to the central three arches. The second floor takes the form of an attic storey with swags and large console brackets framing the Diocletian openings and raised-and-fielded stone panels to the end bays framed by piers. The crown cornice has raised lettering to the frieze stating ’18 BELFAST PUBLIC LIBRARY 88’. The colonnaded first floor has square-headed window openings with architrave surrounds set in round-headed recesses having fluted frieze, decoratively carved overpanels, scrolled keystones and festoons over. Balustraded balcony spans entire central bay supported on paired console brackets. To the end bays each window is framed by paired Corinthian pilasters. Square-headed window openings to the ground floor with stepped surrounds and splayed flush sills. Five arches to the ground floor with scrolled keystones and flanked by rusticated piers having stone steps to the recessed portico. The arches to either end have bipartite windows with stone mullion and decoratively carved overpanel, shouldered fixed-pane timber windows and a granite balustrade. Groin-vaulted portico with round-headed openings having fixed-pane timber windows and a central swivel door set in a polished black granite surround. South side elevation is six windows wide, largely detailed as per front elevation with Corinthian pilasters to the first floor and an advanced end bay. Redbrick rear elevation abutted by a seven-storey extension to the south end, built c.1960 and a further two-storey rendered extension to the north end, built c.1980. North side elevation as per south side elevation. Setting: Facing southeast onto Royal Avenue with Kent Street to the south side elevation and Library Street to the north side elevation. Roof : Slate with lanterns RWG: Not visible Walling: Red sandstone ashlar Windows: Original timber casement