James Reckitt Library
JAMES RECKITT LIBRARY, HOLDERNESS 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:
- 1391073
- Date first listed:
- 31-Aug-2004
- List Entry Name:
- James Reckitt Library
- Statutory Address:
- JAMES RECKITT LIBRARY, HOLDERNESS ROAD
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1391073
- Date first listed:
- 31-Aug-2004
- List Entry Name:
- James Reckitt Library
- Statutory Address 1:
- JAMES RECKITT LIBRARY, HOLDERNESS 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:
- JAMES RECKITT LIBRARY, HOLDERNESS ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- City of Kingston upon Hull (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TA 10958 29503
Details
KINGSTON UPON HULL
680-1/0/10087 HOLDERNESS ROAD 31-AUG-04 James Reckitt Library
GV II Public Library. 1888-89, altered late C20. Designed by W A Gelder of Hull. Red brick with ashlar dressings and slate roofs. 2 storey. Gothic Revival style. Moulded ashlar plinth. Tall brick chimney stacks. Main street front has 7 window and a projecting centre. Central entrance has pointed arched doorway with brick and stone voussoirs and an ashlar hood mould, double plank doors with ornate iron hinges reached up a flight of 5 stone steps. Either side three pointed arched windows, also with brick and stone voussoirs and linking cill and impost ashlar bands. Above a broad ashlar band inscribed 'THE JAMES RECKITT PUBLIC LIBRARY'. First floor has canted ashlar oriel window to slightly projecting central bay, flanked by 3 windows on either side with ashlar lintels and continuous hood mould. Moulded and bracketted eaves cornice with ashlar parpet above pierced by 5 quatrofoil openings on each side. Central bay rises as a tower with a 3-light cross-casement window with ashlar lintel, four corner pinnacles all truncated, former pyramidal tower roof missing. INTERIOR retains many original features including moulded coving and skirting boards. Foyer retains unusual timber doorcases with bratished hoods. Main ground floor library has moulded Gothic-style columns supporting shallow pointed arches forming a double arcade. Modern false ceilings conceal original ceilings supported on moulded timber braces. Original timber issuing desk survives with blind arcading on front and one side. Reference library contains two original fitted glass cupboards, the larger one bears dedication plaque inscribed 'This Reference Library given by FRANCIS RECKITT Esq JP of CAENWOOD Towers, Highgate, London.' Main staircase has bold turned balusters and newel posts. Old Reading room has open ceiling supported on timber braces and moulded corbels. This public library for eastern Hull was opened by the Marquis of Ripon on Tuesday Dec 10th, 1889. This is a relatively early example of a major municipal library. Though the exterior has lost its tower roof - due to war damage - the remains of the exterior survives intact and the interior retains a remarkable number of original interior features.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 491348
- Legacy System:
- LBS
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 09-Jul-2026 at 09:07:58.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.