Restoration of the Old Stourbridge Library

February 2009 - Stourbridge.com brings you the first photos of the renovation work currently taking place at the Old Library under the supervision of architects BBLB. At the same time the Old Library, one of the most important buildings in Stourbridge town centre, is undergoing a state of the art renovation in which we can all be proud. BBLB will be taking over most of the 26,000 square feet of space and the remainder will be available to let for other businesses.

The Old Library is an extraordinary building, it does not have conventional foundations but is built directly onto the sandstone bedrock that is such a feature of the Stourbridge area. For a 105 year old building it is structurally very sound. In the 1930's an extension was built to the library, including the distinctive clock tower, but it is difficult to identify the newer parts from the original structure.

The old library was built in 1905 and paid for by Andrew Carnegie, at the time the richest man in the world. He was the ultimate benefactor, giving away $350 million during his lifetime to causes around the world, particularly for public libraries, which he saw as a means of self eduction for the common man.

Please click on the thumbnail images below to view larger versions, these were taken during the restoration of the building.