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Book your tour of the Library!To visit Chetham's Library, please go to our Visiting page for further information and to book onto a guided tour. X

Chetham’s Library has been in continuous use as a public library for over 350 years. It is housed in a beautiful sandstone building dating from 1421 which was built to accommodate the priests of Manchester’s Collegiate Church.

The entire collection at Chetham’s Library has been designated as one of national and international importance. You can find out about our collections here and in our catalogues. Chetham’s Library is open to readers Monday to Friday 09.00-12.30 and 13.30-16.30pm by prior appointment. Please contact us to arrange a study visit.

The Library is also an accredited museum, attracting visitors from all over the world. To book your visit to us, please begin with our visitor pages.

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Visiting the library

All pre-booked system from Monday 2 September

Please book your tour of the Library in advance. Tours will usually take place every weekday at 11.30am, 2.30pm and 3.30pm, with numbers limited to protect these delicate ancient buildings. Please allow an hour for your visit from arrival to departure. Please click the ‘Book a Library Tour‘ link below to reserve your place – bookings must be made in advance.

For a closer look at the Library, including access to the wider medieval building, we offer guided tours through our partner Jonathan Schofield which can be booked through this website.

For more information please see our visiting page.

Book a Library Tour

Need to get in touch? Please contact us here.

What's On

  1. 18 Sep
    11:30am

    Chetham’s Library Tours

    Full details
  2. 29 Oct
    5:30pm

    Faking Gothic Furniture

    Full details
View all Events

Blog

  1. Flights of Fancy

    One of the most notable features of the Reading Room at Chetham’s Library is a...

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  2. Pamphlet wars: Roger L’Estrange and printed polemic in Restoration England

    We’re delighted to welcome to the blog Verônica Calsoni Lima, PhD student (University of Sao...

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  3. “The disturbed state of these towns”: relief for special constables after Peterloo

    Chetham’s Library holds a great deal of material relating to Peterloo and the divisive politics...

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Go to the Blog
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Humphrey Chetham

Humphrey Chetham (1580–1653), the most successful gentleman merchant of seventeenth-century Lancashire, was born in Crumpsall Hall, near Manchester, and later lived at Clayton Hall near Droylsden. His fortune was...

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