Detached midway along the street. Dated 1907;
by A E Dixon and C B Potter of Manchester. Edwardian Baroque single
storey 3-bay ruabon
brick front with ashlar
dressings; slate roofs. Central dome flanked by gable ended cross
ranges, with open pediment treatment, deep kneelers, festoons
and broad end pilaster
stripe. Venetian windows to outer bays with small panes, colonnettes
and aprons. Set back central bay formed of lower entrance with
dentil
cornice
parapet and enriched oval shield with lettering "Llyfrgell
Rydd 1907". cornice
cambered over gated entrance with narrow small pane windows in
architraves
to either side. Segmental roof to porch with part glazed double
doors. Lead roof dome behind with octagonal lantern, small pane
glazed. cornice
continues around 6-bay right aide. First two bays have bulls-eye
windows with keystones
rising to cornice;
gable end of the main range is advanced with similar but plainer
detail to that on the front (Venetian windows etc .....) 3 bays
to rear have short segmental headed windows with aprons. 2-similar
gable ends at rear with round small pane attic windows and Venetian
derived window below. The interior has an octagonal inner porch
lit by the dome which has foliage ornamented plaster border to
the base and egg
and dart cornice.
Segmental roof to right inside with ornamented plaster ribs. Art
nouveau radiators. Copper tablet to porch commemorates the benefactors
of the Library, largely paid for by Andrew Carnegie.
Group value with Town Hall and Bangor Museum and Art Gallery.
Reference: M L Clarke, “Notes on the Architecture of Bangor” (unpublished), p 3.
