Hyde Free Library and Technical School :: Shared Description

Hyde Library was originally Hyde Technical School and Free Library. The foundation stone was laid in 1897 and it opened in 1899 replacing the former Mechanics Institute. LinkExternal link

In recent years the building was shared between the library and Tameside College. The library was extensively refurbished in 2006 and a new gallery installed to local artist Harry Rutherford. However in 2012 the gallery was moved to the Central Art Gallery in Ashton under Lyne.

In a first round of "council austerity cuts" the public were presented with three "choices" regarding the future of library services. Smaller local libraries were closed in the light of promised improved facilities at main libraries such as Hyde.

At the beginning of 2015 despite earlier local protests the "library services" were transferred to a few cramped rooms inside the Town Hall.

Despite its historic importance to the town it is not a listed building and as the local council view it as an "un-used asset" its future is insecure and a future sale and demolition remains a possibility. A Facebook Group, Friends of Hyde Library LinkExternal link was set up to try and preserve the building as a facility for the town. In 2022 the building and surrounding land was put up for sale by tender.

See the original Victorian plans for the library on Old Hyde: LinkExternal link
by Gerald England
More nearby... Related descriptions Selection is automatic and approximate, it might not always select closely matching descriptions

42 images use this description. Preview sample shown below:

SJ9594 : Hyde Library building by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Hyde Library by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Hyde Library by Gerald England
SJ9494 : Crook Street by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Hyde Library Building For Sale by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Free Library by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Church and Library  by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Hyde Library by David Dixon
SJ9594 : Placards outside Hyde Library by Gerald England
SJ9594 : A sad view of former Hyde Library by Gerald England
SJ9594 : The Goddess Minerva by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Hyde Library by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Onward at Hyde Library by Gerald England
SJ9594 : The side of Hyde Library by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Hyde Library building by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Side entrance to Hyde Library by Gerald England
SJ9494 : Union Street closed by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Library Gates Closed by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Hyde Library:Foundation Stone by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Minerva and a gull by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Hyde Library by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Hyde Library: Architectural detail by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Hyde coat of arms by Gerald England
SJ9594 : The side of what was the library by Gerald England
SJ9594 : Fighting to save Hyde Library by Gerald England

... and 17 more images.

These Shared Descriptions are common to multiple images. For example, you can create a generic description for an object shown in a photo, and reuse the description on all photos of the object. All descriptions are public and shared between contributors, i.e. you can reuse a description created by others, just as they can use yours.
Created: Sat, 14 Feb 2015, Updated: Fri, 29 Jul 2022

The 'Shared Description' text on this page is Copyright 2015 Gerald England, however it is specifically licensed so that contributors can reuse it on their own images without restriction.

You are not logged in login | register