Barry Council Office and Library

Barry Council Office and Library is an Edwardian civic building and public library on King Square in Barry, in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It once housed the town hall and the offices of the local council; today it is best known as the town library, and the building holds Grade II listed status.

What is this building?

It combines council offices and a library under one roof. For years it was the meeting place of Barry Municipal Borough Council, and from the start it was also meant to serve residents as a library. In the heritage register it appears as Barry Municipal Buildings and Library, and it is often simply called Barry Library.

How did it come about?

In 1903 a design competition was held for a new block of offices for the Barry council. The architects Charles E. Hutchinson and E. Harding Payne produced the design, in the style known as Edwardian Baroque. The Andrew Carnegie trust awarded a grant of £8,000 toward the library element. The building was completed in 1908. A planned second phase of the town hall was never started, which is why the structure is more modest than the original scheme envisaged.

Why is the square called King Square?

When the town hall opened in 1908, the square in front of it was known as Council Square. In 1910 it was proposed to rename it King Edward Square after Edward VII. However, the proclamation ceremony for George V had been held on the square the month before, so it was given the simpler name King Square, which suits both monarchs and a notable moment in the town's history.

Heritage status

Cadw, the Welsh historic environment service, listed the building at Grade II on 21 August 1979 (reference 13404). Grade II marks a building of special architectural or historic interest. For Barry, a town that grew quickly with the arrival of its docks and railways, it stands out as one of the most representative examples of early twentieth-century public architecture.

Today

At the start of the twenty-first century the building was restored and a new wing was added to provide a modern library. The historic frontage keeps its character, while the interior serves present-day readers. The library is open to the public and works as a local hub for reading and information.

Frequently asked questions

Where is it? On King Square in the centre of Barry, in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales.

Is it still the town hall? It served as the town hall and council seat, but today it is chiefly known as the public library.

Who designed it? Charles E. Hutchinson and E. Harding Payne, in Edwardian Baroque style.

Is it a listed building? Yes, it is Grade II listed.

Is it worth a visit? Yes, if you are interested in early twentieth-century architecture, the history of Welsh industrial towns, or in seeing how an old civic building was combined with a modern library.