Former Central Library

Former Central Library

A distinguished symmetrical Neo-Classical building with a three-bay south facade of two principal storeys, attics and basement, designated Grade II*. The facade is constructed in Bath stone with Ham Hill stone insets and Portland stone columns.

The centrepiece features a raised, pilastered bay crowned by a bust of Pallas Athena, Goddess of the arts, set above a triglyph frieze with volute supports. Terminal finials with owl supporters frame the composition. The outer ends are stepped and swagged with griffon supporters over main pilasters that flank a deep lunette containing high relief sculpture representing Literature, Calligraphy and Printing. A main entablature links the outer bays, with swagged panels rising to the attics and polygonal lion-mask finials positioned over the corners.

The first floor displays 3+5+3 bay Tuscan colonnades in antis, with cartouches adorning the main pilasters. Tall sash windows with mezzanines sit above transoms. Below, a moulded sill band runs over the entablature to the pilastered ground floor, with fluted treatment beneath transom level. Inset carved panels depicting early European printers form part of the decorative scheme. The rusticated basement contains blocked arched openings.

The long side elevations, described as "modern French classical style" in The Builder of 10 June 1882, follow broadly similar composition while stepping outward across the splayed site between Working and Trinity Streets. Individually complicated bay treatment is unified by parapets with occasional pediments, maintained by the main entablature and cornice over the ground floor. Cantilevered bays at first floor, continued blind to the attics, feature curved angles and arched window heads over mullioned lights. Thermal window treatment breaks through the main cornice over these arched heads. The ground floor displays grids of windows with fluting below transoms and inset carved printer's marks of early European printers.

A wide arched entrance to Trinity Street is elaborately carved, bearing "Villa Cardiff" arms above a recessed tympanum containing arabesque panels. Giant figures personifying Study and Rhetoric flank the entrance with sidelights and 8-panel double doors.

The older north section retains hipped slate roofs, formerly with raised lanterns, and features differing symmetrical elevations to Trinity and Working Streets. Detailing is largely consistent with the main structure, incorporating bull's eye windows and fully modelled architraves. Former entrances from Working Street have bull's eye fanlights flanked by relief sculpture in panels. The simplified north front comprises twin advanced wings topped by small pediments and yellow brick facings, with arched heads over giant pilasters to four-bay lower storeys and glazing over a one-storey centre section.

The interiors of the later section are organised around an open lightwell. An openwell stone staircase with balustered handrail and torcheres to the newels rises through the space. A screened lobby retains original Art Nouveau handles and finger plates. Large-scale pilastered and coffered rooms feature occasional arabesque panels, blind arcading and plaster cornices. The original north building contains an exceptional entrance corridor, lobby and spiral staircase embellished with majolica tiles by Maw and Co of Shropshire, applied to piers and arches with decorative arabesque treatment and painted tiles depicting night, morning and the four seasons, complemented by mosaic floors and rib-vaulted ceilings. The later building includes tiled wall fountains. An Art Nouveau bronze relief to John Ballinger, Librarian from 1884 to 1908, is set in the entrance lobby.