The building was designed Henry Cheers, an Architect from Twickenham. The Library was officially opened on 29 July 1902. It was built in the late Victorian style incorporating a mixture of idiosyncratic Gothic and classical features. It was declared a National Monument under old NMC legislation on 7 December 1973.
Reviewed 10 June 2016, Jilldutoit
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
This imposing building which is CLOSED for the forseeable future, is situated in Market Square and designed in the Victorian Gothic style, has been closed for some time, in order that vital maintenance work be done. Therefore it is not at all possible to gain entry into the building, either as a tourist or a library card holder.
The librarian in charge of the Africana Section is the only one permitted access to the reference section for an hour each weekday morning; no other person is permitted access.
So unfortunately, all one can do is admire this beautiful old building's street facade and admire the newly cleaned up statue of Queen Victoria.
