| The
Old Library Cardiff |
| Known as
The Old Library this building in
The Hayes Cardiff is an excellent example of
Victorian Architecture built between 1880 and 1882 to the design of the
Architects James,Seward & Thomas. It was opened by the Mayor on the
31st May
1882. The building was funded by a 1penny rate levyed by the
Council. An
extension to the building was soon considered necessary which was then
built between 1893
and 1896 by E Turner & Son the Contractors and designed by the same
Architects
as the original building. The building was the culmination of the efforts to provide a centre for the people of Cardiff providing facilities for a free library, museum and schools for science and art. |
| The heating system
installed for the original library building has
long since been removed, but a thoughtful decision to retain the
original heaters was from an engineering viewpoint a historically
significant one. These vertical tubed heaters are now a very rare
item, manufactured by William Graham of London. The ground
floor area
now used by the Tourist Information Centre, rear and tiled entrances
and open staircase are all still heated by these vertical style heaters. |
 |
  |
John Williams & Sons Cardiff
who we can assume were the installers of the original heating system.
| In the staircase are the rarest
of the William Graham pattern heaters namely their quadrant shaped
vertical heater. This pattern of heater has only ever been found in The
National Trust property of Powis Castle. |
|
A corridor lined with
coloured and ornamental wall tiles was built as the entrance to the
Museum. This corridor was suitably called the tiled corridor and has a
distinctive series of wall tiles depicting the four seasons, and night
and morning. The floor tile appearance is deceptive as although they
look like a mosaic, they are simply ordinary floor tiles
impressed with coloured clay to give the appearance of being a mosaic.
  |
 |
The extension was originally provided with two wall mounted highly ornamental and colourful tiled drinking water fountains located at ground and first floor level. When the Art Gallery was moved into the extension both fountains were moved into the corridor area of the original building. |
top of page
SEPTEMBER
2006
