1883 – Free Library & Museum, Union Street, Oldham, Lancashire

Grade II listed. The main part of the building was officially opened in August 1883 though it was not until two years later that the library was opened to the public. The final cost of the building far exceeded the original estimate of some £8,000. Eventually the architect sued a councillor for slander after claiming that he deliberately overrun the budget.

“In this competition the Corporation have selected the design marked ” F.S.A.,” submitted by Mr. Thomas Mitchell, F.R.I.B.A , of Oldham and Manchester, for the first premium, £100, and the design marked ” Practical ” (Messrs. Wright and Rawcliff), of Burnley) for the second place, £50. There are 26 competitors altogether, and the limit of cost was £8,000. The premiated design follows the general arrangement indicated in the instructions, and showed, on the ground -floor, beyond the entrance hall, a library, placed centrally between reference-room and periodical-room, and the spaces between are filled by screens, glazed with cathedral tinted glass, allowing of supervision.” Perspective including ground & 1st floor plan from The Building News, November 11th 1881.