Brighouse Library and Smith Art Gallery
BRIGHOUSE LIBRARY AND SMITH ART GALLERY, HALIFAX ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1183940
- Date first listed:
- 02-Dec-1983
- List Entry Name:
- Brighouse Library and Smith Art Gallery
- Statutory Address:
- BRIGHOUSE LIBRARY AND SMITH ART GALLERY, HALIFAX ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2007-02-07
- Reference:
- IOE01/16296/27
- Rights:
- © Mr Nigel Wood. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1183940
- Date first listed:
- 02-Dec-1983
- List Entry Name:
- Brighouse Library and Smith Art Gallery
- Statutory Address 1:
- BRIGHOUSE LIBRARY AND SMITH ART GALLERY, HALIFAX ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- BRIGHOUSE LIBRARY AND SMITH ART GALLERY, HALIFAX ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Calderdale (Metropolitan Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SE 14224 23080
Details
BRIGHOUSE HALIFAX ROAD SE 12 SW 3/98 Brighouse Library and Smith Art Gallery
G.V. II Formerly known as the Rydings. Public library and art gallery, part of which was originally a house c.1840 for John Brooke (a local corn miller). Dressed stone slate roof. Classical west front of 3 symmetrical bays. Rusticated quoins, cornice and blocking course. Doorway has large monolithic jambs, imposts and semi-circular arched-head with 4 paned fan light, flanked by double pilasters and protected by porch supported on double columns set upon a plinth, square on section to the outer, the inner having Corinthian capitals. Full entablature. To either side are large 8 paned sash windows with lugged architrave, blocking course and cornice. Over are windows with similar surrounds but with projecting sills on consoles. Right hand return wall of 7 widely spaced bays A B B A B B A. The outer and middle bays break forward are quoined and have large triple windows contained in spacious bow window to ground floor. Balconies of heavy cast iron on them. All other windows of similar character to west front. Hipped roof. Attached is early C20 extension forming purpose built art gallery.
Interior: Entrance hall has imposing stair with decorative cast iron balustrading with central well supported to either side by Tuscan columns with full entablature, galleried on 3 sides. Overall is domed cupola. 1st floor reading room preserves remarkable carved oak panelling by native born craftsman H. P. Jackson (1867 - 1931) furnishings also include canopied settle, carved armchairs and overmantel. D. Nortcliffe, Buildings of Brighouse, (Brighouse, 1978), p.30. N. Pevsner, Yorkshire West Riding, (1967), p.147.
Listing NGR: SE1422423080
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 338836
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Nortcliffe, D, Buildings of Brighouse, (1978), 30
Pevsner, N, Radcliffe, E, The Buildings of England: Yorkshire: The West Riding, (1967), 147
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 15:23:25.
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