Colne library

Brief description

Originally built as a private house for wealthy cotton mill owner, Nicholas England.

In 1907 it was converted to become the Colne Carnegie library and a date stone of 1907 was placed above the main entrance.  Closed as a library in 1972, and the building was taken over by the Providence Independent Methodist church. They moved out in 2012, and the building was sold. Proposal put forward in 2015 to convert it into flats (and advert seen on Right Move website, 2018).

Current status: Residential

• Year grant given (if known):
• Amount of grant:
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 1907

Photo of building today (2009):

cc-by-sa/2.0 – © John Tomlinson – geograph.org.uk/p/40433

Old photos of library (postcards):

And showing the war memorial in front:

 

Web links:

• Entry on the waymarking site
• Article in Colne Life: All change at Providence

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Crompton library, Oldham

Brief description

Built on Beal Lane. aka Shaw and Crompton library. Architect was Jesse Horsfall

Current status: No longer a public library (closed in 1989), the building has been redeveloped into apartments.

• Year grant given (if known):
• Amount of grant:
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 2 February 1907, by JW Cockroft, former chair of Crompton UDC

Photo of library today (2016):

Photo credit: flickr user Jeff Carr (with permission)

Old photo of library (postcard):

Nothing in my collection yet

Visited?

Not yet

Web links:

• Crompton booklet: a celebration of 150 years of local government in Shaw and Crompton (pdf)

Rednal library

Brief description

The land was given by Messrs Edward and George Cadbury. The architect was Benjamin Bower, the building was designed in the arts and crafts style.

Awarded Grade II listing in 1982.

Current status: Library closed in the mid 1990s. Now a private house (2017)

• Year grant given (if known):
• Amount of grant:
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 1909

Photo of library today (2017):

Photo credit: Zoe – on this blog post

Details:

Photo credit: Zoe – on this blog post

Old photo of library (postcard):

Nothing in my collection yet

Visited?

Not yet

Web links:

• Entry on the listed buildings register
• Arts and Crafts architecture in Birmingham: an arts and crafts (former) library
• Blog post by Zoe: Playing by the book – Ghost libraries < contains some wonderfully evocative photos of former libraries, which author kindly allowed me to reuse here.

Rawmarsh library

Brief description

The present building dates from 1904, a fact noted on the commemorative plaque outside the front entrance. It is a traditional red brick building on the main Parkgate and Rawmarsh Road. Carnegie offered £3,000 to Rawmarsh Urban District Council in 1903, and a further £72 in 1906. The architect was Mr J Platts.

Current status: After closure (2011?), was used as council offices, then news in 2016 confirmed plans to convert it to accommodation for ‘vulnerable young people’. (2017)

• Year grant given (if known): 1903
• Amount of grant: £3000
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 5 June 1905

Photo of library today (2008):

From Geograph:  © Copyright Alan Murray-Rust and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Details:

Old photo of library (postcard):

Nothing in my collection yet

Visited?

Not yet

Web links:

• News: Fears for the future of Rawmarsh’s carnegie library (2011)
• News: Plans for Rawmarsh home for ‘vulnerable youngsters’ approved (2016)

Swinton library

Brief description

The library opened in 1906 and contained the living quarters for the librarian.  The design also incorporated a lecture room for educational purposes.  The library was re-modelled and re-furnished in 1932 (details and photos in the web link below).

Its use as a library was discontinued in 1990s when a new community library was opened in the shopping centre up the hill. ‘Carnegie House’ is now a series of flats. The florally embellished ‘Free Library’ lettering high up on the corner is still clearly seen.

Current status: Residential (2017)

• Year grant given (if known):
• Amount of grant: £3000
• Year opened (and by who – if known): 25 June 1906 by Sir William Holland MP

Photo of library today (2005):

From geograph: © Copyright George Middleton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Details:

Old photo of library (postcard):

Visited?

Not yet

Web links:

• Website: Swinton heritage society

Stourbridge library

Brief description

Built during 1903-4 and extended 1908-9. Designed by Frederick Woodward, Netherlandish Renaissance style. Isaac Nash laid the foundation stone in February 1904.

Carnegie contributed £3,000 to the library’s foundation and a further £700 to the 1908 newsroom extension.

Became Stourbridge College of Art.

Awarded Grade II listing in 1989, largely for its art nouveau stained glass.

Current status: Possibly converted to apartments – ref on (undated) blog  (2017)

• Year grant given (if known):
• Amount of grant: £3000
• Year opened (and by who – if known):

Photo of library today (2015):

From Geograph: © Copyright Stephen Craven and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Details:

Old photo of library (postcard):

Visited?

Not yet

Web links:

• Entry on the listed buildings register