Tyne and Wear HER(8977): Newcastle, Westgate Road, Literary and Philosophical Society - Details
8977
Newcastle
Newcastle, Westgate Road, Literary and Philosophical Society
Newcastle
NZ26SW
Recreational
Art and Education Venue
library
Early Modern
C19
Extant Building
Private library and society rooms. 1822 by John Green; stone mason John Ions of Gateshead. Sandstone ashlar; roof not visible. Greek revival style. 3 storeys, 3 bays under pediment. Moulded plinths; rusticated ground floor with wide square stone steps
to double door recessed behind fluted Ionic columns; Voussoirs to this and to
flanking aproned sashes. First-floor sashes in architraves, with cornices, the central
bracketed; projecting sills to square second-floor sashes; all windows have glazing
bars. Top entablature with triglyphs and guttae. Ends set back and entablature
follows. 1885 addition of rear wing at right-angles obscured by Bolbec Hall (q.v.).
Interior shows much classical stucco ornament on friezes; wrought-iron balconies
and spiral stair to library gallery; low-domed roof lights with glazing bars. Extension
at rear with similar-style interior 1888/9 by A.B. Gibson. Sculpture collection
includes busts of Bewick 1825 by Bailey, of Rev. Turner 1829 by Bailey; of George
Stephenson 1832 by Moore; of Robert Stephenson 1855 by Wyon; and statue of James Losh
1836 by Lough. LISTED GRADE 2*
2481
6392
NZ24816392
Department of National Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historic Interest, 23/591; Robert W. Rennison, 2006, The Lit and Phil library in Tyneside's Finest, pp 54-55; Thomas Oliver, 1844, Historical and Descriptive Reference to the Public Buildings on the Plan of the Borough of Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead; Grace McCombie, 2009, Newcastle and Gateshead - Pevsner Architectural Guide, p. 30, 116-7; PLB Consulting Ltd, 2006, Conservation Management Plan for the North East Institute