The history of Chorlton library

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Chorlton library is a popular carnegie library in the south Manchester suburb of Chorlton-cum-Hardy. The library was built in 1914 and is a grade II listed building.

 
Chorlton Library - geograph.org.uk - 3760

Architecture

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Chorlton library was constructed in the year 1914, it was built to the designs of Henry Price (architect). The building of Chorlton library was funded by Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish/American industrialist who was also a prolific philanthropist, who funded the building of approximately 3000 libraries. Carnegie's donation was £5000.

Manchester city architect,Henry Price (architect), builder of three other Carnegie libraries in Greater Manchester and also the Victoria Baths. Chorlton library was built in the Edwardian baroque architecture style. Henry prices original plan was for a library of red brick with a Portland stone dressing. The building is single story, and flat roofed.

Chorlton libraries original plans by Henry Price (architect) which were being sent to Carnegie for approval, were lost in the sinking of the HMS Titanic, 1912. Copies were sent at a later date though.

Location

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The original land for the library replaced a temporary building in an old house on Oswald road.