The magnificent Victorian Gothic style old Main Library building is situated next to Market Square in Port Elizabeth's city centre. Constructed in 1902, the building's terracotta facade was manufactured in England, shipped to Port Elizabeth in numbered blocks and rebuilt piece by piece on the present site. The statue of Queen Victoria standing in front of the library building is made of Sicilian marble and was erected and unveiled in 1903 to celebrate the queen's Diamond Jubilee which took place in 1897. Inside the library has a number of magnificent stained glass windows which is well worth seeing. 
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Public Library
The magnificent Victorian Gothic style old Main Library building is situated next to Market Square in Port Elizabeth's city centre. Constructed in 1902, the building's terracotta facade was manufactured in England, shipped to Port Elizabeth in numbered blocks and rebuilt piece by piece on the present site. The statue of Queen Victoria standing in front of the library building is made of Sicilian marble and was erected and unveiled in 1903 to celebrate the queen's Diamond Jubilee which took place in 1897. Inside the library has a number of magnificent stained glass windows which is well worth seeing. 
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What a great building. Very stately. Your photo with all the activity makes it more real to us.
ReplyDeleteLove this place. Spent many a Saturday morning here. I love the smell of the books and the old dark staircases and narrow verandahs. Do you have any pics of the inside?
ReplyDeleteSuch a marvelous old building to house books of learning.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that the terracotta tiles for the facade were delayed due to the Boer War? And that inside id a WWI memorial as well? I love the Library and visit whenever I'm in PE. Thanks Firefly!
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