Leeds Central Library - Marble & Granite

Pink Peterhead and grey Rubislaw granites

On entering Leeds Central Library by the main door on Calverley Street, the visitor is immediately presented with a view of a large security screen but, once this impression is dispelled, it becomes apparent that the lobby is full of columns and pilasters built out of various Devon marbles. 

Columns and pilasters made from Devon 'marble'

Of Devonian age, these are highly polished limestones rather than true marbles and, along with Derbyshire crinoidal limestone and Scottish granites, were highly valued as ornamental stones by Victorian architects and were lavishly used in very many buildings where money was no object. 

Columns and pilasters

In the plinths, I only recognised black Ashburton Marble with its distinctive red patches and white veining that, together with its fossil sponges and corals, makes it quite distinctive but the shafts and capitals are lighter in colour; however, even the late Francis G. Dimes goes only as far as describing these as Devon marble in “The Building Stone Heritage of Leeds”. 

The doorway into the entrance hall

The stonework of the doors into the entrance hall gives the impression of being very dirty, and contains panels of Devon marble similar to those seen in the column shafts and surrounds made in dark Nottingham alabaster, which have been finely carved. 

Peterhead and Rubislaw granites

Passing through these doors, there are more columns – this time made of two types of Scottish granite. The shafts are pink Peterhead granite, as previously seen outside the main entrance and grey Rubislaw granite, both of which were used extensively in the 19th century and very often together in the same building. 

Various Devon marbles

On the double staircase that rises to an atrium, further examples of similar Devon marble columns can be seen at each floor level and, as in the lobby, some are obviously black Ashburton Marble, with others not being identified. For window sills and seats on the staircase, another very different type has been used – this time dark grey and white - but again there is no further information about its provenance. 

Devonian limestone and ceramic tiles

All of the marbles and granites described are now no longer quarried, as is the case with very many others from the British Islands that were very popular with the Victorians, and it is therefore essential that public buildings in Leeds – and others such as the Town Hall and Central Library in Sheffield – are well conserved, because nothing like them will ever be built again.

A Peterhead granite column with a Caen stone Corinthian capital