Library, High Street, Langholm, Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway

Entry Name: Library, High Street, Langholm

Listing Name: High Street, Library

Listing Date: 3 August 1971

Category: B

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 382137

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB37123

Building Class: Cultural

ID on this website: 200382137

Location: Langholm

County: Dumfries and Galloway

Town: Langholm

Electoral Ward: Annandale East and Eskdale

Traditional County: Dumfriesshire

Tagged with: Building Reference library Subscription library

Description

James Burnet of Ewesbank, Langholm. Built 1875-8 (dated
1877). 2-storey and attic neo-Jacobean public library
adjoining S (rear) wall of Town House, with garden to S and
public road along either flank. Interior totally rebuilt
circa 1980. Stugged ashlar, with polished dressings.
Symmetrical buckle-quoined elevations mainly with
cross-windows (plate glass), leaded and ogee-domed turrets
over clasping angles, wallhead gables with small windows,
kneelers and spike finials. Shallow advanced gabled centre to
S with main door and flanking panels all round-headed;
corbelled rectangular oriel above. Flank elevations 4 (2 + 2)
bays; large shop opening with unusually long stone-lintelled
span (now tourist centre) in W wall. Band and string courses
between floors; eaves band and cornice, wallhead balustrade
at S. Slate roofs.

Statement of Interest

Associated with Hugh MacDiarmid, whose mother was a cleaner

at the library; MacDiarmid is said to have read every book in

the library, and the books there must have had a formative

effect on him. Designed 1873; design modified to exclude town

hall originally proposed; building delayed, and opened

16.1.1878 "without any formality whatsoever".

Library instituted 1.7.1800; collection swelled by Telford

legacy of 1834; subscription of $1000 by Alexander Reid

(d.1874) who at the time of his death was building

Craigcleuch house which, stylistically, is very similar to

this building. B Group.

External Links

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