Ipswich County Library

Ipswich County Library is a Grade II Listed building in Ipswich, Suffolk.^[2] The building still serves as a public library as part of the Suffolk Libraries service.

Ipswich County Library
Alternative names	Ipswich Public Library, Ipswich Library
General information
Location	Ipswich, Suffolk
Coordinates	52.0586792°N 1.1516791°E / 52.0586792; 1.1516791
Year(s) built	February 1921[1]
Opened	3 September 1924[1]
Owner	Suffolk County Council
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Henry Munro Cautley
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name	Ipswich Public Library
Designated	15 December 1977
Reference no.	1236725[2]

History

The building was designed by notable Ipswich architect, Henry Munro Cautley. Construction began in February 1921, and was officially opened to the public on the 3rd September 1924.^[1]

The site of the building, and some of the funding for its construction, was donated by Alderman William Paul. The remaining funding was provided by the Carnegie Trust, who granted £22,500 towards construction in 1917.^[3]

The Library was refurbished by Suffolk County Council in 1994.^[4]

Architectural significance

The building is a mixture of Tudor and Gothic revival architectural styles. One of the most significant features being the 100ft long Northgate Room,^[5] which serves as the library’s reference room, and contains several coloured glass windows which depict famous historic figures.^[6]