:Whitchurch Library
{{short description|Grade II listed library in Whitchurch, Cardiff, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Whitchurch Library
| image = Cardiff Whitchurch Library.jpg
| caption = The library and war memorial
| type = Library
| locmapin = Wales Cardiff
| map_relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|51.516|-3.2254|display=inline,title}}
| location = Whitchurch, Cardiff, Wales
| area =
| built = 1904 with later additions
| architect = R & S Williams of Cardiff
| architecture = Edwardian Revival
| owner = Cardiff City Council
| designation1 = Grade II
| designation1_offname = Whitchurch Free Library
| designation1_date = 31 May 2002
| designation1_number = 26715
| designation2 = Grade II listed building
| designation2_offname = Whitchurch War Memorial
| designation2_date = 31 May 2002
| designation2_number = 26714
}}
Whitchurch Library serves the suburb of Whitchurch, Cardiff, Wales as a library and community hub. It stands in a small park at the junction of Penlline Road, Park Road and Velindre Road in the north of the city. The library opened as a Carnegie library in 1904. In front of the library stands the Whitchurch War Memorial which commemorates the men of the community who died in the First and Second World Wars. Both the library and the memorial are Grade II listed buildings.
History
The site of Whitchurch Library and the park in which it stands, were obtained by the then Whitchurch Parish Council in 1899. The land was gifted by the Corporation of Cardiff in return for the parish council’s cooperation in the establishment of Whitchurch Hospital.{{cite web|url= https://www.cardiffparks.org.uk/otheropenspaces/whitchurchlibrary/info/index.shtml|title=History of Whitchurch Library Gardens|publisher=Cardiff Parks and Gardens - Cardiff City Council|access-date=15 March 2025}} In the same year the council made a funding application to the Carnegie Foundation for the establishment of a Carnegie library, but approval, and money, were not received until the early 20th century. The library, designed by the Cardiff-based architectural firm R & S Williams and costing £2000, opened in 1904.{{Cadw|num=26715|desc=Whitchurch Free Library|grade=II|access-date=15 March 2025}}
The library operates a book loan service and as a community hub.{{cite web|url= https://cardiffhubs.co.uk/hub/whitchurch-hub|title=Whitchurch Hub|publisher=Cardiff City Council|access-date=15 March 2025}}
Architecture and description
The library is built of red brick with Bath stone ashlar dressings. Cadw describes the architectural style as "Flemish Baroque". John Newman considered it "thumpingly Jacobean".{{sfn|Newman|1995|p=314}} The interior has been subject to reconfiguration in the early 21st century as part of its conversion to a community and well-being hub,{{cite web|url= https://fglibrary.co.uk/whitchurch-hub/|title=Whitchurch Hub|publisher=fg library and learning|access-date=15 March 2025}} and Cadw considers it is now "featureless".
Both the library and the memorial are Grade II listed buildings.{{Cadw|num=26714|desc=Whitchurch War Memorial|grade=II|access-date=15 March 2025}}
Whitchurch War Memorial
The war memorial stands directly in front of the library. It was constructed circa 1923 and consists of an obelisk on a stepped plinth, surmounted by a bronze effigy of a soldier. It was dedicated on 8 December 1923, with an unveiling ceremony led by the Earl of Plymouth,{{cite web|url=https://www.cardiffparks.org.uk/otheropenspaces/whitchurchlibrary/info/warmemorial.shtml|title=Whitchurch War Memorial|publisher=Cardiff Parks - Cardiff City Council|access-date=15 March 2025}} to commemorate the dead of Whitchurch resulting from the First World War and was rededicated on 26 September 1948 to commemorate the dead of the Second.{{cite web|url= https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/6724 |title=Whitchurch Serviceman Statue|publisher=Imperial War Museum|access-date=15 March 2025}} The names of 280 men are inscribed on the sides of the monument.{{Cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/heartbreaking-stories-one-parish-lost-15393348|title=The stories from one parish that lost 125 men in World War One|first=Cathy|last=Owen|date=11 November 2018|work=Wales Online|accessdate=15 March 2025}}{{efn|Among those commemorated on the memorial is Captain Johnny Williams, who played rugby union for Wales between 1906 and 1911, becoming the team’s highest point scorer. He died at Mametz Wood in 1916 and is buried in France.}} The memorial was restored in the early 21st century.{{Cite web|url=https://warmemorialconservation.com/2024/06/13/whitchurch-war-memorial/|title=Whitchurch War Memorial|first=Ben|last=Wright|date=13 June 2024|publisher=War Memorial Conservation Co.|accessdate=15 March 2025}}
Footnotes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book| last = Newman| first = John| author-link = John Newman (architectural historian)
| year = 1995
| title = Glamorgan
| series=The Buildings of Wales
| url = https://www.worldcat.org/title/1243807469
| publisher = Penguin
| location = London, UK
| isbn = 978-0-140-71056-4
}}
Category:Grade II listed buildings in Cardiff
Category:Public libraries in Cardiff