Blackpool Central Library is a beautiful building in its own right. If you like heritage and architecture it’s well worth popping in just to take a look at the inside of the building. Find it at Queens Street – not far from North Pier.
What’s at Blackpool Central Library
It’s also a well loved and much used community resource and full of all the usual things that you’d find inside any modern library, including:
- Books and talking books, papers and magazines
- Public access PCs with free access to the internet
- Printing, photocopying and scanning
- Local information
- Health information
- Local family and history centre
Opening times for Blackpool Central Library:
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 9.00am – 5.00pm |
| Wednesday | 9.00am – 5.00pm |
| Thursday | 9.00am – 7.00pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 10.00am – 4.00pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The address is:
Central Library
Queen Street
Blackpool, FY1 1PX
Telephone: 01253 478080
Email: central.library@blackpool.gov.uk
How Blackpool Central Library Began
As we said at the start of this page, if you like architecture and are interested in local history, you should call into this beautiful building.
From the moment you step into the door, you’ll see its original Victorian features and ornate staircase.
Just inside the entrance is this dedication plaque from the opening day.
Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie presented the library, built on land provided by the Corporation, to the Borough of Blackpool.
Then Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor WH Broadhead, opened it on 26 October 1911.
Cullen, Lochhead and Brown were the architects who designed it.
The History Centre at Blackpool Central Library
The History Centre at Blackpool Central Library preserves Blackpool’s incredible heritage collections.
Located on the first floor of Blackpool Central Library, it’s normally a local studies space and the viewing room for the heritage collections. However, it’s been closed since February 2020.
Following investigations into the conditions of the building on the first floor of Central Library, Blackpool Council made the decision to do a full roof replacement. It’s great news for the future of the History Centre – but will disrupt the heritage service while work is done. The library will remain open, but the History Centre will remain closed until works are complete.
Problems with the building
The History Centre closed in February 2020 to provide a storage refuge. Collections were moved here, evacuated from permanent storage due to significant water penetration through the ceiling of the store.
Deterioration of the roof was much worse than at first observed, with negative impact to the heritage service, adult and community learning, Blackpool Central Library and the Grundy Art Gallery.
Blackpool Council property service undertook extensive investigations and assessments and concluded that the building is suffering from water egress, largely due to age. Penetrative damp is coming from the guttering, flashing detailing and external pointing to the South and West elevations.
A full roof replacement is taking place. This will replace existing roof coverings, together with pointing, lead work and guttering.
More about the History Centre here
While you’re here…
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