Cardiff Free Library Competition

An architectural competition held to choose a design for the new Cardiff Free Library. The winning design was by architects James, Seward and Thomas, and the building was erected between 1880 and 1882, it was opened on 31 May 1882 by the Mayor of Cardiff. The Schools of Science and Art were housed in the building until 1890 when they moved to buildings that were part of the University College. The museum contents moved to the National Museum of Wales in 1923. The building subsequently became simply Cardiff Library until it closed in 1988.