Thornhill Mayne Memorial (Allahabad Public Library)
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh · monument
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry FeeFree Entry
Set among the lawns and old trees of Chandrashekhar Azad Park (the former Alfred Park, still fondly called Company Bagh) in Prayagraj, the Thornhill Mayne Memorial is one of the city's most photogenic heritage buildings. Completed in 1864 and executed in a confident Scottish-Baronial and Gothic Revival idiom, it presents turreted corner towers, pointed-arch windows, buttressed walls and a warm sandstone-and-brick palette that seems to change colour through the day. The design is attributed to the architect Richard Roskell Bayne, and the building is named in memory of two nineteenth-century administrators, Robert Bensley Thornhill and William Mayne. For a time it served as the meeting hall for the legislature of the North-Western Provinces, before settling into the scholarly life it has led ever since.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-vegetarian thali and South Indian restaurants in Civil Lines
- ✦Vegetarian chaat, tikki and kachori-sabzi stalls around Civil Lines
- ✦Sweet shops serving jalebi, samosa and plain (bhang-free) thandai near the park
About
Set among the lawns and old trees of Chandrashekhar Azad Park (the former Alfred Park, still fondly called Company Bagh) in Prayagraj, the Thornhill Mayne Memorial is one of the city's most photogenic heritage buildings.
- Completed in 1864 and executed in a confident Scottish-Baronial and Gothic Revival idiom, it presents turreted corner towers, pointed-arch windows, buttressed walls and a warm sandstone-and-brick palette that seems to change colour through the day.
- The design is attributed to the architect Richard Roskell Bayne, and the building is named in memory of two nineteenth-century administrators, Robert Bensley Thornhill and William Mayne.
- For a time it served as the meeting hall for the legislature of the North-Western Provinces, before settling into the scholarly life it has led ever since.
- Today the memorial houses the Allahabad Public Library, reported to be the largest public library in Uttar Pradesh.
- Behind the elaborate facade, long reading halls hold a deep collection of rare manuscripts, gazettes, government reports, and bound runs of nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century periodicals in several languages.
- For researchers, students and the simply curious, it is a quiet, atmospheric place to spend an hour among high ceilings, wooden galleries and the particular hush of old paper.
- Casual visitors can usually admire the exterior freely; access to the reading rooms and any special collections follows the library's own membership and reference rules, so it is worth asking at the desk.
- The memorial sits within one of Prayagraj's best-loved green spaces, the same park associated with the freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad, making it an easy, unhurried heritage-and-nature stop.
- Early morning and the golden hour before sunset are ideal for photography and a slow walk.
- For food, you are a short ride from Civil Lines, Prayagraj's most convenient dining district, where pure-vegetarian restaurants serve North Indian thalis, South Indian dosas, and paneer and dal preparations, alongside the city's celebrated chaat, tikki, kachori-sabzi and plain (bhang-free) thandai.
- If you prefer a lighter break, look for the vegetarian snack counters and sweet shops around Civil Lines and the park's fringes for samosas, jalebi and filter coffee before or after your visit.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Chandrashekhar Azad Park (Alfred Park), near Civil Lines, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211001
How to Reach: Located inside Chandrashekhar Azad Park near Civil Lines in central Prayagraj. It is about 1-2 km from Prayagraj Junction (Allahabad Junction) railway station and easily reached by auto-rickshaw, e-rickshaw, cab or city bus; ample walking access from the Civil Lines area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Thornhill Mayne Memorial and why is it famous?
It is an 1864 heritage building in Chandrashekhar Azad Park, Prayagraj, built in a Scottish-Baronial and Gothic Revival style. It is best known for housing the Allahabad Public Library, reported to be the largest public library in Uttar Pradesh. The building once served as a legislative hall for the North-Western Provinces and is now valued for its architecture and rare collections.
Can visitors go inside and use the Allahabad Public Library?
The exterior can usually be admired freely as part of a park visit. Access to the reading rooms and special collections follows the library's own membership and reference rules, so serious readers and researchers should enquire at the library desk about hours, permissions and any documentation needed.
Is there an entry fee?
There is generally no ticket to view the building from the park, and the surrounding Chandrashekhar Azad Park is a public space. Any library membership or reference-access charges are set by the library itself, so confirm current details at the desk.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near the Thornhill Mayne Memorial?
The nearby Civil Lines district is the most convenient option, with several pure-vegetarian restaurants serving North Indian thalis, South Indian dosas and paneer dishes. Around the park and Civil Lines you will also find vegetarian chaat, tikki, kachori-sabzi and sweet counters, plus plain, bhang-free thandai in season.
How much time should I plan for a visit?
About 45 minutes is enough to appreciate the architecture, photograph the facade and take a short walk in the park. Add extra time if you plan to use the reading rooms or combine it with other heritage stops in Civil Lines and central Prayagraj.
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