Everton Library

In 2009, Heritage Works was commissioned by Liverpool City Council to undertake an options appraisal study to explore the potential for reuse of the former Everton Library.

Executive Summary, Everton Library Feasibility Study, May 2009 [PDF 2.7Mb]

Following on from this study, the Trust has again been commissioned by Liverpool City Council to undertake a further piece of project development work in relation to this building. The building is a Grade 2 listed late Victorian library and technical school, and we have been asked to explore a project use around the theme of creative enterprise/cultural community hub/heritage skills training, and educational uses. Everton Ward has the highest percentage of worklessness of any Liverpool ward and so the potential of this project to achieve an economic impact in such a context is particularly important. This piece of development work is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2010.

The Study

The study considered a range of options for the site, including commercial, residential and a combination of various facilities, with the aim of turning a redundant building into an asset for the community.

Heritage Works started the study by developing a full understanding of Everton Library - its history, architecture, condition and place in the community - by means of site inspections, desktop research and stakeholder consultation.

Having gained an understanding of the circumstances that have contributed to the Library's redundancy, the team undertook an assessment of development options leading to identification of a preferred option for the listed building and adjacent sites.

The study provides a current condition survey of the building and indicates costs for its proper conservation repair and subsequent conversion. Sketch schemes and costs have been prepared for restoration and conversion of the building.

Options for the end uses for the Library have been investigated, taking into account the market in the area and the potential for new build development on the adjacent sites to provide cross-subsidy for the repair and conversion of the historic building. The study takes into account the context of the regeneration strategy for Everton and North Liverpool, and considers the impact of each option on the historic fabric.

A summary of the report can be downloaded:

Executive Summary, Everton Library Feasibility Study, May 2009 [PDF 2.7Mb]

Description

The property is located on the east side of St Domingo Road at the junction with Beacon Lane about two-and-a-half miles north east of Liverpool City Centre. The property lies in a predominantly residential area and is a short distance from Everton Park. The building lies within the Housing Market Renewal Initiative area.

The property comprises three parts: the former Everton Library a two-storey, Grade 2 listed building, and two brownfield sites, one directly abutting the Library to the north and the second site on the opposite side of Beacon Lane.

The Library was built in 1896 by Thomas Shelmerdine, and is constructed of brick and stone with a tiled roof on a triangular shaped site. The two-storey building has a substantial basement and a roof terrace. Architectural features include an octagonal corner turret at the corner of St Domingo Road/Beacon Lane and many decorative stone carved panels. Inside, the ground floor was originally laid out open-plan with a huge glass vaulted ceiling over the main reading room. In recent years, a number of partitions have been erected in the northern and southern parts of the building to create small offices.

Contributing to the complexity of the building is the fact that the first floor is split into two parts, accessed separately. The southern part comprises a large room and two smaller rooms and is accessed from the staircase in the octagonal turret. The northern part can be accessed from a spiral staircase from the main library and a second staircase on the northern side of the building. This part is split into six rooms and provides access to a gallery above the northern section of the library.

The northern staircase extends above the second floor to provide access to the roof, where spectacular views of the Mersey Estuary and towards Blackpool and the Pennines can be enjoyed.

The two adjacent sites were formerly used for municipal housing, demolished in recent years.

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