Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

ABBOT STREET, CENTRAL LIBRARYLB25979

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
B
Date Added
12/01/1971
Local Authority
Fife
Planning Authority
Fife
Burgh
Dunfermline
NGR
NT 09091 87344
Coordinates
309091, 687344

Description

J C Walker 1881-83, extended by James Shearer 1914-21; further extension by Stone Design Ltd of Stirling, 1990-93. 2 and 3-storey and basement rectangular-plan library comprising 2 adjoining rectangular-plan blocks. Original building Gothic Revival; extended in stripped Renaissance style to S/along St Margaret St; emphasis to corners of each block; bartizans and pavilion roof to original section; French pavilion roof and Dutch gable to NE corner of extension. Coursed stugged sandstone with polished sandstone ashlar dressings. Base course to principal elevations of both sections; moulded band courses between storeys to earlier section. Stopped roll-moulded surrounds to principal windows to earlier section (roll-mouldings to upper windows terminate at nook shafts with foliate capitals); moulded surrounds to principal windows to extension.

N (ABBOT ST) ELEVATION: asymmetrical composition. 3-storey entrance bay stepped forward as tower to left. Central entrance with shallow gabled porch with crocketted finial; gablehead inscribed 'THE GIFT OF ANDREW CARNEGIE ESQ TO HIS NATIVE CITY - THE MEMORIAL STONE WAS LAID BY THE DONOR'S MOTHER 27TH JULY 1881'. Moulded Gothic arch inscribed 'CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY' beneath hoodmould. Caernarvon-arched entrance set back with flanking nook-shafts of 2 orders with foliate capitals; tympanum carved with scene of rising sun and motto 'LET THERE BE LIGHT'; earlier 20th century 2-leaf glazed timber door. 2-light window above. Central 3rd floor window set beneath shouldered gable with carved panel and gableted pinnacle; decorative wrought iron finial. Flanking octagonal bartizans, each with single light window to 3 outer faces; shafts with foliate capitals in between; capitals linked by band course to central window. Carved and moulded bands to lower sections of bartizans; moulded cornices and conical roofs with wrought iron finials; linking machicolated band at lower level. 3 bays set back to right; 2 bays projecting to outer right; 2-light mullion window to each; bracketed eaves cornice. Pavilion roof above 2 outer right bays.

E ELEVATION: 3-storey single-bay elevation of original building to right. Pair of windows to ground floor; narrow basement window below to left. Single window above to right; small 2-light mullion window with long and short surrounds to outer left; panel carved with intertwining initials 'J C W' in between. 2-light mullion dormer window with shouldered gable and carved finial to 3rd floor. 3-storey tower-like stair bay of later section projects forward to left; chamfered at corners to upper stage with parapet-like eaves cornice surmounted by French pavilion roof. Pair of ground floor windows with roll-moulded surrounds. Breaking eaves centrepiece above comprising pair of vertically banded stair windows set back within pilastered surround surmounted by 5-tier Dutch gable. Right window stepped up at cill level; horizontal ashlar bands to right of bay at junction between 2 cills. Windows set back within segmental arches to either side of shared central pilaster; plinth-like panels at bottom of pilasters; flanking moulded outer bands surmounted by segmental-plan ledges supporting carved figures. Wide transom carved with heraldic insignia with flanking initials (respectively R R and M R) to centre of each window; narrower plain upper transom to left window. Projecting cills to both windows; decorative wrought iron balustrade to that to left. Gable inscribed '19-15' and 'A C' (intertwined) at base; flanking panelled obelisk pinnacles set at angle; both with wrought iron finials. Small architraved 1st floor window and piended dormer with overhanging eaves and swept sides to right return. 3 bays to left; 4-light mullion and transom window to ground floor and 2-light mullion window above to each. Polychromatic band courses link stair bay to lintels of windows to left. Inserted openings to basement (some blocked). Pair of plain horizontal panels above 1st floor windows. Obelisk pinnacle surmounted by carving of lion with shield to outer left of eaves.

S ELEVATION: later section adjoins 1990's extension to E. Blank elevation to W; harled above coursed rubble; ashlar base course. Stepped ashlar buttresses. Gable to left.

W ELEVATION: gable end of original section linked to No 5 Abbot St via late 20th century enclosed walkway. Later section to S harled over ashlar basement. Bands of windows linked horizontally at upper levels by band courses across cills and lintels; 2-light mullion windows to basement and 1st floor; 4-light mullion and transom windows to ground floor (one to 1st floor). Outer right bay stepped up slightly with pyramidal roof.

Mainly 3-pane timber sash and case windows to original section; single 2 and 3-pane metal frames with pivot sections to extension. Grey slate roofs where visible. Pair of gablehead stacks to S of extension (one harled) and one with projecting flue and moulded cornice to W of original section; narrow ridge stack (an addition) to E; round cans.

INTERIOR: glazed tunnel vault to part of extension. Half-turn main staircase to early 20th century extension with decorative wrought-iron baulstrade by Thomas Hadden (to architect's design). Timber panelling with carved decoration including Jacobethan mantelpiece to S of main staircase may have been moved from original section.

Statement of Special Interest

The first of the public libraries in Scotland to be donated by Andrew Carnegie. It was built after the Town Council had agreed to adopt the Free Libraries Act, which enabled councils to levy a rate of one penny to finance the library service. The initials JCW and AC carved on the exterior would appear to refer to J C Walker (the architect) and Andrew Carnegie.

References

Bibliography

John Gifford, FIFE, in the 'Buildings of Scotland' series (1988) p188; Bert McEwan, DUNFERMLINE - OUR HERITAGE (1988) pp47-49.

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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Printed: 28/03/2024 20:12