Library Cottage, Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, Dorset

Library Cottage, situated next door to Sundial House, is also Grade II listed and part of an architectural grouping of Marine Parade buildings along with its tall and impressive neighbour. Arnold Mitchell was the architect for both buildings and also the wonderfully Hobbit-like Umbrella Cottage; that and Sundial House can be seen in the last two posts.

The building began life as two cottages, which was converted into one house, and named Library Cottage because it was here that the town's Marine Circulating Library was established in 1839. Our nation's much loved novelist, Jane Austen, had died some 22 years before in 1817; otherwise, we might imagine her visiting the circulating library as part of her social life when she stayed in Lyme.

A symmetrical frontage of pink-washed walls with hexagonal slate-hung tiles, it consists of two storeys and two window bays encompassing both top and bottom floors. Now once again two separate, semi-detached homes; at least one of which is a holiday cottage. 

The striking rainwater heads are 18th century, and were added to each side of the front by the architect, which he'd taken from another building.

The central piping and other fixtures all appear to be part of the same arrangement and most likely came from the same place, along with the cast iron frieze dated 1768. It occurred to me that the central pipe, having two spouts, may have originated from a fountain with the frieze as part of the pond. I haven't discovered where they came from but it must have been an impressive place, and sadly now probably demolished, but I'll add further info if I come across it.

Both so different from each other, and also from Umbrella Cottage, these buildings show some of the range of styles that Arnold Mitchell worked with. Yet, despite the differences, they also show how he accentuated the meaning behind them in his own unique way.

The first two photos were taken in 2009 and the rest were taken in 2016; the last one along with its neighbour, Sundial House. 

More buildings coming up shortly. :)   EDIT: Sorry about this but whilst starting the next article I realised that I'd missed out some historical cottages. I've been trying to get over to Lyme to take photos of them but this has been a really difficult year and I haven't managed it yet. So meanwhile, I'll carry on with some other posts and will add more of Marine Parade as and when I can.