Heritage Status and Buildings at Risk

Bar chart quantifying functional status and heritage designation of buildings in the UK funded with Carnegie library grants in 2020 see Public Library Quarterly

Of the Carnegie library grant funded buildings that remain, a majority now have heritage status. Several open libraries are in a poor state of repair with damp parapets, broken windows, overflowing gutters etc. During the project 31 buildings were identified as either being unused or having an unknown use, eight of these appear to be at greater risk as identified below.

Library buildings at risk: Left to right; Tinsley, Thornaby-on-Tees, Shipley, Leeds – Burley, Birmingham – Selly Oak, Cunningsburgh Shetland, Dudley – Brierley Hill Free Library and Technical Institute, Belfast – Carnegie Old park
DateNameDesigned byHeritage statusLibrary closed
1906Birmingham – Selly Oak LibraryJohn P. OsborneLG II2017
1916Cunningsburgh Shetland none. unkown
1903Dudley – Brierley Hill Free Library and Technical Institute L.J. Harper (Town Surveyor)LG II1970
1926Leeds – Burley Library Gilbert Burdett Howcroft   LG II2016
1906ShipleyAbraham Sharpnone.1985
1904Thornaby-on-Tees  library none.2010
1905Tinsley Library E.S. Holmes & Adam Francis Watsonnone.1985
1906Belfast – Carnegie Old parkWatt and TullockB12010