2 PUBLIC LIBRARY, PLYMOUTH. 



Theatre, the Athenaeum being the left. Twenty 

 years ago however, it never entered into the imagi- 

 nations of persons in general that Plymouth would 

 have travelled Westward so far and so fast. Instead 

 of so many new streets being added, it was confi- 

 dently phophesied at the close of the war that the 

 grass would grow in those already built. But how 

 different the fact from the prediction ! The newly- 

 erected Hotel was then in the fields. The germ of 

 the Plymouth Institution and its Athenaeum in em- 

 bryo ; and the ground which was then a void spot 

 on the North side of Cornwall Street, was chosen as 

 a suitable and central one for the Library. 



The Library is one of the earliest if not one of the 

 most favourable specimens of Mr. Foulston's architec- 

 tural taste and skill. In adapting a classical elevation 

 to the purpose of the institution, the architect judici- 

 ously selected one of a monumental character, and 

 thus imparted to a building in the midst of a popu- 

 lous and bustling town, an appropriate air of quiet 

 and seclusion. The front, as will be seen from the 

 annexed cut, has no windows, the several apartments 

 being lighted from the roof. A spacious vestibule, 

 having the news room on the one side, and the com- 

 mittee room on the other, leads to the principal apart- 

 ment or library. This is a spacious, lofty, and ele- 

 gant room, divided into two parts by an open corridor, 

 which affords access to the upper ranges of book 

 shelves. By judicious management the cupola which 

 lights the room is rendered highly ornamental. It 

 is supported by four beautifully curved segmental 

 arches, rising above the entablature, and the divisions 

 of the lantern are enriched by a series of fluted co- 

 lumns. The coup d'ceil of this room is very pleasing. 

 The collection of books which is yearly increasing is 

 we believe, somewhat within 6000 volumes, and has 

 of late been improved in character by the exclusion 

 of works of mere ephemeral interest. 



Not many years since, the affairs of this insti- 

 tution wore so unpromising an aspect, that shares 



