CHRISTCHURCH SKETCH-BOOK—I Public Library Was Built Ninety Years Ago

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31653, 13 April 1968, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH SKETCH-BOOK—I Public Library Was Built Ninety Years Ago

(Specially written tor '‘The Press” by J. A. HENDRY, F.N.Z.I.AJ The story of the Canterbury Public Library goes back to the founding, in Glasgow, of courses of lectures for working men by George Birbeck, physician. These led to the * establishing in 1823 of the Glasgow Mechanics’ Institute and of a similar one in London in 1824. Such an institute was envisaged here by Charles J. Rae who, in 1852, called a public meeting for that purpose in the Christchurch Grammar School. It was to be “an exclusively literary and scientific affair,” but failed through lack of support. However, in 1859, after the editor of the “Lyttelton Times” had advocated a Mechanics Institute and Book Club, Rae again took up the challenge, this time with considerable success, for the project was established later that year. After many vicissitudes, during which the present half-acre block was bought in 1862 for £262 10s, and a timber building erected on

the corner of Hereford Street and Cambridge Terrace, the Literary Institute as it was then called came under the management of Canterbury College in 1873. The property,

vested in the Provincial Council, was absorbed into the college holdings upon the dissolution of the provincial governments in 1876 and it was not until 1948, after many years of negotiation, that the property and the library were handed over to the City Council. W. B. Armson was the architect of the delightful building of the sketch, which was built for £2579 in 1875. It is an interesting study in brick with stone dressings and delightful carved stone roundels. The slate roof rises from an interesting eave and is crowned with a pleasant timber and tiled lantern surmounted with cast iron finials. The whole concept is restrained with emphasis on windows and lantern and with the years the various materials have weathered to produce a simple, harmonious whole. (With acknowledgement to D. E. Wood, “Thesis on Public Library”)