National Library of Wales

The National Library of Wales is a substantial building dating to the early 20th century, constructed in an Art Deco/Greek Classical style. It is composed of four three-storey ranges arranged around four rectangular courtyards, with a central entrance hall, main staircase, and transverse corridor linking the ranges. The west and south fronts are faced in Portland stone and Cornish granite, while the north and east sides are brick with Portland stone dressings. The roofs are half-hipped slate with glazing at the top.

The main or administrative block front features eleven bays and a rusticated ground floor. A channelled mezzanine runs beneath pilaster panels, surmounted by a cornice with fluted and bolection moulded banding. The central five bays are advanced, flanked by stepped-back bays, and terminate in advanced and stepped end pavilions with parapets. Transverse pediments visually separate the central section from the pavilion ends of the north and south ranges. Incised lettering is present on the entablature. A recessed central entrance bay has fluted Ionic columns in antis framing the second-floor window and a balcony that projects over an advanced porch. Black metal framed windows are complemented by Art Deco balconies. Full-height staircase windows are located beside the end pavilions, which have tall arched windows with glazing bars within lugged architraves, keystones, and pilasters decorated with Celtic interlace swags. An inverted T-plan staircase leads from an upper, walled terrace to the main entrance.

The nine-bay south side elevation displays similar detailing, with the central and end bays stepped forward to emphasise the tall second-floor windows above the mezzanine. Other bays have upper floor windows of equal height. Tall windows feature throughout the north side elevation, exhibiting a plainer design. A single-storey brick link range connects the end bays of the original U-plan with a 1955 brick rear range, which has simplified detailing.

An ante lobby leads into the three-storey aisled entrance hall, which also incorporates Art Deco-Classical detailing. A railed first-floor gallery is present, with recessed upper windows below a fretwork band and a panelled ceiling. A T-plan main staircase rises to the rear, with corridors on either side leading to the Summers Room. To the north, a catalogue room is characterised by lavish classical detailing, including pedimented aedicules and a coved, panelled ceiling. The large Reading Room, running the full length of the north side, features a three-tier galleried aisle, a tunnel vaulted panelled ceiling, cross roofs to the end and central bays, and unfinished whitewashed rubble piers. A statue by W Goscombe John of Sir John Williams (1903), the library’s chief founder, stands at the west end of the Reading Room. The corresponding Print and Map Room on the south side is a single-storey space heavily panelled with an elaborate classical timber doorcase.