Chetham Library: Oldest Free Public Library In English-Speaking World
Chetham’s Library in Manchester, which was founded in 1653, is the oldest surviving public library in Britain.
The library holds more than 100,000 volumes of printed books, of which 60,000 were published before 1851.
They include collections of 16th- and 17th-century printed works, periodicals and journals and local history sources.
In addition to print materials, the library holds a collection of over 1,000 manuscripts, including 41 medieval texts.
The Library, its buildings, furniture, artworks and collections are designated as having national and international significance by Arts Council.
It is also an accredited museum and you can find out about its collections or book on one or the regular tours to visit.
It was established under the will of Humphrey Chetham (1580-1653), a prosperous Manchester textile merchant, banker and landowner.
Chetham also made provision for a school for forty poor boys, now a specialist music school of world renown, and for five chained libraries to be placed in local churches.
The building that houses Chetham’s is even older than the foundation of the School and Library.
It was built in 1421 to accommodate a college of priests and remains one of the most complete medieval complexes to survive in the north west of England.
The beautiful old sandstone buildings, together with the magnificent Library interior, create a unique atmosphere for readers and visitors alike.
At the time of the Library’s foundation, there was no facility for independent study in the north of England.
The twenty four feoffees, or governors, appointed by Humphrey Chetham, set out to acquire a major collection of books and manuscripts that would cover the whole range of available knowledge and would rival the college libraries of Oxford and Cambridge.
Why are books kept in chains?
Many books within the library are still kept under lock and key in their original chains, the system helped prevent theft around 400 years ago.
In the Middle Ages, books were a relatively rare and therefore valuable commodity.
Chaining books to shelves became the most wide-spread and effective security system in libraries across Europe.
The chaining of books was the most widespread and effective security system in European libraries from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.
A chain is attached at one end to the front cover of each book; the other end is slotted on to a rod running along the bottom of each shelf.
The system allows a book to be taken from the shelf and read at the desk, but not to be removed from the bookcase.
The books are shelved with their foredges, rather than their spines, facing the reader (the wrong way round to us); this allows the book to be lifted down and opened without needing to be turned around – thus avoiding tangling the chain.
Librarians in the Middle Ages often invoked curses as well to keep books from being stolen - once such curse written into the books was:
Steal not this book my honest friend. For fear the gallows should be your end, and when you die the Lord will say - and where's the book you stole away?
The practice of chaining library books became less popular as printing increased and books became less expensive.
Wimborne Minster in Dorset, is another example of a chained library - it is one of the first in England and the second largest.
Chetham’s Library Tours
Tours of the library can be booked in advance via their official website.
Packed with historical facts and fascinating stories, tours of Chetham’s Library are led by their expert staff and volunteers.
Explore the medieval building, hear about the magical Dr. Dee, admire the Hogwarts-esque gated shelves of the library and take a seat at the very desk where Marx and Engels’ research led to The Communist Manifesto!
The library itself, meanwhile, is open to readers free of charge from Monday-Friday.
Someone who recently visited the library said: “Had a wonderful tour led by John, who told the history of how Chetham’s Library came to be.
”What a fascinating story! John is very knowledgable about the Library and was very happy to answer questions asked by the group.
”It is a very atmospheric place, with the dark oak panelling and the smell of the old books all adding to the experience. A real treat to visit.”
Another person added '“Highly recommend taking a guided tour here. Great place for fans of history and architecture.
”Our tour guides Barbara and Cath were excellent, giving short presentations at various locations throughout the building, for a total tour length of about 45min-1 hour including some free time to look around, take photos, etc.
”Highlights for me were the medieval cat flaps (super unique!), the devil's hoof prints, the table where communism was born, and seeing all the chained/locked up books (never seen anything like it!).”
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