Christie Library of the University of Manchester

CHRISTIE LIBRARY - This Library is the gift, to the Owens College, Manchester, of Mr. Richard Christie, the Chancellor of the Diocese, and is the work of Messrs A. Waterhouse and Son. In external material the building is identical with the earlier portions of the college, except that Stanton Woodhouse has been substituted for Minera stone. The perspective drawing shows the connection of the library with the central buildings by means of a bridge -corridor at the level of the principal floor. Besides presenting the building, Mr. Christie has the intention of bequeathing a collection of books, for which a home is provided in a portion of the first floor specially set apart and separated from the general reference library' and reading-room by a carved-oak screen. The ground floor is divided into compartments for various special collections, including the "Freeman " and " Muirhead " libraries. The science library is placed on the second floor. The total dimensions of the building are 100 feet by 46 feet, and it is situated on the south side of the large quadrangle adjoining Burlington-street. The general contractor is Mr. Henry Vickers, of Nottingham, and the heating is being carried out by Mr. Grundy. The staircase is in Stuart's granolithic material. [Building News 8 May 1896 page 671].

CHRISTIE LIBRARY, OWENS COLLEGE - This is the building referred to in our article on Manchester architecture last week, as being in progress as an addition to Owens College, with which it is connected by a bridge which forms a picturesque architectural incident. The plans of the ground and first floors, showing their junction with one end of the bridge, explain the purpose and general arrangement of the building, the exterior architectural treatment of which keeps up that rather symmetrical and, as one might say, semi-classic treatment of Gothic material which characterises the architecture of Owens College generally. The architect is Mr. A. Waterhouse, R.A., and the drawing, from his own hand , was exhibited at the last Royal Academy. [Builder 14 November 1896 Page 404] *

MANCHESTER - The new Christie Library which is being added to Owens College is approaching completion. It is being built from designs by the college architects, Messrs. Alfred Waterhouse and Son, Mr H Vickers, of Nottingham, being the builder. It is situate to the east of the present college buildings, adjoining Burlington street, and in close proximity to the Whitworth Hall, also now in course of erection. In style it conforms to the lines followed by the architect in his earlier instalments of the college, although in this case Derbyshire stone is used for facings. The building, measuring 100 feet long by 46 feet wide, is 46 feet high to parapet, and to the ridge of roof 73 feet. Space is thus found for three stories. The ground floor, intersected by corridors, is partitioned into seven rooms, all (corridors as well as rooms) to be lined with books. A staircase leads to the first floor, the whole of which is occupied by one apartment, 97 feet by 40 feet, and over 20 feet in height, divided down its length by a double range of stone columns into three aisles. Two bays at the north end, set aside to contain the library of the donor, will be cut off from the rest of the room by an oak screen. Including this section, there are in all seven bays, each of which is lighted by windows in pairs 13 feet high and divided by detached shafts of Derbyshire stone. The plaster ceiling is treated in alternate bays with geometric patterns, the remainder being left plain. The second floor, although entirely in the roof and intended for storage purposes, has a height from floor to apex of 31ft. From end to end runs a central passage 10 feet wide and 22 feet high to the crown of the timber arches of the principals. The room is divided into bays corresponding to those below, and is lighted by two light dormer windows, piercing the three gables on each side of the room, and, further, by wooden dormers. At each end of the room is placed a window group of five lights. On the north and south elevations is a large blank wall spice flanking the three light windows of the lower floors, decorated only by the arms of the college and those of the donor of the building in panels. At the corners octagonal projections contain the staircases conducting to the light galleries which give access to the higher ranges of the library shelves. The library will be connected with the Whitworth Hall by a corridor conducting to the ground floor, while on the other side a graceful arch supporting a bridge corridor will connect it with the main buildings of the college. The building is heated by hot air introduced in the sills of the windows, and the fittings will be of oak. We illustrated the library in our issue of May 8, 1896. [Building News 20 May 1898 page 705]

CHRISTIE LIBRARY - The new library is situate to the east of the present college buildings, adjoining Burlington-street and in close proximity to the Whitworth Hall, now in course of erection. In style it conforms to the lines followed by the architect in his earlier instalments of the College, although a different kind of stone is used for the facings of the walls, recourse being had in this instance to Derbyshire quarries. The building measuring 100 feet long by 46 feet wides, reaches to the top of the parapet, a height of 46 feet and to the ridge of the roof 7 feet. Space is thus found for three storeys. The ground floor, intersected by corridors, is partitioned into seven rooms, all (corridors as well as rooms) to be lined with books. In five of those rooms will be stored volumes on special subjects, as, for instance, literature, divinity, philosophy, economics, and ancient and modern philosophy, while two apartments will be reserved for the reception of the Muirhead and Freeman libraries. A handsome staircase loads io the first floor, the whole of which is occupied by very noble room (97 feet in length by 40 feet in width and over 20 feet in height), divided down its length by double range of stone columns into three aisles. Here again, to a certain extent, books line the walls, which will be connected intervals with the aforesaid columns by tiers of shelves. The space between the columns is to be kept entirely free to permit an uninterrupted view, as well as to allow the free circulation of guests when the library is used for receptions. Two bays at the north end, set aside to contain the library of the donor, will be cut off from the rest of the room by an oak screen. Including this section there are in all seven bays, each of which is lighted by windows. shafts of Derbyshire stone. The plaster ceiling is treated in alternate bays with geometric patterns, the remainder being left quite plain. The second floor, although entirely in the roof and intended for storage purposes, is by no means devoid of architectural pretensions. Its height from floor to apex is 31 feet. From end to end runs a central passage 10 feet wide and 22 feet high to the crown of the timber arches of the principals. The is divided into bays corresponding to those below, lighted by two-light dormer windows, which pierce the three gables on each side of the room, and, further, wooden dormers recessed behind the arched openings which, placed between the gables, form a bold feature in the exterior of the building. Through these wooden dormers one catches glimpses of the roof in a manner which suggests the mediaeval buildings of South Wales. At each end of the room, moreover, is placed a window-group of five lights corresponding in style to those of the side-gables.

The exterior of the library is decidedly impressive. As has been said, it represents a continuation of the style adopted by Mr. Alfred Waterhouse R.A. in the original buildings, but the fact of its consecration to a single purpose has naturally allowed the architect to endow it with a more monumental character than is possible under other circumstances. The massive appearance of the north and south elevations is due to the large blank wall space flanking the three-light windows of the lower floors. decorated only by the arms of the College and those of the donor of the building. which give interest to the panels of the north wall. Variety is effected by the introduction at the corners of octagonal projections. These contain the staircases conducting to the light galleries which give access to the higher ranges of the library shelves. Additional diversity is secured by the treatment, of the exterior cornice, running round the building across the gables in a strong encircling line, is cut into by octagonal projections corbelled out at the level of the first, floor and terminating at the level from which the dormer gables spring. Tho masonry is crowned by one unbroken roof with gables to north and south: all risk of monotony being avoided by the three subsidiary gables facing east and west. An excellent view of the building is afforded by the sufficient "setting back" of Whitworth Hall from the street line the south-east corner of the site. The library will be connected with Whitworth Hall by a well-lighted corridor conducting to the ground floor, while on the other side a graceful arch supporting a corridor, and rather reminiscent of the Bridge of Sighs, will connect, it, with the main buildings of the College. This latter feature adds very greatly to the interest of the design, while at the same time it will partly block out the view of prosaic street buildings from the College precincts.  The building is heated by hot air introduced for the most part in the sills of the windows, so as to counteract the cooling effect of the glass. The fittings, according to present arrangements, will be of oak.  [Manchester Guardian 10 May 1898 page 12]

*NOTE  - Notwithstanding Waterhouse's original drawing, the bridge linking the Library with the west range was never progressed.

Reference    Building News 8 May 1896 page 671 and illustration
Reference    Builder 14 November 1896 Page 404-405 - plans and illustration
Reference    Manchester Guardian 10 May 1898 page 12
Reference    Building News 20 May 1898 page 705
Reference    Builder 2 July 1898 page 14 – opening by Duke of Devonshire