Shrewsbury Library

Shrewsbury Town Public Library is housed in a historically important building situated on Castle Hill near Shrewsbury Castle. The building was the site of Shrewsbury School until 1882. It opened as the Library in 1983 following restoration work.^[1] ^[2]

Above the main entrance are two statues bearing the inscriptions "Philomathes" and "Polumathes". These portray the virtues "Lover of learning" and "Much learning" to convey the lesson that it is good to gain knowledge through a love of learning.

History of the building

The original school building was founded by King Edward VI in 1552. This is a timber-frame building, now at the rear of the present building. Additional stone buildings were added from 1594 to 1630.

Restoration work

The building required restoration work which was mainly done in the early 1980s. The projected cost was over £3million, one of the most expensive such works ever undertaken by the County COuncil.^[3] The library opened in 1983. The work included sand-blasting the main stonework, which looks more modern than 1630 as a result. Work was also done on the original timber-framed building, including repairs to the roof gables. Carvings were done by a local craftsman in the original Tudor style. These include a self-portrait at the apex of the north-facing gable. ^[4]

The library in the 21st century

The present day library (January 2009) is a light, airy and welcoming building. The architectural features may be clearly seen in all parts of the building. For example, the computer suite is housed in the ground floor of the timber-framed building. The large classrooms at the top of the building house a music library and a general library. The music library retains the original window cills and wall panels with the names of former pupils. The general library displays 46 heraldic crests of families who contributed towards the costs of the stone buildings.

References

^ Wall plaque by library entrance.
^ Shrewsbury Library - Its History and Restoration, Shropshire Libraries, 1983, ISBN 0 903802 26 0
^ Shrewsbury Library - Its History and Restoration, last page.
^ Information supplied by library staff, 24 January 2009.

Notes

Shrewsbury Library - Its History and Restoration, Shropshire Libraries, 1983, ISBN 0 903802 26 0. This booklet is a brief but very comprehensive guide to the buildings and the restoration work. 19th century photographs of the school rooms are included, as well as a copy of a painting from about 1630. (Cover price 50 pence; 1983)
Darwin attended the school.