NHER 62803 (Building record) - The Carnegie Library

The Norfolk Heritage Explorer is a filtered version of the Norfolk HER intended for casual research. Please to consult the full record.

See also further .

Summary

A Gothic style building of 1904 with Arts and Crafts details. Built of red brick and cut carstone, with terracotta dressings, it has a parapetted three storey tower over a Gothic entrance with an armorial panel and buttresses. One storey abutting wings have Gothic rampart parapets containing inscribed terracotta tablets with the names of authors. The tower was apparently used as a lookout station during World War One, and graffiti on the parapet records the names of soldiers who served there.

Protected Status/Designation

Location

Map sheet TF61NW
Civil Parish KING’S LYNN, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Map

Formerly recorded under NHER 1204.

The library was built in 1904 by H.J. Green in Gothic style with Arts and Crafts details. Three storey tower over Gothic entrance, with canted oriel, armorial panel and buttresses. Single storey abutting wings with Gothic parapets, with large projecting canted bays and buttresses between windows rising to pinacles.
Terracotta used for details.
Listed grade II in 1982 (S1).
See also (S2).
E. Rose (NAU), 24 June 1987.

October 1996. Suggestion of relocating all or part of library met with local opposition.
See press cutting (S3) in file.
E. Rose (NLA).

The tower was used as a lookout station during the First World War, by soldiers from the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars, the Royal Bucks Hussars and the Royal Defence Corps. Many of the soldiers carved their names into the parapet, most of which survive. Library staff have traced the fate of many of the individuals named there.
K. Hamilton (HES), 13 October 2016.

  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1195423.
  • <S2> Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, B. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 478.
  • <S3> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1996. Letter to the editor - Old library must be kept. 10 October.

Object Types (0)

Record last edited

Mar 18 2025 12:20AM

Comments and Feedback

Your feedback is welcome; if you can provide any new information about this record, please contact the Norfolk Historic Environment Record.