Stone and stone-faced buildings

Whilst patent building components and standardised plan forms and building practices were being shared and adopted nationally and internationally, it is clear that local architects, surveyors and builders still predominantly worked with local stone as their main building material where it was available, especially in Scotland. It is also clear that in the main, the designers of these buildings, although often won in national competitions, were generally practicing close to the site.

The specification of a local quarry was often noted favourably in local press reports of the building’s procurement for its associated economic benefits. In harsher climates, such as the Shetland Isles, it was common for stone buildings to be finished in roughcast render for further weather protection.

This study has not identified every quarry, nor every stone used but by noting the colour and texture of the masonry visually, it demonstrates clear regional consistencies as seen on our map as well as the relatively local association of the architects identified in the table below.

Library’s name	Designed by	of	Material	Postcode
Aberdeen – Dyce Branch Library	William Dalton Ironside, Messrs Walker and George James Duncan	Aberdeen	Granite	AB21 7AY
Aberdeen – Ferryhill Branch Library	Arthur Clyne, A. Brown, A. Watt	Aberdeen	Granite	AB11 6UP
Aberdeen – Torry Branch Library	Arthur Clyne, A. Brown, A Watt	Aberdeen	Granite	AB11 9NJ
Aberdeen Central Library	Alexander Brown and George Watt	Aberdeen	Granite	AB25 1GW
Abergavenny Library	B.J. Francis	Abergavenny	Grey and yellow sandstone	NP7 5BD
Aberystwyth Library	Walter G. Payton	Birmingham	Red and grey sandstone	SY23 2BT
Advie	–	–	Granite	PH26 3LP
Airdrie “new” Library	John Maurice Arthur	Airdrie	Yellow sandstone and granite	ML6 0AG
Airdrie Arts Centre (Old Library)	George Arthur	Airdrie	Red sandstone	ML6 0AA
Almondbury Library	K.F. Campbell (Borough Engineer)	Huddersfield	Yellow sandstone	HD5 8XB
Annan Library	Sir George Washington Browne	Edinburgh	Red sandstone	DG12 6AA
Annfield Plain Library	Edward Cratney	Willington-upon-Tyne	Yellow sandstone	DH9 8EZ
Arbroath Academy and Public Library	James Black	Dundee	Red sandstone	DD11 1AH
Ardrishaig Public Hall and Literary Institute	–	–	render	PA30 8EY
Atherstone	–	–	Yellow sandstone	CV9 1AX
Ayr Carnegie Library	Campbell Douglas & Morrison	Glasgow	Red sandstone	KA8 8EB
Banff Library	C.W. Crosser	Banff	Yellow sandstone	AB45 1AE
Barnoldswick (Earby) Library	–	–	Yellow sandstone	BB18 6Qx
Barr	John Arthur	Glasgow	Render	KA26 9TW
Barrow in Furness Library	Alderman John Charles	Barrow-in-Furness	Yellow sandstone	LA14 1LL
Batley Library	Walter Hanstock & Son	Batley	Sandstone	WF17 5DA
Beattock Summitt, Crawford	–	–	Rubble and red sandstone	DG10 9QZ
Bettyhill Library	–	–	Render	KW14 7SU
Birmingham – Kings Heath (Moseley) Library	Arthur Gilbey Latham	Birmingham	Sandstone	B14 7SW
Birmingham – Northfield Library	Charles Edward Bateman & Alfred Hale	Birmingham	Yellow sandstone	B31 2LB
Birmingham – Stirchley Library	John P. Osborne	Birmingham	Yellow sandstone	B30 2JT
Bo’ness Carnegie Library	John More Dick Peddie & Sir George Washington Browne	Edinburgh	Yellow sandstone	EH51 9NJ
Bollington	–	–	Sandstone	SK10 5JX
Bolton – Halliwell	Henderson & Brown	Bolton	Red sandstone and terracotta	BL1 3BU
Bolton upon Dearne (Dearne and Wombwell Boxing Club)	John Walker Wilson	Bolton-upon-Dearne	Yellow sandstone	S63 8AB
Bonar Bridge Library	John Pond Macdonald	Inverness	Yellow sandstone	IV24 3EA
Bonnyrigg Library	Greig, Fairbairn & Macniven	Edinburgh	Red sandstone and render	EH19 3AD
Bridgwater Library	Ernest Godfrey Page	Bridgewater	Grey and yellow sandstone, render	TA6 3LF
Bristol: Shirehampton Library	Frederick Bligh Bond	Bristol	Yellow sandstone	BS11 9TU
Brydekirk	–	–	Render	DG12 5LY
Brynmawr Library	Francis Ross Bates	Newport	Grey sandstone, yellow brick and yellow terracotta	NP23 4AJ
Burnley Library	George Hartley and Arthur Race (Borough Engineer)	Barrow-in-Furness	Yellow sandstone	BB11 2BD
Burntisland Library	William Williamson (City Architect)	Bradford	Yellow sandstone	KY3 9AS
Burra (Hamnavoe)	–	–	Render	ZE2 9LA
Cardiff – Canton Library	Edwin Montgomery Bruce Vaughan	Cardiff	Grey sandstone and limestone	CF5 1QD
Cardiff – Cathays Library	Speir & Bevan	Cardiff	Grey sandstone and limestone	CF24 4PW
Carron	Charles Chree Doig	Elgin	Granite	AB38 7QP
Castle Douglas Library	John More Dick Peddie & Sir George Washington Browne	Edinburgh	Red sandstone	DG7 1AE
Cheadle Hume Library	–	–	Sandstone	SK8 5AU
Cheshunt Library	J. Myrtle Smith	London	Red sandstone	EN8 8LB
Chillaton	–	–	Rubblestone with Brick Dressings	PL16 0HP
Clackmannan	Ebenezer Simpson	Stirling	Red sandstone	FK10 4JA
Clashmore	–	–	Yellow sandstone, render and timberframe	IV25 3RG
Cleator Moor Library	E.M. Martindale	Workington	Yellow sandstone	CA25 5AP
Clitheroe Library	S. Butterworth & W.H. Duncan	Rochdale	Yellow sandstone	BB7 2DG
Clydebank Library	Alexander McInnes Gardner & Robert Whyte	Glasgow	Yellow sandstone	G81 1XH
Coalsnaughton	John Shaw Leishman	Alloa	Render	FK13 6JW
Coatbridge Library	Alex Cullen, Lochhead & Brown	Glasgow	Red sandstone	ML5 3AW
Cockermouth Library	A. Marsh (Son of Cockermouth District Surveyor)	Cockermouth	Purple sandstone	CA13 9LU
Coedpeth Bersham	William Moss	Wrexham	Pennant stone	LL11 3TD
Craigellachie	(Major) William H Doig	Elgin	Blue Sandstone	AB38 9SW
Cromarty Library (Hugh Miller Institute)	Alexander Ross & Robert John Macbeth	Inverness	Red and yellow sandstone	IV11 8XA
Croy near Gollanfield	George Logie	Inverness	Granite	IV2 5FP
Cubitt Town Library	Charles Harold Norton	London	Limestone	E14 3HG
Cullivoe Shetland (North Yell)	–	–	Render	ZE2 9BB
Cunningsburgh Shetland	–	–	Render	zE2 9HB
Darwen Library and Theatre	Fred Harrison & Charles Spencer Haywood	Accrington	Sandstone	BB3 3BU
Deiniolen Carnegie Library	Albert Henry Fennell (Fennell and Baddiley)	Chester-le-Street	Render	LL55 3HU
Dingwall Library	William Cumming Joass	Dingwall	Yellow sandstone	IV15 9SB
Dolgellau Mill Street Free Library	Edmund Auguste Fermaud	London	Stucco	LL40 1EY
Doncaster – Mexborough library	–	–	Red and white sandstone	S64 9QD
Drumoak Library	William Dalton Ironside, Messrs Walker and George James Duncan	Aberdeen	Granite	AB31 5ED
Dudley – Quarry Bank library	–	–	Red sandstone	DY5 2JP
Dumbarton Library	William Reid	Dumbarton	Yellow sandstone	G82 1BD
Dundee – Arthurstone Community Library	William Alexander (City Architect) & James Thomson	Dundee	Red sandstone	DD4 6RT
Dundee – Blackness Library	James  Thomson & Frank Drummon Thomson	Dundee	Red sandstone	DD2 1EJ
Dundee – St Roque’s Library	James Thomson with William Carless	Dundee	Yellow sandstone	DD4 6AT
Dundee Central Reading Room (The McManus Collections Unit / Barrack Street Museum)	James Thomson with William Carless	Dundee	Yellow sandstone	DD1 1PG
Dunfermline Carnegie Library	James Campbell Walker extended 1914-21 by James Shearer	Edinburgh	Yellow sandstone	KY12 7NL
Dunrossness	–	–	Render	ZE2 9JW
Eccles Gateway	Edward Potts (Potts Son & Hennings)	Oldham	Limestone	M30 0TU
Eccleston Newtown Carnegie Library	Briggs & Wolstenholme	Liverpool	Sandstone	WA10 4LZ
Edinburgh – Corstorphine Library	Ebenezer James MacRae	Edinburgh	Granite	EH12 7HD
Edinburgh Central Library	Sir George Washington Browne	Edinburgh	Yellow sandstone	EH1 1EG
Ellon Carnegie reading Room (Melvin Hall Tarves)	–	–	Granite	AB41 7GX
Ewart Library (Dumfries)	Alan B. Crombie	Dumfries	Red sandstone	DG1 1JB
Falkirk Community Trust Library	McCarthy and Watson	Edinburgh	Red sandstone	FK1 5AU
Flint Library (Town Hall)	John Welsh (original building)	Flint	Sandstone	CH6 5NW
Fochabers Library (Bellie Parish)	–	–	Red sandstone	IV32 7DY
Forss	–	–	Render	KW14 7XX
Fraserburgh Library	William Stephen Fergusson Wilson	Fraserburgh	Granite	AB43 9PN
Glasgow – Bridgeton District Library	James Robert Rhind	Glasgow	Yellow sandstone	G40 1BP
Glasgow – Dennistoun Library & Learning Centre	James Robert Rhind	Glasgow	Yellow sandstone	G31 2NA
Glasgow – Govanhill Library	James Robert Rhind	Glasgow	Yellow sandstone	G42 7JU
Glasgow – Hutchesontown Library	James Robert Rhind	Glasgow	Red sandstone	G5 0NZ
Glasgow – Kingston Library	Robert William Horn & Alexander Beith Mc Donald (city surveyor)	Glasgow	Red sandstone	G5 8RR
Glasgow – Langside Library	George Simpson	Glasgow	Red sandstone	G42 9QE
Glasgow – Maryhill Library	James Robert Rhind	Glasgow	Yellow sandstone	G20 9AD
Glasgow – Parkhead Library	James Robert Rhind	Glasgow	Red sandstone	G31 4XA
Glasgow – Partick Library	Office of Public Works	Glasgow	Yellow sandstone	G11 6AB
Glasgow – Pollokshields Library	Thomas Gilchrist Gilmour revised by Alexander Beith McDonald	Glasgow	Red sandstone	G41 2TE
Glasgow – Possilpark Library	George Simpson	Glasgow	Red sandstone	G22 5JJ
Glasgow – Springburn  Library	William Brown Whitie	Glasgow	Red sandstone	G21 4BW
Glasgow – Woodside District Library	James Robert Rhind	Glasgow	Yellow sandstone	G3 6JQ
Grangemouth Victoria Library	William Black	Falkirk	Yellow sandstone	FK3 8AG
Great Holland	–	–	render	CO13 0JT
Greenock Central Library	Mr.Matheson (original), Works managed by burgh electrical engineer, Mr WM Nelson and Master of Works – Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette – Friday 15 March 1901	Greenock	Yellow sandstone	PA15 1JB
Guildtown	–	–	Render	PH2 6BY
Hamilton	Alex Cullen, Lochhead & Brown	Glasgow	Yellow sandstone	ML3 6HH
Harrogate Library	Henry Thomas Hare	London	Yellow sandstone	HG1 1EG
Hatton (Cruden)(Slains)	William Davidson	Ellon	Granite	AB42 0HZ
Haugh of Urr Hall and Public Library	–	–	Render	DG7 3YA
Hawick Library	J. Nicholl Scott  and Alexander Lorne Campbell	Edinburgh	Red sandstone	TD9 9QT
Hebden Bridge Library	–	–	Yellow sandstone	HX7 8EP
Heckmondwike Library	Henry Stead	Bolton	Yellow sandstone	WF16 0LY
Heywood Library	North & Robin	London	Sandstone	OL10 1LL
Homerton Library	Sir Thomas Edwin Cooper	London	Limestone	E9 6DF
Horbury Library	Benjamin Watson	Batley	Yellow sandstone	WF4 6HP
Hoswick (Stove or Sandwick) (Carnegie Hall) Shetland	–	–	Render	ZE2 9HH
Hove Library	William Alban Jones & Percy Robinson	Leeds	Limestone	BN3 2EG
Ilford Central Library	H. Shaw (District Surveyor)	Ilford	Limestone	IG1 1DD
Innerleithen Library Contact Centre	Peter Lyle Barclay Henderson	Edinburgh	Yellow sandstone	EH44 6LA
Invergarry	–	–	Render	PH35 4HL
Inverurie Library	Harbourne Maclennan	Aberdeen	Granite	AB51 3SN
Iona	–	–	Granite	PA76 6SJ
Irongray Public Library and Hall (Shawhead Village)	–	–	Render	DG2 9SN
Islington Central Library	Henry Thomas Hare	London	Limestone	N5 1PF
Jedburgh Library	John More Dick Peddie & Sir George Washington Browne	Edinburgh	Yellow sandstone	TD8 6AS
Kelso Library	John More Dick Peddie & Sir George Washington Browne	Edinburgh	Yellow sandstone	TD5 7JH
Kendal library	T.F. Pennington	Kendal	Yellow sandstone	LA9 4PY
King’s Lynn Library	Herbert John Green	Norwich	Terracotta and cobble	PE30 5EZ
Kingston Devon	–	–	render	TQ7 4QE
Kinross Library	Peter Lyle Barclay Henderson	Edinburgh	Yellow sandstone	KY13 8DA
Kyle of Lochalsh Library	–	–	Render	IV40 8AB
Larbert Library	William Black	Falkirk	Yellow sandstone	FK5 4BL
Leeds – Morley Library	W.E. Putman (Borough Engineer)	Morley	Yellow sandstone	LS27 8HZ
Lincoln Central Library	Sir Reginald Theodore Blomfield	London	Limestone	LN2 1EZ
Lindal & Marton Reading Room	W. Richardson (District Surveyor)	Dalton-in-Furness	Limestone	LA12 0LN
Liverpool – Garston Library	Thomas  Shelmerdine (Corporation Architect and Surveyor)	Liverpool	Red sandstone and render	L19 1QN
Llandudno Library	George Alfred Humphreys	Llandudno	Yellow sandstone	LL30 2RP
Llantwit Fardre Library	Arthur Lloyd Thomas	Pontypridd	Grey sandstone and stucco	CF38 1PY
Loanhead	–	–	Granite	EH20 9RW
Lockerbie	Frank James Chambers Carruthers	Lockerbie	Red sandstone	DG11 2HB
Lossiemouth Library	A & W Reid & Wittet	Elgin	Yellow sandstone	IV31 6AA
Low Row	–	–	yellow sandstone	DL11 6PE
Lumphanan	–	–	Render	AB31 4SE
Lybster library	–	–	Granite	KW3 6AE
Manchester – Chorlton Library	Henry Price (City Architect)	Manchester	Limestone with red brick	M21 9PN
Manchester – Withington Library	Henry Price (City Architect)	Manchester	Limestone with red brick	M20 3BD
Mansfield Library 1 central + branch	Ernest R. Sutton and F.W. Gregory	Nottingham	Limestone	NG18 1NG
Mary Tavy	–	–	Pebbledash	PL19 9QR
Maxton Library	Greig, Fairbairn & Macniven	Edinburgh	Red sandstone	TD6 0RL
Maybole Library	James Kennedy Hunter	Ayr	Red sandstone	KA19 7AB
Merthyr Tydfil – Dowlais Library	E. A. Johnson	Abergavenny	Red and grey sandstone	CF48 3HS
Merthyr Tydfil Central Library	Johnson Richards and Rees	Merthyr Tydfil	Limestone	CF47 8AF
Mid Yell	–	–	Render	ZE2 9BN
Middlesbrough Central Library	Sir Thomas Edwin Cooper	London	Yellow sandstone	TS1 2AY
Mile End Central Library (Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives) Stepney	James Knight originally 1862, Extension by MW Jameson, Borough Surveyor	Tower Hamlets	Limestone	E1 4DQ
Milnrow Library	S. Butterworth & W.H. Duncan	Rochdale	Yellow sandstone	OL16 3NP
Montrose Library	James Lindsay Grant	Edinburgh	Red sandstone	DD10 8PH
Motherwell	Greig, Fairbairn & Macniven	Edinburgh	Yellow sandstone	ML1 3BZ
Nelson Library	J. Rigby Poyser & W. Brandreth Savidge	Nottingham	Yellow sandstone	BB9 7PX
Nethy Bridge	–	–	Granite	PH25 3DG
New Mills Library	Richard Bassnett Preston	Manchester	Sandstone	SK22 4AR
Newmill Institute	–	–	yellow sandstone, rubble	AB55 6TW
Nottingham – Bulwell Northern Branch Library Nottingham Journal – Tuesday 24 August 1915	Bright & Thoms	Nottingham	Sandstone	NG6 9AE
Orkney Library (Kirkwall)	James Malcolm Baikie	Kirkwall	Yellow sandstone and gray-ish	KW15 1NW
Peebles Library	–	–	Yellow sandstone and render	EH45 8AG
Penarth Library	Harry Snell	Penarth	Grey sandstone and limestone	CF64 2YT
Penistone Library	Henry R. Collins	Barnsley	Red and yellow sandstone	S36 6DY
Peterhead Library	Duncan McMillan	Aberdeen	Granite	AB42 1QD
Pleasley (Verney Institute)	Parker and Unwin	Buxton	render	NG19 7PL
Poplar Public Library	Squire, Meyers & Petch	London	Limestone	E14 6RN
Portmahomack Carnegie Hall	John Pond Macdonald	Inverness	Yellow sandstone	IV20 1YD
Prescot	–	–	render	L34 3LJ
Prestonpans Library	P. Whitecross & James Pearson Alison	Hawick	Red sandstone	EH32 9NX
Rhonehouse	–	–	Granite	DG7 1SA
Rhyl Carnegie Free Library (Rhyl Town Hall)	A.A. Goodall (Town Surveyor)	Rhyl	Pennant stone and sandstone	LL18 1AB
Rogerstone Library	Alfred Swash & John Bain	Newport	Grey and yellow sandstone	NP10 9EL
Rosehall (Altass)	–	–	Render	IV27 4BD
Rothwell Library	John Alfred Gotch	Kettering	Sandstone	NN14 6EP
Royal Four Towns	–	–	render	DG11 1JN
Rutherglen	George Sinclair and John Ballantine	Glasgow	Yellow sandstone	G73 2HB
Sandwell – Tividale Library (Rowley Regis)	Herbert Winkler Wills and John Anderson	London	Limestone	B69 2PJ
Scalloway Library	Duncan and John Ross McMillan	Aberdeen	Granite	ZE1 0TX
Shipley	Abraham Sharp	Bradford	Yellow sandstone and yellow terracotta	BD18 1BX
South Unst People’s Institute (Uyeasound)	–	–	Render	ZE2 9DN
Sowerby Bridge Library	C.L. Whitehead (council surveyor)	Sowerby Bridge	Yellow sandstone	HX6 2QG
Spinningdale Free Library	Andrew Maitland & Sons	Tain	Render	IV24 3AD
St Cyrus	–	–	Granite and render	DD10 0BQ
Stirling	Henry ‘Harry’ Ramsay Taylor	Edinburgh	Yellow sandstone	FK8 2HX
Stornoway Library	John Robertson	Inverness	Granite and yellow sandstone	HS1 2BE
Strachur	–	–	yellow sandstone, rubble, render	PA27 8DF
Stratford-upon-Avon Library	Edward Gibbs Holtom	Stratford Upon Avon	Yellow sandstone	CV37 6PZ
Stromness Library	–	–	Render	KW16 3DF
Swinton Library	–	–	Limestone	S64 8PU
Symington	–	–	Render	KA1 5QZ
Taibach Port Talbot Margam Community Library	John Cox (District Surveyor)	Margam	Grey and yellow sandstone	SA13 1LN
Tain Library	Andrew Maitland & Sons	Tain	Yellow sandstone	IV19 1AZ
Taunton Library	Alexander Colbourne Little & Ingreson C Goodson.	London	Red and yellow sandstone	TA1 4AJ
Taynuilt	–	–	Render	PA35 1JH
Templand	–	–	Render	DG11 1TY
Thankerton	–	–	pebbledash	ML12 6NZ
Thurso Library	Barbaretus Sinclair Macdonald	Thurso	Yellow sandstone	KW14 8AJ
Tingwall	–	–	Render	ZE2 9XT
Tinsley Library	E.S. Holmes & Adam Francis Watson	Sheffield	Yellow sandstone	S9 1UE
Tongue	–	–	Render	IV27 4XQ
Twynholm Hall	–	–	Render	DG6 4NT
Vidlin Lunnasting public hall	–	–	Render	ZE2 9QB
Waberthwaite and Corney Institute	–	–	render	LA19 5YJ
Walls	–	–	Render	ZE2 9PD
Wellington Carnegie	–	–	Red and yellow sandstone	TF1 1BD
West Calder Library	William Baillie	Glasgow	Red and yellow sandstone	EH55 8DR
Whalsay (Isbister)	–	–	Granite	ZE2 9AJ
Whitehaven Library	Greig, Fairbairn & Macniven	Edinburgh	Red sandstone	CA28 7QT
Wick Library	Thomas Greenshields Leadbetter & James McLellan Fairley	Edinburgh	Yellow sandstone	KW1 5AB
Wombwell Library	Arthur  B. Linford	Wombwell	Sandstone	S73 0BA
Workington Library	W.A Mellon and George Wittet	York	Sandstone	CA14 2BD
Worthing Library	Crouch Butler & Savage	Birmingham	Limestone	BN11 1HP