History
Enriqueta Rylands purchased a site on Deansgate for her memorial library in 1889 and commissioned a design from architect Basil Champneys. Mrs Rylands intended the library to be principally theological, and the building, which is a fine example of Victorian Gothic, has the appearance of a church, although the concept was of an Oxford college library on a larger scale. Champneys presented plans to Mrs Rylands within a week of gaining the commission. They frequently disagreed and Mrs Rylands selected decorative elements, window glass and statues against his wishes.
The core of the library's collection was formed around 40,000 books, including many rarities, assembled by George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer, which Mrs Rylands purchased from Lord Spencer in 1892. She had acquired books from 1889 and continued to do so throughout her lifetime. After its inauguration on 6 October 1899 (the wedding anniversary of John Rylands and Enriqueta Tennant) the library opened to readers and visitors on 1 January 1900.
The John Rylands Library and the library of the University of Manchester merged in July 1972 and named the John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Special collections built by both libraries were progressively concentrated in the Deansgate building.
Read more about this topic: John Rylands Library
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