14th December 1904: The Opening of the Free Library

We’re over threequarters of the way through these blogs, and I’ve realised that no mention has been made yet to the library (sorry Hub!). So, as today is the 9th of December, it’s the nearest in date to the official opening of The Library

Whitchurch is not over-blessed with civic buildings, so we should take great joy in the fact that we still have a splendid ‘Free Library’ in our midst. There was some worry some years ago that Cardiff Council were looking to close the library (in fact all of the libraries in north Cardiff), but thanks to the effort and determination of local folk, together with our MS and MP, not only do we still have our library, but one that has been refurbished and extended. It is now a delightful (and warm) place to visit and linger. The fact that it is also the local repository for books, reference and digital exploration mustn’t be forgotten. There are folk in AWEN who have worked tirelessly in campaigning to save and now develop the facility to whom we should all be incredibly grateful!

Anyway, back to the story:
By 1902, Whitchurch Parish Council had written to Andrew Carnegie (at the time, the richest man in the world) asking that he fund a free library for the village, and to subsequently discover that he was willing. He had agreed to provide the whole budget of £2,000 to build the library, provided that a free site could be found. After much searching, a corner of the new Recreation Ground was found to be the only contender

Plans were drawn up, and tenders invited. The Library Committee of the parish council reported that the accommodation would comprise of:
A Reading Room, a Lending Department and a Librarians Room. On the first floor would be a Kitchen and 2 Bedrooms for a Caretaker. There would be two entrances to the Library, with one being reserved for ladies. The Reading Room would have a folding partition, 15 newspaper stands and tables for magazines. The Library would have seating for 64 readers, and bookcases in the lending department would store 6,000 volumes

It would be interesting to compare those facilities with the new library!

By February 1904 building tenders had been returned. However, some bargaining was required as the lowest tender, from builders WT Morgan was slightly in excess of the Carnegie budget. Finally, a scheme was agreed and work commenced. By the end of the year, the Library was completed and plans were made for an official opening

The old photograph below must have been taken shortly after completion, as the Library is surrounded by an old hedge and the gates are wooden. Another photograph only a few years later shows the Library with smart iron railings and gated entrance

By then, the Library had managed to acquire 1,000 books, but an appeal had been launched locally for more to fill up the shelves

The official opening on 14th December 1904 seemed to be a grand affair for the village. Andrew Carnegie had been invited, but his agent explained that he was detained on affairs in America. A procession was held from the council school (the old Boys School at a far end of Ty’n-y-Pwll Road to the new Library, setting off just before three o’clock. Leading the procession were the members of the volunteer Fire Brigade in their uniforms and brass helmets, with the Whitchurch Brass Band following, immediately succeeded by the members of the parish council

At the Library, Mr Edmund Lewis, the chairman of the council called upon Mr Sidney Williams, the architect of the Library, to present to Mr Albert Bullock, chairman of the Library Committee a silver key on behalf of the architects and contractor, for a ceremonial door opening. This key is still at the library in its original velvet plush case and can be seen by special request!

The Weekly Mail newspaper a few days later reported:
The main room was filled with 300 local people who listened to speeches by the local dignitaries. The chairman proposed that as the building had been given by Mr Carnegie, it would be fitting if they had an American tune, and he called upon the band to play ‘The Stars and Stripes’ which was stirringly rendered. The Rev Ll Davies led the company in prayer, and Mr Bullock gave a history of the movement which had resulted in Whitchurch attaining possession of a free library. Mr SH Jones, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Bullock for his services, spoke of the utility of the free libraries’. Mr Bullock replied and the proceedings then terminated

All of this bonhomie didn’t last however, as the Library experienced teething problems, with an intermittent heating system, resulting in a small fire! Accusations of scrimping on the specification and construction and blame were passed back to the architect and contractor. This would never happen these days, would it!

Anyway, 118 years later, we still have our wonderful library in its parkland setting. It’s worth noting that our Grade-2 listed library is included in John Newman’s book, The Buildings of Glamorgan, where he describes the Library as:
Set boldly across the corner with Velindre Road, small but thumpingly Jacobean!

The library is a real gem, possibly the best building in the village, but with its recent refurbishment and technological development for the 21st century, we should all enjoy it

Long may it last!

 

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