Atkinson Art Gallery and Library facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Atkinson (original building)
The combined building, with the former bank in the foreground
Location	Lord Street, Southport, Sefton, Merseyside, England
OS grid reference	SD 336 172
Built	1876–1878
Built for	Southport Corporation
Architect	Waddington and Son
Architectural style(s)	Neoclassical
Governing body	Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Website	https://www.theatkinson.co.uk
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated	15 November 1972
Reference no.	1379669
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The Atkinson is a special building in Southport, England. It's located on Lord Street and wraps around onto Eastbank Street. This building is actually two older buildings that were joined together. One part was originally an art gallery and library, which opened in 1878. The other part was a bank built in 1879. These two buildings were connected in 1923–24, and their insides were made into one big space.

The original art gallery and library building looks like ancient Greek and Roman buildings, a style called Neoclassical. The former bank building has a Renaissance style, which was popular in Europe from the 14th to 17th centuries. Today, The Atkinson combines the art gallery, library, and the Southport Arts Centre into one amazing place for everyone to enjoy. Both parts of The Atkinson are considered important historic buildings and are protected as Grade II listed buildings.

History of The Atkinson

The Atkinson was built because a man named William Atkinson wanted to help Southport. He was a cotton maker from Knaresborough who often visited Southport. In 1875, he gave £6,000 to start the project. The building was designed by Waddington and Son, architects from Burnley. It officially opened in 1878. Mr. Atkinson ended up donating a total of £15,000 for the building.

Later, in 1923–24, the building was made even bigger. It took over the bank next door, which had been built in 1879 for the Manchester and Liverpool District Bank. The inside of the combined building was updated in the late 1900s to connect everything smoothly. Since 2014, the library and art gallery have been part of the Southport Arts Centre, and the whole place is known as The Atkinson.

Building Design and Style

The Atkinson is made up of two distinct parts, each with its own unique architectural style.

Original Building's Look

The first part of The Atkinson, the original art gallery and library, is built from sandstone and has a slate roof. It's designed in the Neoclassical style, which means it looks like grand buildings from ancient Greece and Rome. It has three floors and a front with three main sections.

The middle section sticks out a bit. It has a main entrance with a round decoration above it. This round part has a carving of a female face, which represents "Thought." On either side of the entrance are tall, fancy columns. Above these columns is a flat section with "ATKINSON FREE LIBRARY" carved into it. At the very top is a triangular roof section, called a pediment. Inside this triangle, you can see carvings of figures representing Art, Science, Literature, Inspiration, and Commerce. The sections on the sides have large windows and carved panels showing things like Painting, Drama, and Science. All these detailed carvings were done by an artist named G. W. Seale.

Former Bank's Look

The second part of The Atkinson, which used to be a bank, is built from smooth sandstone blocks and also has a slate roof. It's designed in the Renaissance style. This part has three main floors and a smaller attic floor at the very top. Each floor gets a little smaller as you go up. It has three sections facing Lord Street and seven sections facing Eastbank Street.

On the ground floor, there are decorative flat columns, called pilasters, between and next to the sections. Above these are decorative bands and ledges. The floors above also have pairs of smaller columns with leafy tops. Along the very top of the building is a decorative railing, and in the middle of each side, there's an attic window with a triangular top. Some parts of the ground floor have round-topped doorways with fancy carvings. Other sections have tall windows. The middle floor has two round-topped windows in each section, and the top floor has two windows with curved tops. Inside, the old banking hall still has its original ceiling with square patterns and a fireplace that looks like it belongs in a medieval castle.

What You Can Find Inside Today

Today, the ground floor of the former bank building is used as a public library. On the floors above, you'll find a museum and spaces for exhibitions. These areas display many different collections, including beautiful fine art, decorative art, and historical items. There are also special exhibitions about Egyptology, which is the study of ancient Egypt. The arts centre is also part of this big complex, all known as The Atkinson.

Why The Atkinson is Important

Both parts of The Atkinson are officially recognized as Grade II listed buildings on the National Heritage List for England. This means they are considered "nationally important and of special interest." The original Atkinson Art Gallery and Library building was listed on November 15, 1972. The former bank building was listed later, on July 29, 1999. Grade II is the most common level of listing for historic buildings. The Atkinson Art Gallery and Library is also part of a group of other important Grade II listed buildings nearby, including Southport Town Hall and the Southport Arts Centre.

Gallery

See also

• Listed buildings in Southport