EXCLUSIVE: TOURS OF CHETHAM'S LIBRARY & MEDIEVAL BUILDINGS
£20
5pm Wednesday 28 May 2025, 5pm Wednesday 23 July 2025
25% of all takings on Chetham's tours goes back into preserving these finest of buildings for future generations to enjoy.
CHETHAM'S Library & Medieval Buildings is opening on Saturdays to allow tours of the full medieval complex. I'm overjoyed I'll be conducting these, with assistance from library staff.
To get into these precious buildings with access all areas tours is a rare privilege. The tours are sure to book up quickly so don't delay.
Here's a bit of background.
Chetham’s Library - and the building it sits within and shares with Chetham's School of Music - is the oldest complete structure in the city, dating from the 1420s when it was erected as a single building to house priests.
After the Reformation, the premises gained a new lease of life when they were purchased through the will of local merchant Humphrey Chetham in 1653. He wished to set up a charity school for 40 poor boys and a free public library for the ‘use of scholars and others well-affected’.
It's all still there, and the buildings not only look ancient but feel ancient. Most of the library fixtures and fittings are original and date from the mid-1600s. The books are shielded behind eighteenth century gates and were formerly chained to the shelves. Down the side corridor is the main Reading Room with its wonderful carvings.
The collection is beautiful and the roll call of visitors astonishing; Daniel Defoe, Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Disreali, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx, Damon Albarn and many others have studied in the Reading Room. John Dee, the mathematician and enchanter, lived for many years here. He was the inspiration for Shakespeare's Prospero in his last play, The Tempest. Of course, if you have a magician, there must be ghosts.
This is Manchester’s most charming yet potent collection of buildings.
Meet: Chetham's Library & Medieval Buildings, Long Millgate, City centre, M3 1SB.
BOOKING AHEAD IS ADVISABLE.
On certain occasions some areas may be out of bounds or being used for other purposes. There is a narrow set of stairs to the library and a step into two other areas. There are several occasions in which guests may sit. Jonathan Schofield may not be guiding all the tours. In this case other fully qualified guides will be leading the events.
PLEASE CHECK THIS WEBSITE 24 HOURS BEFORE THE TOUR IN CASE A SITUATION ARISES WHICH MAY AFFECT THE TOUR.
The Paypal receipt is your ticket. If you ordered from Eventbrite you will be sent an electronic ticket. Please check the email, from which you ordered your tickets, 24 hours before each tour, in case circumstances have arisen which affect the tour, especially if the tour includes access to a space not owned by Jonathan Schofield Tours. If there is no change to the plans, you will not be sent an email. And as usual, if you don't have an informative and entertaining tour please ask for a refund. A minimum of 6 people is required for the tours to go ahead.
CHETHAM'S Library & Medieval Buildings is opening on Saturdays to allow tours of the full medieval complex. I'm overjoyed I'll be conducting these, with assistance from library staff.
To get into these precious buildings with access all areas tours is a rare privilege. The tours are sure to book up quickly so don't delay.
Here's a bit of background.
Chetham’s Library - and the building it sits within and shares with Chetham's School of Music - is the oldest complete structure in the city, dating from the 1420s when it was erected as a single building to house priests.
After the Reformation, the premises gained a new lease of life when they were purchased through the will of local merchant Humphrey Chetham in 1653. He wished to set up a charity school for 40 poor boys and a free public library for the ‘use of scholars and others well-affected’.
It's all still there, and the buildings not only look ancient but feel ancient. Most of the library fixtures and fittings are original and date from the mid-1600s. The books are shielded behind eighteenth century gates and were formerly chained to the shelves. Down the side corridor is the main Reading Room with its wonderful carvings.
The collection is beautiful and the roll call of visitors astonishing; Daniel Defoe, Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Disreali, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx, Damon Albarn and many others have studied in the Reading Room. John Dee, the mathematician and enchanter, lived for many years here. He was the inspiration for Shakespeare's Prospero in his last play, The Tempest. Of course, if you have a magician, there must be ghosts.
This is Manchester’s most charming yet potent collection of buildings.
Meet: Chetham's Library & Medieval Buildings, Long Millgate, City centre, M3 1SB.
BOOKING AHEAD IS ADVISABLE.
On certain occasions some areas may be out of bounds or being used for other purposes. There is a narrow set of stairs to the library and a step into two other areas. There are several occasions in which guests may sit. Jonathan Schofield may not be guiding all the tours. In this case other fully qualified guides will be leading the events.
PLEASE CHECK THIS WEBSITE 24 HOURS BEFORE THE TOUR IN CASE A SITUATION ARISES WHICH MAY AFFECT THE TOUR.
The Paypal receipt is your ticket. If you ordered from Eventbrite you will be sent an electronic ticket. Please check the email, from which you ordered your tickets, 24 hours before each tour, in case circumstances have arisen which affect the tour, especially if the tour includes access to a space not owned by Jonathan Schofield Tours. If there is no change to the plans, you will not be sent an email. And as usual, if you don't have an informative and entertaining tour please ask for a refund. A minimum of 6 people is required for the tours to go ahead.
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