Picton Reading Room and Hornby Library
Encyclopedia
The Picton Reading Room and Hornby Library are two grade II* listed buildings on William Brown Street
, Liverpool
, England
which now form part of the Liverpool Central Library
.
Chairman of the William Brown Library and Museum
Sir James Picton
laid the foundation stone of the Picton Reading Room in 1875. It was designed by Cornelius Sherlock, and modelled after the British Museum Reading Room
, and was the first electrically lit library in the UK. It was completed in 1879. The front is semicircular with Corinthian columns, and the shape was chosen by the architect to cover the change in the axis of the row of buildings at this point. The Hornby Reading Room (named after Hugh Frederick Hornby) by Thomas Shelmerdine
was added in 1906. It stands behind the older building and the interior is decorated in the Edwardian Imperial style.
William Brown Street
William Brown Street in Liverpool, England is a road that is remarkable for its concentration of public buildings. It is sometimes referred to as the "Cultural Quarter"...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
which now form part of the Liverpool Central Library
Liverpool Central Library
Liverpool Central Library is the largest of the 22 libraries in Liverpool, England, situated in the centre of the city.-Buildings:The library is located in several adjoining historic buildings on the city's historic William Brown Street...
.
Chairman of the William Brown Library and Museum
William Brown Library and Museum
The William Brown Library and Museum is a Grade II* listed building situated on the historic William Brown Street in Liverpool, England. The building currently houses part of the World Museum Liverpool and Liverpool Central Library....
Sir James Picton
James Picton
Sir James Allanson Picton was an English antiquary and architect who played a large part in the public life of Liverpool. He took a particular interest in the establishment of public libraries.-Biography:...
laid the foundation stone of the Picton Reading Room in 1875. It was designed by Cornelius Sherlock, and modelled after the British Museum Reading Room
British Museum Reading Room
The British Museum Reading Room, situated in the centre of the Great Court of the British Museum, used to be the main reading room of the British Library. In 1997, this function moved to the new British Library building at St Pancras, London, but the Reading Room remains in its original form inside...
, and was the first electrically lit library in the UK. It was completed in 1879. The front is semicircular with Corinthian columns, and the shape was chosen by the architect to cover the change in the axis of the row of buildings at this point. The Hornby Reading Room (named after Hugh Frederick Hornby) by Thomas Shelmerdine
Thomas Shelmerdine
Thomas Shelmerdine was and English architect who was appointed to the post of City Surveyor of Liverpool at the age of 26. He is the youngest person to have held that post....
was added in 1906. It stands behind the older building and the interior is decorated in the Edwardian Imperial style.