Wombwell Carnegie Library
Location/Address
Wombwell Library, Station Road, Wombwell, S73 0BA
Type
Description
Library building provided thanks to funding from Andrew Carnegie; https://carnegielibrariesofbritain.com/ notes that "Carnegie funding was critical to the public library movement in the UK". The library building is still in use as a library, the service provided by Barnsley MBC. The building has recently been sensitively extended to the rear. A supporting statement with the planning application (2013/0402) noted "Wombwell Library is located in the town centre and whilst not currently listed is constructed in stone and has some considerable architectural merit."
According to https://carnegielibrariesofbritain.com/explore-the-libraries/interactive-map/ the architect for the library building was Arthur B Linford; https://carnegielegacyinengland.wordpress.com/category/south-yorkshire/ adds that a grant of £3,000 was given for the library and that the foundation stone was laid on the 29th June 1905, with the library opening in March 1907. The foundation stone is still present on the main elevation and it records:
Wombwell Free Library, presented by Andrew Carnegie Esq. to the township of Wombwell in the year 1905. This stone was laid by the Reverend George Hadfield, Chairman of the Education Committee and a late Member of the Urban District Council, on the 29th day of June 1905. Charles Henry Elliott, J.P., Chairman of the Council; William Washington, Chairman of the Library Committee.
The honours board of Wombwell Urban District Council (up to 1974 and local government reorganisation) is now on the upper wall of the entranceway to the library and confirms that Elliott was chair in 1905. The lower section of the wall has decorative tiles including a plaque reading "Marsden Tiles Ltd, Burslem"; http://www.thepotteries.org/allpotters/696.htm details that the Marsden Tile Co. Ltd. was operating between 1892 and 1928. The Wombwell Library is listed as one identified as featuring glazed tiles on interior walls on the Shelf-Life project website - noting "The use of faience or glazed tiles and bricks in Carnegie Libraries and indeed all public buildings of this era is a familiar site. It was a popular choice of finish for its decorative and hygienic properties" (https://carnegielibrariesofbritain.com/typical-features-2/interior-walls/glazed-wall-tiles-and-architectural-faience/).
Statement of Significance
Asset type
Carnegie Library BuildingAge
The building dates to 1905/1907 and is of merit, being an example of cultural infrastructure that reflects a particular period of investment in library provision. The Historic England listing guide on Culture & Entertainment Buildings (2017) notes p.3 that "An 1850 Act permitted local authorities to build libraries... A further Libraries Act in 1892 made it easier for urban authorities to raise funds, and thenceforth libraries were built in unprecedented numbers." Local authority provision was boosted by funding from Andrew Carnegie (1835 -1919). Marking the 100th anniversary of Carnegie's death, the Carnegie UK Trust noted "When the first Carnegie library was opened in 1883, only 23% of the UK population had access to a public library service, and by 1915, this had risen to 60%, largely thanks to Carnegie’s contribution" (see https://www.cilips.org.uk/building-on-carnegies-public-library-legacy-carnegie-uk-trust/ ).Rarity
Carnegie provided funding for 9 libraries within South Yorkshire, of which 3 stand within the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley - this building and ones at Bolton-upon-Dearne and Penistone.Architectural and Artistic Interest
The library is recorded as the work of Arthur B Linford. Linford is included in the Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, with an obituary noted in The Builder v121, 7 Oct 1921 p438.Group Value
The library building stands adjacent to the former Wombwell Urban District Council's Town Hall, built shortly before the library (it's foundation stone was laid 22nd June 1897); https://wombwellandbrampton.dearnevalleyhistory.org.uk/article/5540/ records an article in the Mexborough & Swinton Times of 23rd July 1937, on the growth of Wombwell, saying "Which period during the past six decades constituted Wombwell’s most successful era? Bearing all factors in mind one is inclined to award the prize to the period 1894 – 1914... During these 20 years most of Wombwell’s important municipal assets – the Town Hall, the Public Baths, the Public Library, the first public recreation ground in Kings Road – came into being." There is a clear historic relationship between these two former municipal buildings erected by the then Urban District Council.Historic Interest
The library building reflects the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie and the desire and determination of Wombwell Urban District Council to secure funding for a free Public Library for Wombwell. It helps to tell the story of social change - Carnegie funding was critical to supporting the public library movement in the UK. Andrew Carnegie is quoted as saying "there was no use to which money could be applied so productive... as the founding of a public library in a community" (see https://www.carnegie.org/interactives/foundersstory/#!/ )Archaeological Interest
Surviving historic fabric.Landmark Status
The building is a well-known landmark, still being in use as a public library - as such, it has strong communal associations. It also has historical associations, being testament to a key period of local government in Wombwell and the determination to provide a library for the district and, in so doing, improve educational provision.
Date Listed
26 Aug 2022
Last Updated
16 Jun 2022
Comments and Feedback
Do you have any questions or more information about this record?
Insert Image
Drop file here or click to browse device for file.