Benwell Library, Atkinson Road

Located on land gifted by local landowner, Frank Buddle Atkinson, the Carnegie Branch Public Library was built in 1908 and funded by the Carnegie Foundation. The library was originally planned by the Benwell & Fenham District Council, however, Benwell was incorporated into Newcastle in 1904. As a result, the building was designed by the Newcastle Corporation architect, F. H. Holford, and built by Jacob Parkinson & Sons. he Benwell Carnegie Library was the first in Newcastle where the public could select books themselves from the shelves rather than from printed catalogues. On the ground floor there was a large semi-circular lending department and upstairs a lecture room. The building was refurbished in the 1990 and the library was moved to new West End Library on Condercum Road in 2009. The building is currently occupied by a number of local charitable groups LOCAL LIST