Savage Memorial Hall - Public Library
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth),
Eastern Cape
Architect: Henry Arthur (Harry) CHEERS
Project Architect: Orlando MIDDLETON
| Savage Memorial Hall - Public LibraryGqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Architect: Henry Arthur (Harry) CHEERS |
 Front facade from market square |
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Coordinates: |
Notes: The erection of this library was made possible by a donation from the Estate of William Savage and a subsidy from the Colonial Government. (NM; SAB Jan 1925:13 ill; Dwgs, specs and bills now in possession of Meredith Woods, Johnson & Schrader, Port Elizabeth) |
References:
| Gaylard, Shaun & McDougall, Brett. 2022. RSA 365 : 365 Drawings of South African Architecture. Johannesburg: Blank Ink Design. pg 90, 91 ill |
| Picton-Seymour, Désirée. 1989. Historical Buildings in South Africa. Cape Town: Struikhof Publishers. pg 104 |
| Richardson, Deirdré. 2001. Historic Sites of South Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. pg 39 |
 Detail of main entrance  Foundation stone - 1900  Facade facing St Mary's Terrace  Front elevation  Aerial view  Main entrance  Detail of entrance with wrought iron gates  Facade detail  Side entrance  Side entrance  View through a side apse to main hall  View from side apse gallery to main hall  Stained and leaded glass skylight at junction of apse and main hall roofs  Africana room on piano nobile overlooking market square  Inside main entrance  Staircase  Interior  Interior  Interior Interior  Interior  Stained glass dome over central hall Interior  Library view to market square from main entrance  Memorial plaque in timber panel  Entrance to James Mathers Memorial Room  Stained glass window  Stained glass windows  Stained glass dome  Detail of bookshelf  Main hall with side apse and book stacks  Window seat in bay window  View from balcony |
 Architect's perspective sketch of library as it was built and opened in 1902. Prize winning design 1897. Depicts men's and women's fashions of 1897. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER
Click for larger image  Alternative design for the Library 1897. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER
Click for larger image  Working plans of the Public Library building, by Henry A. Cheers. Photocopies originals in (City Engineer's Dept.). Ground plan. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER
Click for larger image  Working plans of the Public Library building, by Henry A. Cheers. Photocopies (originals in City Engineer's Dept.). No.2 Gallery level. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER
Click for larger image  Working plans of the Public Library building, by Henry A. Cheers. Photocopies (originals in City Engineer's Dept.). Front elevation. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER
Click for larger image  Working plans of the Public Library building, by Henry A. Cheers. Photocopies (originals in City Engineer's Dept.). Side elevation. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER
Click for larger image  Drawing 12 of 365 by Shaun Gaylard  The Library in 1905, showing the Queen Victoria statue which was erected in 1903. In foreground, policeman in uniform of the time. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  South African Room, c, 1903. Baines' paintings not on display. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Colour picture-postcard of the South African Room in the library, c.1905. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  View of main hall in library, c. 1906-8, looking towards service counter. Shows Mr. F.W. Cooper, Librarian, and Percy Evans Lewin, Deputy Librarian, and three male assistants. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  View of northern end of subscribers' reading room, c.1906. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  View of service counter. Main Hall, and book galleries, c. 1906. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  View of main hall looking towards service counter and librarians office, c 1920s. Electric light has replaced gas. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Librarian's office, early 1930s, with ship models, prints and binnacle from the "Western Knight". Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Library building decorated for King George V's Silver Jubilee, 1935. Shows Queen Victoria statue and typical cars of the period. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Photograph of African Room, 1952. Shows Thos. Baines' paintings of Victoria Falls, Seated at table. Miss Amy-Rose Wells, Mr. A. Porter, Deputy Librarian, Miss Ray Reich. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Subscribers' reading room, 1952. Neon-tube electric lighting. Bookcases containing Ascham Music collection and John Owen Smith Collection. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  A corner of the children's room, 1952. School children in school uniforms. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Library building decorated for the coronation of King George VI, 1937. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Library building decorated for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Library building decorated for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953. Shows typical cars of the time. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Colour photograph of the Library building, c. 1966. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Unveiling of the memorial tablets commemorating the incorporation of the library into the municipal library service, 17th July, 1974, by Mayor J.W. Kleynhans. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  View of Library building from the Mayors Garden, 1976. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Roofscape Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  The Library shortly after its opening in 1902. Men in typical dress of the time. Submitted by Bryan WINTERMEYER  Market Square, Port Elizabeth. Embossed postcard by local publisher Hallis & Co. Not posted or dated. Public Library in the centre  Sketch by Hannes Meiring |