In 1887, the Lord Howard of Glossop, donated a piece of land to seven public spirited men who had put together a sum of four thousand pounds in order to construct “a building for the people”. The Lord Howard then gave a decree stating: “this land must always house a public library” which remains so to this day.
Daniel Wood and Samuel Wood were among the first of sponsors to donate money. As the word spread a cross the town, Herbert Rhodes of Mersey Mills stepped forward and injected a sum of two thousand pounds into the pot. Captain E. Partington of Turnlee Mills was next clearly stating that there should be a Public Library, Reading Room and a Hall. The construction of the hall began and the foundation stones were laid by Herbert Rhodes and Captain E. Partington in July 1887 with a presentation to the public.
The building was completed in 1888 to an extremely high standard along with a prominent bell tower. The tower possesses the towns and Dukes crest entwined together carved into its stone work along with the faces of Rhodes and Partington. There were plans to add a bell at a later date in order to “broadcast” the public space but this never came to be. On the first floor was an Assembly Hall enabled to accommodate 450 people suitable for concerts, dances and meetings. On the ground floor an impressive large, open and free, public library. The building commemorated the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, hence the name Victoria Hall, and was officially opened on 20th December 1888.
To this day as you step into through the doors to the library you are greeted with the impressive yellow and pink stained glass windows high above the doors to Victoria Hall which are mirrored on the opposite (closed) entrance on the right side of the building. There is an inspiring tile mosaic on the floor of the entrance, of the Glossop Crest. An everlasting reminder that it was built to serve the people of Glossop.This handsome building sits proudly on Talbot Street and Glossop Library is still a great asset to the town used and treasured by many of us.
By Matthew Cox
Originally Published 08/12/2011
No comments:
Post a Comment