Old Swansea Library, Swansea

The Old Swansea Central Library, located on Alexandra Road in Swansea, is a historic Grade II listed building originally constructed in the late 19th century. Designed by Henry Holtom of Dewsbury in an Italian classical style, the library was inaugurated in 1887 by William Ewart Gladstone, who was both a former and future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time. The most striking feature of the building is the circular reference library, 86 feet in diameter, crowned with a 25-foot domed top, which created an iconic reading space for researchers.

The library served as a key resource for the local community, housing collections that provided invaluable material on Swansea and Wales. One of its most notable collections was the Dylan Thomas Collection, established in the 1950s, consisting of over 3,000 items related to the famed Swansea-born poet and author.

The library closed its doors on November 6, 2007, and the building later found fame when BBC Wales used the domed reading room as a location for the "Doctor Who" episodes "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead."

Following the closure, Swansea Metropolitan University took over the building in 2007, embarking on a £9.69 million renovation project, partially funded by the EU. This renovation transformed the former library into the Welsh School of Architectural Glass, with particular attention paid to preserving its historic features. Restorations included the reinstatement of the cupola, damaged during World War II, and repairs to the party walls. Today, this revitalized structure serves as an academic hub while continuing to celebrate its historical legacy.