The John Rylands Library is a late-Victorian Gothic building listed Grade 1 on Deansgate in the centre of Manchester, designed by Basil Champneys and completed in 1899. It became part of the University of Manchester in 1972 and houses the majority of its library’s Special Collections. It was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband, John Rylands, owner of the largest textile manufacturing concern in the UK and Manchester’s first multi-millionaire. It includes the famous Althorp Library, property of Earl Spencer, and Lord Crawford’s manuscripts, both purchased by Mrs Rylands. It holds many medieval manuscripts and examples of early European printing, as well as the personal papers of notable local figures, including Mrs Gaskell and John Dalton.
Our guide is Rory Chisholm, chartered architect and member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, well known for his carefully crafted drawings of buildings and winner of several awards.
Numbers limited. Early booking advised.