Details
1. CHRISTCHURCH ROAD
5186 (South Side)
College of Technology
and Central Public Library
(Formerly listed as
Municipal College)
SZ 0991 20/64 19.12.73
II
2.
Built as Municipal College, 1910-13, to design of F W Lacey, Borough Surveyor.
Edwardian Baroque, red brick with stone dressings, situated at the Lansdowne roundabout.
High tower at corner (prominent civic landmark) of red brick with rusticated
quoins, tapered, stone clock stage with segmental pediments over dials; circular
cupola with projecting pairs of blocked Ionic columns, carrying attic with portholes
and dome. Elaborate entrance under tower: double staircase up to terrace (iron
lamp standards), with balustrade of giant consoles, left uncarved, over rusticated
basement arch. Doorway of thin panels and bracketed strips against rusticated
piers, with segmentally pediment window and bull's eye embraced by main arch (big
keystone). Christchurch Road frontage symmetrical, basement and 2 storeys, with
continuously glazed north-light dormer to studios on roof. Tripartite centre
with blocked Tuscan columns in pairs, fully glazed with arched glazing bars between,
over basement with projecting stone bands forming 'plinth'; big brick frieze
and stone cornice, raised brick and stone eminences at corners. Recessed wings,
also with blocked Tuscan columns in pairs, flanked by cupolas with bull's -eye
windows framed by rusticated pilasters, smooth stone domes over. At east end,
remodelled buff brick and stone villa of circa 1860 (Strathearn), given entrance
of 1912-13. Meyrick Road frontage also symmetrical. Centre 5 windows wide, 2
storeys and attic, segment-headed windows and rusticated stone strips to ground
floor, loggia of blocked coupled Tuscan columns and wrought-iron railings with
wreaths to 1st floor, with coupled pilasters framing windows inside loggia; brick
frieze and eaves cornice with dentils, supporting recessed attic of rusticated
lunettes between brick pilasters. Projecting wings, 3 storeys: rusticated stone
ground floor with tripartite windows and stone strips, red brick 1st floor with
tripartite windows recessed in elaborately shouldered frame, pedimented gable
to 2nd floor with quasi-Venetian window between square corner eminences of brick
with rusticated quoins and stone panels. Slate roofs, ridges of tile, brick chimneys
with stone cornices. Rear elevation (Central Library) incomplete: double staircase
to 1st floor entrance (scrolly iron railing) with bowed balcony over rusticated
lunette of basement porch, tripartite window under pedimented gable to 2nd floor.
Completed wing to left 3 windows wide, with tall shouldered maims to 1st floor
windows and pedimented dormers with big keystones. Rear of
college irregular and incomplete: assembly hall circa 1925 with segmental gable
and windows; south wing enclosing courtyard of 1956.
Listing NGR: SZ0958591335
