History in Structure

Treharris Public Library

A Grade II Listed Building in Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.6641 / 51°39'50"N

Longitude: -3.304 / 3°18'14"W

OS Eastings: 309908

OS Northings: 196956

OS Grid: ST099969

Mapcode National: GBR HR.6CNQ

Mapcode Global: VH6DC.PF5M

Plus Code: 9C3RMM7W+MC

Entry Name: Treharris Public Library

Listing Date: 20 February 2003

Last Amended: 20 February 2003

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 80909

Building Class: Civil

Also known as: Llyfrgell Treharris

ID on this website: 300080909

Location: Situated near the centre of Treharris, on the E side of Perrott Street just N of its junction with John Street.

County: Merthyr Tydfil

Town: Merthyr Tydfil

Community: Treharris

Community: Treharris

Built-Up Area: Treharris

Traditional County: Glamorgan

Tagged with: Public library Carnegie library

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Treharris

History

Public library of 1909 by W Dowdeswell in Edwardian free style. Single storey with high rear over basement. Opened October 1909. Altered in 1987 with principal entry now through left side door.

Exterior

Public library, red brick and Bath stone with slate hipped roof with leaded base of missing cupola. Single-storey front with basement to rear due to steeply sloped site. Front of 3 bays, the outer ones projected and gabled with moulded copings. Gables have channelled ashlar outer piers with modillion cornices and top blocking courses, fine large Palladian windows with Ionic columns, moulded arch, keystone and coloured leaded glass. Sandstone plinths, raised on tolled Pennant stone base on right due to slope. Cast-iron rainwater pipes in return to centre piece which has modillion cornice broken forward over ashlar centre which has parapet lettered Treharris between 2 ashlar blocks. Blocking course each side, ashlar frieze right across with Free and Library incised each side of motto with oak-leaves over shield with Virgin with spear and 2 swords, this over main door hood. Ashlar segmental curved hood, moulded with panelled soffit on big brackets with acanthus carving, carried on bulbous Ionic columns. From hood projects very large iron clock in square frame, a 1914-18 war memorial. Tympanum under hood has roundel cartouche with sprays each side over broad doorway with 2 iron gates. Four stone steps up between sandstone moulded low walls curving out each side, with low curving iron rails. Flanking entry are paired small lights with single ashlar sill and lintel with dripstone.
Door is recessed in main entry, the recess with mosaic floor with CL in wreath (for Carnegie Library). Art Nouveau plaque recording opening. Double doors with bevelled glass and big overlight, some panes shaped.
Left end is roughcast with flush stone heads and sills to windows. Four bays, door in third bay, coloured leaded glazing to windows and door overlight. Plain rendered right end wall, rendered rear basement with pebbledash first floor, 2 window left, 3 centre and Palladian window right, most with leaded coloured glazing.

Interior

Left reading room has curved plaster ceiling, leaded Palladian window each end. Curved wall behind disused main entry with 7-light window in long lights with patterned leading. Former entrance lobby has moulded cornice.

Reasons for Listing

Included as a smaller Edwardian public building retaining original external and interior character and detail.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

  • II Tabernacle Independent Chapel.
    In centre of Treharris, opposite Bethel Chapel, on rise overlooking valley. Iron rails along side and stone gate piers at upper end, into forecourt.
  • II Trelewis War Memorial
    On the W side of High Street, c50m S of the junction with Glyn Bargoed.
  • II* Victoria Bridge, Penydarren Tramroad
    Crossing the Afon Taf just N and W of Cardiff Road and some 75m N of Bryneulog Terrace.
  • II Berthlwyd
    In a prominent location on the hill S of Quakers Yard, reached by a track W off Pentwyn Road.
  • II* Greenfield Bridge, Penydarren Tramroad
    Crossing the Afon Taf some 200m NE of the railway viaduct at Quakers Yard.
  • II* Quakers Yard Railway Viaduct
    Crossing the Afon Taf just S of Edwardsville.
  • II Lock House
    At the NE community boundary in an area known as Five Locks, just W of the A470 and reached by a track leading down from Goitre Coed Road between Abercynon and Quakers Yard.
  • II Barn adjacent to Llancaiach Fawr
    Adjacent to and parallel with the main entrance track to Llancaiach Fawr. At rear backs onto Nant Caeach.

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