Birmingham Central Library
(1882-1974)
place and library
Closed aged c. 92
Wikidata WikipediaBirmingham Central Library was the main public library in Birmingham, England, from 1974 until 2013, replacing a library opened in 1865 and rebuilt in 1882. For a time the largest non-national library in Europe, it closed on 29 June 2013 and was replaced by the Library of Birmingham. The building was demolished in 2016, after 41 years, as part of the redevelopment of Paradise Circus by . Designed by architect John Madin in the brutalist style, the library was part of an ambitious development project by Birmingham City Council to create a civic centre on its new Inner Ring Road system; however, for economic reasons significant parts of the master plan were not completed, and quality was reduced on materials as an economic measure. Two previous libraries occupied the adjacent site before Madin's library opened in 1974. The previous library, designed by John Henry Chamberlain, opened in 1883 and featured a tall clerestoried reading room. It was demolished in 1974 after the new library had opened. Despite the original vision not being fully implemented, the library gained architectural praise as an icon of British brutalism with its stark use of concrete, bold geometry, inverted ziggurat sculptural form and monumental scale. Its style was seen at the time as a symbol of social progressivism. Based on this, English Heritage applied but failed twice for the building to gain listed status. However, due to strong opposition from Birmingham City Council the building gained immunity from listing until 2016. In 2010–11, Central Library was the second-most visited library in the country, with 1,197,350 visitors.
DbPedia
Commemorated on 2 plaques
This Tablet records that the original agreement dated 20th May 1381 for the appointment of a Chaplain for the Chapel of St John's Deritend and a license dated 20th February 1382 from King Richard the Second to hold certain lands as an endowment for the Chapel, came into the possession of the City Corporation in the year 1887, and both the documents being of great historical interest it was agreed by the Corporation and the Trustees of the Chaplain's endowment that such documents should remain in the Reference Library of the Corporation, and that the Trustees and all other persons desirous of inspecting the documents should have the opportunity of doing so, and in case they should be required in any matter relating to the endowment, the Corporation hall produce the same.
Level 9, Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham, United Kingdom where it sited
This Library built in the year 1866, and dedicated to public use by an address by George Dawson M.A. on the 26th of October of that year, was partially destroyed by fire on the 11th of January 1879, having been reconstructed and greatly enlarged, was reopened on the 1st of June 1882, by the Right Hon John Bright M.P. Thomas Avery Esqs being Mayor. Messrs Martin and Chamberlain Architects to replace the books destroyed by the fire a sum of £14,000 was forthwith subscribed principally by the burgesses of this borough
Level 9, Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham, United Kingdom where it re-opened (1882) and was demolished (1974)