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 cool building in Southport, England. It's on Lord Street and wraps around to Eastbank Street. This building is actually two older buildings joined together!

It used to be the Atkinson Art Gallery and Library, which opened in 1878. Right next to it was a bank, built in 1879. These two buildings were connected in 1923–24. Now, their insides are all one big space. The original building looks like ancient Greek and Roman temples (called Neoclassical style). The old bank has a grand, fancy look from the Renaissance period.

Today, the art gallery and library are part of the Southport Arts Centre. They are all known as The Atkinson. Both parts of the building are special and protected as "Grade II listed buildings" because of their history and design.

History of The Atkinson

The Atkinson building exists thanks to a generous gift from William Atkinson. He was a cotton maker from Knaresborough who often visited Southport. In 1875, he donated £6,000 to build it. The building was designed by Waddington and Son. It first opened its doors in 1878. William Atkinson ended up donating a total of £15,000 for the project.

In 1923–24, the building got bigger. It took over the bank next door, which was built in 1879 for the Manchester and Liverpool District Bank. Later in the 1900s, the inside of the combined building was updated. All the different parts were connected. Since 2014, the library and art gallery work together with the Southport Arts Centre. This whole place is now called The Atkinson.

Architecture and Design

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

Original Building Design

The first part of The Atkinson is built from sandstone with a slate roof. It has a Neoclassical style, which means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. It has three floors and a front with three sections, called "bays." The middle section sticks out a bit. It has a main entrance with a round carving above it. This carving shows a female bust that stands for "Thought."

On either side of the entrance are tall, fancy Corinthian columns. Above these columns is a flat section with "ATKINSON FREE LIBRARY" written on it. At the very top is a triangular part, called a pediment. Inside this triangle are carvings of Art, Science, Literature, Inspiration, and Commerce. The sections on the sides have foundation stones and windows. They also have carved pictures representing Painting, Drama, and Science. All these amazing carvings were made by G. W. Seale.

Former Bank Building Design

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

On the ground floor, there are flat, decorative columns called pilasters. They have fancy tops and support a decorative band and a ledge. The floors above also have pairs of smaller columns and ledges. Along the very top of the building is a decorative railing, called a balustraded parapet. There's also a window in the attic with a triangular top on each side.

The main entrances are grand, with curved tops and carved decorations. Most of the windows are tall with two sections. On the middle floor, each section has two round-topped windows. The top floor has two windows with curved tops in each section. Inside, the old banking hall still has its original plastered ceiling with square patterns, called a coffered ceiling. It also has a Gothic style fireplace.

What The Atkinson Is Today

Today, the ground floor of the old bank building is used as a public library. The floors above it are home to a museum and spaces for exhibitions. These areas display different collections, including beautiful fine art, decorative art, and historical items. There are even exhibits about Egyptology, which is the study of ancient Egypt! The arts centre is also part of this amazing complex known as The Atkinson.

Why The Atkinson Is Special

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 very important and have special historical or architectural value. 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. It's given to buildings that are "nationally important and of special interest." The Atkinson Art Gallery and Library is part of a group of other Grade II listed buildings nearby. These include the Southport Town Hall and the Southport Arts Centre.

Gallery

See also

• Listed buildings in Southport