The large collection of manuscripts made for royalty to the minutiae of personal life – diaries, letters and account books – documents the history of north west England, including the first ever census of Manchester, compiled in 1773 – 74. It also holds over 40 medieval manuscripts.
There are over 120,000 printed books to Chetham’s collection with over half published before 1850. Amongst them are history, theology, genealogy, topography and the first printed atlas of England and Wales. The Library’s scientific collections are even more impressive: Aristotle, Euclid, Galileo, Copernicus and Kepler. There are also outstanding works of natural history and medicine, notably early editions of Galen and Hippocrates.
You could spend a lifetime in this fascinating library. It’s open to readers Monday to Friday 09.00-12.30 and 13.30-16.30pm by prior appointment. Interested in a guided tour? They run on weekdays only (as it shares the space with Chetham’s prestigious School of Music) and you can book a ticket here. They cost between £5.50 and £11.
Details
- Address:
- Chetham's Library
- M3 1SB
- Contact:
- https://library.chethams.com/
- Transport:
- https://tfgm.com/ways-to-travel/tram Victoria Tram stop