Former Devonport Library
Former Devonport Library, 18 and 20, Duke Street, Plymouth, PL1 4EA
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1319614
- Date first listed:
- 01-May-1975
- List Entry Name:
- Former Devonport Library
- Statutory Address:
- Former Devonport Library, 18 and 20, Duke Street, Plymouth, PL1 4EA
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2003-09-16
- Reference:
- IOE01/10564/22
- Rights:
- © Mr Mel Ellis. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1319614
- Date first listed:
- 01-May-1975
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 09-Nov-1998
- List Entry Name:
- Former Devonport Library
- Statutory Address 1:
- Former Devonport Library, 18 and 20, Duke Street, Plymouth, PL1 4EA
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:
- Former Devonport Library, 18 and 20, Duke Street, Plymouth, PL1 4EA
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- City of Plymouth (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SX 45445 54490
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 14/02/2018
SX4554
740-1/54/139
PLYMOUTH
Devonport
DUKE STREET (north side)
Nos.18 and 20, Former Devonport Library
(Formerly listed as Nos.18 and 20, Devonport Library, previously listed as: Devonport, DUKE STREET, Devonport Library)
01/05/75
GV
II
Library incorporating the former Devonport Mechanics Institute. Library 1849-50, institute 1843-44. Stucco walls and slate roofs where visible; moulded stuccoed end stacks to library. Fairly deep plan; library is Italianate style.
EXTERIOR: three storeys; three-bay library front with wider central bay with tripartite windows; four-window range institute elevation on the left, its main symmetrical five-window front to left-hand return. Library has full eaves entablature with modillions and consoles above giant upper floors with facetted quoins. All windows have glazing bars and flanking pilasters; squat first-floor openings with consoles, moulded mid-floor string; central Venetian window to [galleried] second floor and flanking round-arched windows, all with moulded entablature and keyblocks. Full width Doric entablature with triglyphs above ground floor which has channelled rustication, vermiculated quoins and jambs, moulded sill string, dropped sill jambs over plinth, and blind windows.
Institute has plinth, first-floor sill string and modillion eaves cornice. Original hornless sashes to upper floors. Ground floor has pilastered and pedimented doorway to centre of main front.
INTERIOR: of library has large hall with gallery carried on slender turned stanchions and projecting front on console brackets; bulging cast-iron balustrade; coved ceiling cornice and round-arched niches to end walls.
Part of a fine group of civic buildings.
Listing NGR: SX4544554490
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 473336
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Devon, (1989), 676
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 24-Jun-2026 at 04:18:17.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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