The First Birmingham Municipal library was built on land purchased by the Council from The Birmingham Midland Institute. Who were already building their institute which was to include a public library it was decided that they would enjoin to build the one public library. The BMI had engaged E.M.Barry to design the library but the Council said that he was too expensive so William Martin was chosen to design all but the frontage.
The library opened in 1865, but in 1879 whilst building an extension to the library a fire broke destroying the library and 50,000 reference books. The library was rebuilt by Martin & Chamberlain and reopened in 1882. The inside was fitted out with all the usual Victorian elegance.
By the late 30’s the library had become too small to house all the books that were needed and the building of a new library was authorised but it wasn’t until the late 60’s when the building of a new inner ring road forced the closure and demolition of this Victorian Gem.
The last couple of images of the old Central Library.