Central Public Library
CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY, HIGH STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1216521
- Date first listed:
- 29-Sept-1987
- List Entry Name:
- Central Public Library
- Statutory Address:
- CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY, HIGH STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 1999-08-14
- Reference:
- IOE01/01110/19
- Rights:
- © Mr John M Holt. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1216521
- Date first listed:
- 29-Sept-1987
- List Entry Name:
- Central Public Library
- Statutory Address 1:
- CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY, HIGH STREET
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:
- CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY, HIGH STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Sandwell (Metropolitan Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SP 00251 91382
Details
SANDWELL MB HIGH STREET (south-west side)
SP 0091 SW
14/103 Central Public Library
29.9.87
GV II
Public library. 1907. By Stephen J Holliday of West Bromwich. Red brick
with yellow terra cotta dressings. Main facade a symmetrical composition of
two storeys and five bays with giant engaged fluted Ionic columns on pedestals.
The central bay has an open pediment supported on outer antae and inner free-
standing columns. The ground floor windows have round heads with keystones.
The timber glazing bars incorporate Venetian lower lights with a central pedi-
ment. The first floor windows are of three lights separated by brick mullions,
except for the central one. This is of two round-headed lights under a round
arch within the pediment. The doorway is approached by stone steps and has a
round arch with glazing. Interior: open-well stair in central hallway has
mosaic and tile decoration which includes inscription: "This building is the
gift of Mr Andrew Carnegie to the Borough". (VCH, 72). Murals in stairwell and lending library, of c.1913-24, the latter illustrating the scenes from The Canterbury Tales. Some repartitioning of the library when it was re-organised in 1937-8, and these partitions and some shelving survives.
Listing NGR: SP0025191382
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 219314
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Page, W, The Victoria History of the County of Stafford, (1976), 72
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 08-Jun-2026 at 15:05:43.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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