For a better future, study the past.
For a better future, study the past.
For many visitors, a trip to Manchester, UK, is about one thing: football. Soccer as it is more commonly called in the United States. Fans of Manchester United and Manchester City follow their teams with a devotion American fans can’t fully understand. To be a European football fan means something different than being a sports fan in the states. There are many other delightful things to take in during a visit to Manchester. One I can recommend is a visit to Chetham’s Library in Manchester, and while there, don’t miss the small but impactful World Wars commemoration, honoring students who fell during one of the two World Wars.
A visit to Chetham’s Library starts with reserving your tour. No, library tours are not free, but your tour fees go to a good cause. It is recommended you begin on the Visitor Information page. Here you will find the crucial information needed ahead of your planned visit. How far in advance can you reserve your tour? How long are tours? Do visitors have to go through security? Are photos allowed? How accessible is the library? These questions and many more can be answered by a short visit to their website, linked prior in the paragraph.
Once you know you want to visit, and this really is a must see attraction, head over to the tours reservation page and start the process. Tours cost £13.50 for adults, with discounts for seniors, students, and children under age 10. Tour space is limited and reservations must be made in advance. There appear to be several tours on most days so with a bit of planning, you should be able to get in on your preferred day.
If you are a researcher and you think Chetham’s might have material of use to you, please consult their online catalog and finding aids. If there are materials in their collection that can assist you, please make an appointment in order to review said materials. You can find information on that process through the link provided earlier in the paragraph.
Researchers and the general public may also view many of the library’s holdings using their Digital Resources collection. Check back regularly as items are always being added.
As you can see in the photo on the left, the library is filled with thousands of rare and antique volumes. During a visit to Chetham’s Library in Manchester, you are able to see these amazing shelves but are not able to access or handle the fragile volumes.
Chetham’s Library and the Chetham’s School of Music were originally established through a bequest in the will of Humphry Chetham, a wealthy English textile merchant.
Chetham’s Library is housed in medieval building that dates to 1421. The library was originally founded in 1653 and began accumulating materials in 1655, making it the oldest public library in the English speaking world. In addition to early printed books, the library collection includes ephemera, manuscript diaries, letters and deeds, prints, paintings and glass lantern slides.
The Library is known for being the place where Marx and Engels met to discuss their revolutionary ideas, and visitors will be able to see this area. It’s also where Dr. John Dee supposedly summoned the Devil! Learn more about this story HERE or HERE.
During your tour, your guide will point out unique features of the building, such as several doors which contain smaller, “cat doors” located at floor level. Look closely at the image on the left to see the small cut out area.
During a guided tour, visitors will pass two separate memorials to students who gave their lives in service of their country during World War I and World War II. The first is the small marker shown in the image above.
The second, and more impressive memorial is a large triptych with a large crucifix center panel including an inscription below. The center panel is flanked by two wooden panels containing the names of young men who perished while in service. The left panel contains the names of those who died in World War I and the right hand honors those who died during World War II. In total, 52 names are included and referenced below. Click to enlarge the images.
1914-1919 1939-1945
H.M. Atkinson D. Bamber
J. Atkinson D. Bauldie
G.A.M. Bennett E.S. Blood
J. Bisson W.P. Booth
T.H. Boardman S.W. Cleghorn
J. Chadwick H. Clough
J. Cheatle S. Fletcher
H. Chippendale L. Hardy
R. Cooper A. Helsby
R. Darlington R.I. Laycock
A. Edwards F. Livesy
G.E. Edwards F.G. Plowman
F. Goldberg A.F. Rooke
R.T. Harrison J.K. Schofield
R. Hicks R. Skelton
H.L. Hilton T.D. Smith
H. Hoff J. Taylor
T. Holt H. Trainor
S. Kershaw A. Wilkinson
J. Lancaster
H. Lord
A. Marsden
G.E. Mart
W.T. McEwen
T. Prestage
A. Sedgwick
R. Shoreman
E. Singleton
G.W. Tyrer
D.A. Whitley
J. Williamson
H.F. Wilson
