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The Foundation Stones

Jan 1906

The foundation stones were laid on the last day of the month.The stone of the library was laid by the Chairman of the Council, Mr J. W. Dixon and that of the Town Hall by Mr J T Jackson who had become Chairman of the Town Hall, Free Library and Museum Committee. A number of local contractors were employed in the work including: Mr Geo Smith, (excavator, mason and bricklayer), Mr Thomas Smith (carpenter and joiner) R and T L Nelson (plumbers and glaziers), Mr G. W. Hampshire (painter) and Mr Oswald Lister (plasterer).

There were speeches by Mr Dixon, Mr Jackson and Mr Naylor, and there was a private dinner party at Wells House in the evening when Mr Jackson entertained Councillors, Council officials and some of his friends.

Feb 1906

Plans for an extension of the stage accommodation of the Kings Hall were approved at £1,041.

June 1906

A further purchase of 240 yards of land for £3,120 was made from Mr Jackson for extending the stage in the Kings Hall. This explains the reason for the kink in Whitton Croft Road.

Jan 1907

Tragedy struck during the erection of the Assembly Hall part of the building. Scaffolding collapsed as the last large cornice stone was being manoevred into position. Four men fell and two of them were trapped under the six hundred weight stone and were killed. They were Frank Carter a bricklayer from Leamington Rd and William Mitchell a mason lodging in Ilkley. John Clarke, labourer of Addingham who also fell from the platform was too ill to attend the inquest but Joseph Spence, a labourer from Ilkley was able to catch hold of a ladder, cling to it and save himself. There was a verdict of accidental death.

Detail from previous photograph of building in progress.

Sept 1907

A further loan of £2,626 was sanctioned for furnishing purposes. It was anticipated that the library would be finished. The first librarian Mr William Graham was appointed. Mr Graham was to serve in this position for almost 35 years. One of Mr. Graham's first tasks was to catalogue the preliminary library stock which he did in the old Council Chamber on The Grove.

Oct 1907

The Rev. Dr. Robert Collyer performed the official opening of the library.