Morley library

Brief description

Foundation stone was laid on 28th September 1905 by the Mayor, Councillor William Middlebrook. The architect was WE Putman.

Awarded Grade II listing in 1986

Current status: Still open as a public library, run by Leeds council (2017). There are plans to refurbish and make the library into a hub – bringing in the council contact point. This will have the benefit of opening up an area that had been partitioned off for offices.

• Year grant given (if known): 1903
• Amount of grant: £6,170
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 27 October 1906 by Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine Esq. (a Manx politician and author )

Photo of library today (2017):

Details:

Plaque in the tiled entrance hall, recording Carnegie’s donation. The entrance also contains a mosaic in the floor, of the town coat of arms, which also appears in stained glass upstairs.

Recording the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Some of the beautiful art nouveau tiles which line the library downstairs, and up the stairwell.

Old photos of library (postcards):

Visited?

Yes, in September 2017.

Web links:

• Entry on the listed buildings register
• Morley library – old photos and new, and information
• Photograph of the opening ceremony – in the Leeds photographic archive