Leys Institute
Public library in Auckland, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Leys Institute comprises two early-20th-century public buildings in Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand, the Leys Institute Gymnasium and the Leys Institute Public Library. Both have category 1 heritage listings. The Leys Institute was founded by the will of William Leys and designed in an Edwardian Baroque style by Robert Martin Watt.
| Leys Institute | |
|---|---|
The Leys Institute Gymnasium (left) and Leys Institute Public Library (right) | |
| General information | |
| Status | Closed for seismic strengthening |
| Type | Gymnasium and library |
| Architectural style | Edwardian Baroque |
| Location | Three Lamps, 14–20 St Marys Road, Ponsonby, Auckland |
| Coordinates | 36°50′47″S 174°44′41″E |
| Named for | William Leys |
| Year built | 1905–1906 |
| Renovated | 1991, 2024 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Robert Martin Watt |
| Designated | 11 November 1981 |
| Reference no. | 612 |
| Designated | 11 November 1981 |
| Reference no. | 613 |
Description
The Leys Institute buildings are both Edwardian Baroque with the library being two storeys tall and the gymnasium being a single storey. The windows are very narrow and have pilasters separating them. Each pediment has a volute on both sides, which is similar in style to a Dutch gable.[1]
The first floor of the library contains the library itself, whilst the second floor contains a room for recreation, a lecture hall, and a meeting room.[1]
The gymnasium bears the Latin inscription mens sana in corpore sano (a sound mind in a sound body).[2]
History
The Leys Institute was founded by the will of William Leys following his death in 1899. William wished to found a library and mechanics institute, but his will did not have enough funds for it. His brother Thomson Wilson Leys negotiated a deal with Auckland City Council that he would contribute half the funds and the council the land for the institute. The Council agreed to this.[1] Additional funding came from the estate of William Mason, a local resident; and two mayors of Auckland.[2]
Both buildings were designed by the architect Robert Martin Watt. On 29 March 1905, mayor Edwin Mitchelson opened the Leys Institute Public Library.[3][4] The Leys Institute Gymnasium opened on 4 July 1906 by Thomson Leys.[3]
The Leys Institute was run by the Leys family, with Thomson as the first president. Thomson donated his personal collection to the library and established a memorial fund for his wife, which resulted in the Hilary Lays Memorial Wing extension. Thomson was succeeded by his son, Cecil Leys.[1] The institute was formally integrated into the Auckland Public Library system in 1965, as no beneficiary was available to inherit the institute.[1][4]
The library building was expanded as both the local population and collection increased. In 1909 the library added a new room, and in 1922, a basement was added. A rear addition and basement extension were done in 1939, and in 1958, the Hilary Leys Memorial Wing, a two-storey children's library, was constructed.[1]
The gymnasium had a two-storey extension built by Auckland City Council in 1967 and 1968, but this was later demolished during the 1991 renovation, when the main gymnasium area was extended.[2]
In 1991, John Gummer led a restoration funded by the William Leys Trust.[1]
Since 2019, the Leys Institute has been closed due to being earthquake-prone. Auckland Council has since committed $9.6 million to strengthen the building.[5]
Legacy and use
The Leys Institute has served as a library and gymnasium but also as a community centre with artistic and sporting groups utilising the facilities.[1]
Heritage New Zealand described the Leys Institute as a "nationally significant ... monument to the Victorian ideals of education and self-improvement, and the philanthropic ideals of sections of the Victorian middle class" and said that it contributes to the streetscape of the Three Lamps area, along with the Ponsonby Post Office.[1]
