Free Public Library

From Memorials of Liverpool....second edition, revised, with additions.

Under an Act passed in 1855 the property on both sides was purchased and taken down, the crest of the hill still farther lowered, and the alignment of the street removed farther to the south, so as to skirt the margin of St. John's Churchyard. The open land thus gained was availed of for a very useful purpose. Early in 1850 the scheme of establishing a Free Public Library was brought before the town-council by Mr. J.A. Picton, and, after some inquiry, was adopted. The first location of the Library was in Duke Street, in the ci-devant Union Newsroom, which was opened on October 18, 1852. The success of the institution was so great as to lead to a proposal for the erection of a larger and more central building, which was still further required for the reception of the Museum of Natural History belonging to the thirteenth Earl of Derby, who died in 1851, and bequeathed his collections to the town.

A large piece of land was appropriated for the site, and competition plans were advertised for. This led, as frequently happens, to considerable difference of opinion and difficulty in carrying out the scheme. At this juncture, Mr. (afterwards Sir William) Brown, nobly stepped forward, and undertook to defray the expense of the building, the Corporation providing the land. This was gratefully accepted, and the present building was erected from the designs of Mr. John Weightman, at that time architect and surveyor to the Corporation. On April 15, 1856, the first stone was laid by Mr. Brown with great eclat (the e has an accent on- website owner), in the presence of the Bishop of Chester and many other distinguished guests. This was followed by a grand banquet at St. George's Hall, Mr. Alderman Holme presiding in the absence of the mayor (Mr. F. Shand). The new building was opened on October 18, 1860, with even greater rejoicings than at the previous celebration. One very interesting feature in the proceedings was the presence of the venerable Lord Brougham, who had just completed his eightieth year, but who entered into the spirit of the scene with a vigour and eloquence worthy of his best days.

The building is spacious and handsome, and admirably adapted for the purposes of the institution. Its position and aspect are all that could be desired. Standing on a commanding eminence facing the south, with a large open unobstructed area in front, the view of the town from the portico is singularly striking. The contiguous locality is the finest in Liverpool, architecturally speaking. St. George's Hall, the Free Library, the commanding facade (the c has an accent under it- website owner) of the Railway Hotel, the Alexandra Theatre, the Wellington Column, the equestrian statues of the Queen and the Prince Consort, form an artistic group which we might travel far to see surpassed. Soon after the opening of the building, the name of the street was changed, by a vote of the Council, from Shaw's Brow to William Brown Street.

Should the above be of interest to you, you are advised to view the original article, as this is not necessarily an exact 'transcript.'