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Central Library and Archives, Square Road, Halifax

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Central Library and Archives, Square Road, Halifax

The current Central Library and Archives building, opened in August 2017.

Author: Calderdale Libraries
Date: 12 August 2019
Location: Halifax
Format: Photograph - Colour
Document ID: 102756
Library ID:

The current Central Library & Archives building in Halifax incorporates what remains of the 1857 Square Congregational Church, with its magnificent, soaring spire.

Square Congregational Church occupied the site for 112 years, between 1857 and 1969. Walking round the inside of the library, there is much evidence of the church – from the view of the spire through a skylight window to the rose window and small features in carved stone.

Square Church was built when the congregation outgrew Square Chapel, dating from 1772, and with the new church, the Chapel became its Sunday School. For years, the new church was filled to capacity and annual Church Manuals detail the congregation’s involvement in the town’s life, in education, temperance, helping the poor, supporting charities and, in World War One, sending parcels to service personnel and supporting refugees. In 1969, however, declining numbers, in an area of Halifax that had become run down and depopulated, resulted in closure. Between 1971 and 1973, 2 fires and a gale destroyed much of the church and left it unsafe. In 1976, all but the spire, steeple and certain walls were demolished.

For many years, the future of the site was very uncertain but, ultimately, it was identified as a location for a new Central Library and Archives. This opened in August 2017, to the design of Edinburgh architects LDN.

This is the fourth site of a municipal central library in Halifax. The first opened in the Assembly Rooms in Harrison Road in 1881.Constant overcrowding, however, led to a replacement in Belle Vue Mansion, Hopwood Lane, bought from Sir Francis Crossley, who had earlier paid for Square Church spire. Belle Vue opened as a library in 1890. The desire for a more central location led to the construction of purpose-built premises in Northgate, which opened in January 1983. The library moved to the current site as part of the town centre development strategy.

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