Carnegie Free Library Wardle Rochdale

WARDLE'S FREE LIBRARY - SUCCESSFUL INAUGURATION - By the endowment of public libraries broadcast, Mr Andrew Carnegie has earned the gratitude of countless people: and a generous contribution to the local authority of Wardle has permitted the erection of a handsome structure which was opened on Saturday. Some two years ago the District Council adopted the Free Libraries Act for the area of Wardle. The produce of the penny rate, which is levied as determined by the Act, is only about £65, and as this sum was altogether insufficient for the successful issue of any adequate scheme, application was made to Mr Carnegie. Assistance was forthcoming in the shape of a gift of £1500. Even then the scheme met with opposition, chiefly on the score of expense, but the Library Committee decided to press it forward. A suitable plot of land, 40 feet by 80 feet, in the possession of the Council was utilised for the site of the library, and building operations began in March last and were completed within the last day or two.

The Library, which has been erected from competitive designs prepared by Messrs Butterworth and Duncan, architects, Rochdale, is in a renaissance style of architecture, attractive in appearance and substantial in foundation. It fronts Wardle Road – commonly referred to as Wardle Lane - and has one drawback; it is isolated from the village, from which it is distant by more than half-a-mile. The situation is an exposed one, and at the rear of the building lie meadows which stretch away to the Shore hills. Bricks of Accrington make and Yorkshire stone facings have been used in construction, and the roof is laid with Westmorland green slates. The front entrance door opens on to a spacious vestibule, at the end of which is the counter of the lending library, and behind, the book shelves. There is accommodation for 15,000 volumes. So far about 700 have been purchased by the committee and this stock has been added to by an acceptable gift of 270 volumes from Mr J. T. Worth. Some of the books will be ready for issue by Saturday. On the right of the vestibule is situated the general apartment – news and reading room. Economy has guided the committee in their scheme, but they have not been niggardly in their choice of furniture. In this room are reading desks, and newspaper stands of solid oak, and in the ladies' room, which is entered from the left of the vestibule, the furnishing is also in oak. The dado in all the rooms is composed of Holland tiles; the lighting is by inverted incandescent brackets and the heating by pipes and radiators. The floors are laid with wooden tiles. There are spacious cellars in the basement. Practically the whole of the donor's gift has been expended in the erection and furnishing, the idea of the committee being that every article should be of so substantial a nature as to avoid the necessity for repairs for some time to come. The cost of upkeep and other items of expense will, it is hoped, be defrayed by the rate. [Rochdale Observer, Wednesday 31st January 1906]

Reference    British Architect 3 February 1905 Page 78
Reference    Rochdale Observer, Wednesday 31st January 1906