Introduction
Although visited and reported upon numerous times Everton library, in Everton, holds some rather interesting and unique architecture within.
So one morning, of a day that would result in numerous visits to well known locations, we took a peek inside.
A bit of history.
Source: Mostly wikipedia
The library dates back to its construction and opening in 1896 designed by Thomas Shelmerdine.
The library itself one of the first public libraries within Liverpool appearing some years after the Public Libraries Act of 1850. This act gave councils the ability to open free public libraries starting an institution within the UK where information and literature would be free to access which was a concern within social and educational needs of the time.
The architect behind the libraries' construction, Thomas Shelmerdine, was born in 1845 becoming the City Surveyor of Liverpool in 1871 at 26 years old. Even today, he is the youngest person to hold this title. Thomas was responsible for several notable structures within Liverpool such as the Ulet Road entrance to Sefton park, Toxteth Library, Hornby Library, Everton Library and his last design being Sefton Park Library in 1911. Thomas Shelmerdine would pass away in 1921.
The design of Everton Library is built upon a triangular plot with turret towering the southern corner with a main hall to the north covered by a barrel shaped roof. The building is built to a victorian renaissance, Jacobean, style.
The library opened in 1896 after construction, being given a Grade 2 listed status in 1966, before being closed around 1999. Since then it has sat dormant being named one of the top endangered buildings by the Victorian Society in 2019. There have been numerous plans for reuse all of which have seemingly failed apart from some urgent repairs around 2019.
The Visit.
We arrived early and like most morning explores piled out of the car with McDonald's wrappers following suit. After a quick wander we spotted what might have been an entry but with a few locals hanging around, outside thier homes and waiting for whatever, we went back to the car and drove around a bit before heading in.
Once in it was fairly relaxed explore the only bother being the battery warning reminding myself that I should have charged the camera and the floor slightly giving way at a rather unexpected point in the visit.
Starting off where we began.
The library is in a clear state of disrepair.
Moving upstairs to the landing with a cut out allowing natural light to reach the lower floors.
Round the corner the main hall is found.
Moving on towards the southern point of the building on some of the smaller rooms.
The Staircase
Upstairs wasn't all that impressive but strangely photogenic.
Anyway, that'll be all.
Although visited and reported upon numerous times Everton library, in Everton, holds some rather interesting and unique architecture within.
So one morning, of a day that would result in numerous visits to well known locations, we took a peek inside.
A bit of history.
Source: Mostly wikipedia
The library dates back to its construction and opening in 1896 designed by Thomas Shelmerdine.
The library itself one of the first public libraries within Liverpool appearing some years after the Public Libraries Act of 1850. This act gave councils the ability to open free public libraries starting an institution within the UK where information and literature would be free to access which was a concern within social and educational needs of the time.
The architect behind the libraries' construction, Thomas Shelmerdine, was born in 1845 becoming the City Surveyor of Liverpool in 1871 at 26 years old. Even today, he is the youngest person to hold this title. Thomas was responsible for several notable structures within Liverpool such as the Ulet Road entrance to Sefton park, Toxteth Library, Hornby Library, Everton Library and his last design being Sefton Park Library in 1911. Thomas Shelmerdine would pass away in 1921.
The design of Everton Library is built upon a triangular plot with turret towering the southern corner with a main hall to the north covered by a barrel shaped roof. The building is built to a victorian renaissance, Jacobean, style.
The library opened in 1896 after construction, being given a Grade 2 listed status in 1966, before being closed around 1999. Since then it has sat dormant being named one of the top endangered buildings by the Victorian Society in 2019. There have been numerous plans for reuse all of which have seemingly failed apart from some urgent repairs around 2019.
The Visit.
We arrived early and like most morning explores piled out of the car with McDonald's wrappers following suit. After a quick wander we spotted what might have been an entry but with a few locals hanging around, outside thier homes and waiting for whatever, we went back to the car and drove around a bit before heading in.
Once in it was fairly relaxed explore the only bother being the battery warning reminding myself that I should have charged the camera and the floor slightly giving way at a rather unexpected point in the visit.
Starting off where we began.
The library is in a clear state of disrepair.
Moving upstairs to the landing with a cut out allowing natural light to reach the lower floors.
Round the corner the main hall is found.
Moving on towards the southern point of the building on some of the smaller rooms.
The Staircase
Upstairs wasn't all that impressive but strangely photogenic.
Anyway, that'll be all.
