Plymouth Public Library 1831

A steel line engraving of Plymouth Public Library, by W. le Petit after T. Allom, published by Fisher, Son & Co., 1831.

Somers cocks print number 2163.

Engraving depicts a neoclassical interior with an oculus at the centre. Shelves full of books can be seen on the right and left and back walls. Some figures can be seen seated at a table in the centre, reading.

Plymouth Public Library was first established in 1810, and first held at Plymouth's former Guildhall. After funds were raised by the proprietors, a new purpose-built site was opened on Cornwall Street in 1812, designed by local architect John Foulston. The library was built in a Greek Revival style, and this engraving shows the classical interior of the Reading Room, complete with a central cupola and pilasters. After the original building was hit by an incendiary bomb in March 1941, a sad event which also destroyed around 35,000 books, the library has since re-located twice. It is currently housed at a former Doctor's surgery, and is now known, as it has been since 1881, as the Plymouth Proprietary Library.

A previous hand wrongly identifies this print as an image of Exeter (see pen inscription at base).

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