The John Rylands Library

The John Rylands Library is a late-Victorian neo-Gothic research library on Deansgate, commissioned by Enriqueta Augustina Rylands in memory of her husband. Designed by Basil Champneys, construction began in 1890 and the building opened to readers and visitors on 1 January 1900. It is Grade I listed and noted for its cathedral-like reading room, cloistered corridors, intricate stone and wood carving, and stained glass. Built of red sandstone with a robust, asymmetrical street frontage, it houses special collections of The University of Manchester Library. A rear extension by Champneys was added in 1912 to improve facilities while respecting the original fabric. In 2025, Donald Insall upgrades and refreshes Manchester’s John Rylands Library. The redevelopment of the John Rylands Library, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary, sensitively upgrades key areas of the building to conserve it and enhance visitor engagement.