Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Whitchurch Free Library
Whitchurch, Cardiff, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Education
- Date of designation
- 31 May 2002
- Locality
- Whitchurch
- Town
- Cardiff
- Community
- Whitchurch
- Unitary authority
- Cardiff
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.51603, -3.22542
- Cadw reference
- 26715
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
On the north side of the roundabout at the junction of Penlline Road, Park Road and Velindre Road.
History
Built in 1904 (dated), designed by R and S Williams of Cardiff and built by W T Morgan at a cost of £2000. Following the Public Libraries Act of 1895 Whitchurch had opened a library in a private house. In 1899 the parish petitioned the Carnegie Foundation for a grant towards a permanent library building, but this was slow in coming.
Exterior
The library is built of red brick with Bath stone dressings and a Welsh slate roof. Single cell plan with lobbies at either end and the librarian's house attached at rear. Flemish Baroque style in the manner of a small C17 school or livery hall. The main elevation is in three bays with tall 2-light mullioned windows with two transoms and with vertically glazed lights above. These are separated by panelled pilasters which support a cornice and a central feature at parapet level, with an open pediment containing a small obelisk with ball finial. Under this is the date 1904 and below again a plaque FREE LIBRARY. Flanking the main building on the left is the single storey porch. Double panelled doors with light over and doorcase with rusticated pilasters and segmental broken pediment. Panelled parapet above. On the right is a single storey wing with a 2-light window. The gable ends of the main building have a tripartite window in a segmental recess, coped gables with ball finials. The rear is plain as is the attached two storey house.
Interior
The interior is now featureless as it has had a suspended ceiling inserted.
Reason for designation
Included for its architectural interest as a characterful public building which has historic interest in the centre of the Community
Nearby in the register
- Whitchurch War MemorialCommemorativeunder 1 mi
- Octagonal Shelter in Grounds to south-south-east of Whitchurch HospitalHealth and Welfareunder 1 mi
- The LaurelsDomesticunder 1 mi
- Six GablesDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.