Cathays Library

Cathays Library

A symmetrical single-storey Arts and Crafts Gothic style library built in 1906, constructed from coursed rock-faced stone with Bath stone dressings and a slate roof. The building comprises a low faceted entrance range set diagonally between higher pavilion-like outer wings aligned at right angles to Whitchurch Road and Fairoak Road respectively.

The entrance range features a steeply pitched roof behind a coped parapet, with a single skylight and spire. The central entrance has double panelled doors flanked by buttresses, with a segmental-headed doorway surmounted by a 3-light small-pane overlight incorporating coloured glass. A panel within the parapet above the doorway is engraved with a dedication and flanked by shields engraved 'AD 1906'. The buttresses are topped by panels with relief foliage. The walls curve out to the wings either side of the doorway where they incorporate pairs of windows with linked hood mould and foliage drop between the windows. The inner window of each pair contains Art Nouveau stained glass. The parapet has blind arrow loops above the windows. A central narrow octagonal tower has battered, slate-hung sides below louvred openings with projecting eaves and a pyramidal lead spire.

The outer wings have ashlar clasping buttresses. Beneath the eaves cornice these buttresses are decorated with panelling and angle shafts enlivened by relief foliage, above blind arrow loops. The gable ends facing the forecourt have 4-light mullioned and transomed windows with subsidiary transoms and mullions above the main transom, incorporating arched lights below the transom. Above the windows the gables are ashlar beneath the apex with a single vent.

The 5-bay Whitchurch Road elevation to the southwest has an ashlar plinth, coped parapet and freestone banding. It has single-light windows to the centre and ends, with taller 2-light mullioned and transomed windows between, each with subsidiary mullions above the transoms. The rear gable end, facing Cathays Cemetery, has a 4-light window above an attached public convenience built in 1934.

The Fairoak Road elevation to the east is similar, but at the right end is a doorway with panelled door and overlight. Above it the window in the end bay has a higher sill with foliage apron over a blank panel. The rear gable end, facing Cathays Cemetery, has 2-light mullioned windows to the upper right and left, and an end ashlar stack.

Behind the entrance range and facing Cathays Cemetery is a 6-window single-storey rear wing with a 2-storey projection incorporating offices on its left side set back from the main wing to Fairoak Road. This has segmental-headed sash windows and a yellow brick stack. The main rear wing to its right has 4-pane metal-framed windows.

Internally, the entrance vestibule has a glazed brick dado and terrazzo floor. A glazed mullioned and transomed panel opposite the entrance is flanked by Tuscan pilasters and double half-lit panelled doors. The lending area is incorporated within the entrance range and the rear wing. Within the entrance range it is lit by a domed lantern with coloured glass, while the rear wing is top-lit by 2 hipped-roof lanterns. The light-filled outer wings, originally reading halls, have 5-bay roofs composed of flat-pitched arched braces boarded at collar beam level, on corbelled wall posts. In the Fairoak Road wing the fifth bay is concealed behind a partition to the rear incorporating the administration area.