Leith Public Library And Registrar's Office, 30 Ferry Road, Edinburgh

Leith Public Library and Registrar's Office, designed by Bradshaw, Gass and Hope and constructed between 1929 and 1932, is a contemporary inter-war classical complex occupying a wedge-shaped site. The building was substantially damaged during the Second World War and rebuilt, with completion in 1961. It is constructed in cream sandstone ashlar, and the ground falls away to the east.

The complex comprises a D-plan Library and Registrar's Office with a straight front to the road, a small Porter's Lodge to the side, and a free-standing rectangular-plan Theatre (formerly Town Hall) positioned off-centre to the rear with a curving colonnade that corresponds to the Library bow.

LIBRARY AND REGISTRAR'S OFFICE

The Library is a tall single-storey building with a basement to the east. It features a three-stage base course and heavy cornice. The main rectangular front block is 11 bays long by 3 bays deep, with a balustraded parapet and windows set in sunken surrounds.

The south elevation facing Ferry Road is the principal façade. Four broad steps with a central handrail lead to the entrance at the centre, where an oval portico in antis contains a Roman Doric screen. Above the cornice sits the Town crest in a cartouche supported by swag. An octagonal lantern crowns the solid parapet, which is topped by an attic and flanked by pairs of urns. The original glazed revolving door is housed in a timber case with a pair of panelled leaves, fluted Ionic pilasters, a dentilled cornice and anthemion frieze with cresting. A plate glass fanlight with a wrought-iron fleur-de-lys grille sits within an architraved surround. Slightly advanced five-bay wings flank the entrance, each with pairs of flanking paterae. An inscription appears to the far right above the base course.

The east and west elevations are three bays deep. The west elevation contains a revolving door in its centre bay with a pair of panelled leaves, fluted frieze, a nine-pane fanlight and architraved surround; a blind panel above retains the original lamp.

The Reading Room elevation is a distinctive 24-bay bow with punched windows. A secondary exit at basement and ground level to the east features a deep-set two-leaf door.

Metal windows with 12-pane margins are fitted throughout; plate glass occurs at the front, while alternate plate glass and two-pane windows with upper swing are used to the sides and rear. The roof is covered in grey slates with a piended form and skylights lighting the Reading Room. Original cast-iron downpipes with decorative rainwater heads are retained.

The interior features a very fine classical decorative scheme, which is largely original. A modern glazed screen spans the splayed entrance to the Reading Room. The Registrar's Office, formerly the newspaper room, occupies the west side and is fitted with a glazed barrel-vaulted roof. A similar exhibition room to the east, lined with bookshelves and retaining an original counter, mirrors this arrangement. Both are divided from the Reading Room by five glazed round-headed openings. The Reading Room itself is dominated by a semi-elliptical screen of seven marbled Doric columns and a compartmental ceiling. A semi-elliptical dome at the centre is lit by eight skylights with metal multi-pane glazing. Many original tables and chairs survive.

LEITH THEATRE AND THOMAS MORTON HALL

This rectangular building is arranged in two stages over nine bays. The south elevation, facing front, has five centre bays with oculi set in sunken round-headed panels. Advanced pedimented end pavilions contain three storeys; second-storey windows are detailed with architraves, a consoled cornice and urns. At ground level, a curved colonnade of paired Roman Doric columns and bases sweeps across the façade in response to the Library bow. The corners of the colonnade contain top-lit open lobbies serving as theatre entrances, each fitted with two pairs of glazed timber doors and fanlights (the main entrance is positioned to the left). To the west, a further small bay beyond the end pavilion rises to four storeys, advanced at ground level and adjoining the colonnade. This connects to a single-storey five-bay hall (Thomas Morton Hall) with a portico in antis containing a pair of Roman Doric columns and rusticated piers, a three-leaf door and fanlight as described above. To the east, a two-storey three-bay block is advanced at ground level. A fly tower rises above the east pavilion.

The north (rear) elevation shows the upper stage of the main block identical in character, with the ground level advanced to match the pavilion projection. Side elevations are irregular, with the colonnade cornice continuing around the building perimeter.

Metal multi-pane glazing with margin glazing as used in the Library is employed throughout. The roof is grey slates with top lighting. Rainwater goods match those of the Library.

The interior is accessed via a main entrance leading to a rotunda via three octagonal glazed wooden ticket booths divided by handrails. Paired marbled columns support this space, which contains a statue of Circe by Arthur G Walker ARA at its centre. An imperial stair leads beyond, with doors to the halls positioned to either side. The stair returns to a landing and Registry Office at the front of the building, which has a compartmentalised ceiling. To the right, a U-plan theatre is aligned laterally within the building, featuring a gallery and top-lit barrel-vaulted roof. To the left, a hall of similar alignment contains an equivalent roof form. Much typical contemporary detailing survives throughout.

PORTER'S LODGE

The Porter's Lodge is a two-storey, three-bay astylar cubic building positioned to the west of the site. It is defined by a base course, cornice and blocking course (concealing the roof) with corner piers.

The east elevation features a panelled door with six-pane glazing to the upper section, set within a corniced roll-moulded surround, flanked by windows with a medallion above. The upper storey is blank.

The north and south elevations each comprise a single advanced bay, matching the corner piers. The north elevation is blank at ground level.

The west elevation is irregular, featuring an off-centre two-storey projection.

Windows are 12-pane, nine-pane and six-pane timber sash and case windows with horns. Rainwater goods match those of the Library. Squared ashlar stacks are employed.

GATES AND RAILINGS

Elaborate geometric wrought-iron gates and flanking railings are positioned either side of the Library. Spherical glass lamps crown the pierced iron gatepiers.