Abandoned by the public sector in 2010, the elegant Carnegie Oldpark Library was acquired for the local community.
Andrew Carnegie, a Scots-born weaver who became the richest person in the world from steel, railroads and finance, exemplified the term ‘giving while living’. He endowed three Belfast libraries, of which this 1906 classic alone remains un-refurbished – one being in public hands, the other private.
This beautiful and iconic building is used by local artists and charities who now want to help regenerate and refurbish the B1 listed building, on the jagged peacelines of north Belfast, overlooking the remnants of our flax, spinning, linen, damask and textile heritage
Come for a ‘hard hat’ tour, and contribute to a discussion about our plans for a Centre of Weaving Excellence.
Andrew Carnegie was born in poverty into a weaving family in Dunfermline, Fife in 1835; he fought his way (with some unsavoury practices) to become the richest person in the world, along with the ‘robber barons’ like Rockefeller and Frick, from steel, railroads and finance.
In later life Carnegie exemplified the term ‘giving while living’, declaring: ‘he who dies rich, thus dies disgraced’. His passion was for education and learning for working people, identifying libraries as a key to working class improvement – ‘palaces of learning’. He endowed 66 across Ireland, 500 in Scotland and 2,500 across the English-speaking world.
The Carnegie Oldpark Library is an iconic exemplar of the ‘Tudorbethan’ architectural style, built in 1906 for less than £5,000 on land donated by Belfast Corporation, which Carnegie insisted also had to comply with the Libraries Act, levying a farthing on the rates to ensure future sustainability.
The building was sold by the public sector, and is now occupied by weavers and artists, eager to acknowledge Carnegie’s weaving origins in this part of north Belfast also noted for its textile heritage.
We will show you round the 6,500 square feet, explain the history, explore our ‘Weavers’ Room’, and invite you to participate in a lively discussion of our innovative ideas to imagine a new future as a beacon of hope for the community, through practice, education and learning, exhibition and display, research, outreach and heritage.
Help us Imagine Belfast in a creative way!
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