Manchester Free Library

The Manchester Free Library, the first library established under the provisions of the Public Libraries Act of 1850, was opened at the Hall of Science, Campfield, near Deansgate in the center of Manchester in 1852. In 1877, the Hall was demolished after its structure had become weakened by the weight of books, and the library moved to the former Manchester Town Hall on King Street. In 1934, the library moved to its present home in the Central Library, St Peter’s Square, central Manchester.

Layers

Coordinates

Latitude: 53.477313500000
Longitude: -2.254962400000

View on the COVE Master Map

Timeline of Events Associated with Manchester Free Library

Manchester Public Library opens

5 Sep 1852

ON 5 Sept 1852, the Manchester Public Library opened. This was Britain’s first free public lending library, opened under the 1850 Public Libraries Act.

Related Articles

Amy Woodson-Boulton, “The City Art Museum Movement and the Social Role of Art”

Manchester Public Library opens

March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Jan.
March
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
June 5
June 6
June 7
June 8
June 9
June 10
June 11
June 12
June 13
June 14
June 15
June 16
June 17
June 18
June 19
June 20
June 21
June 22
June 23
June 24
June 25
June 26
June 27
June 28
June 29
June 30
July 2
July 3
July 4
July 5
July 6
July 7
July 8
July 9
July 10
July 11
July 12
July 13
July 14
July 15
July 16
July 17
July 18
July 19
July 20
July 21
July 22
July 23
July 24
July 25
July 26
July 27
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
Aug. 2
Aug. 3
Aug. 4
Aug. 5
Aug. 6
Aug. 7
Aug. 8
Aug. 9
Aug. 10
Aug. 11
Aug. 12
Aug. 13
Aug. 14
Aug. 15
Aug. 16
Aug. 17
Aug. 18
Aug. 19
Aug. 20
Aug. 21
Aug. 22
Aug. 23
Aug. 24
Aug. 25
Aug. 26
Aug. 27
Aug. 28
Aug. 29
Aug. 30
Aug. 31
Sept. 2
Sept. 3
Sept. 4
Sept. 5
Sept. 6
Sept. 7
Sept. 8
Sept. 9
Sept. 10
Sept. 11
Sept. 12
Sept. 13
Sept. 14
Sept. 15
Sept. 16
Sept. 17
Sept. 18
Sept. 19
Sept. 20
Sept. 21
Sept. 22
Sept. 23
Sept. 24
Sept. 25
Sept. 26
Sept. 27
Sept. 28
Sept. 29
Sept. 30
Oct. 2
Oct. 3
Oct. 4
Oct. 5
Oct. 6
Oct. 7
Oct. 8
Oct. 9
Oct. 10
Oct. 11
Oct. 12
Oct. 13
Oct. 14
Oct. 15
Oct. 16
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
Oct. 19
Oct. 20
Oct. 21
Oct. 22
Oct. 23
Oct. 24
Oct. 25
Oct. 26
Oct. 27
Oct. 28
Oct. 29
Oct. 30
Oct. 31
Nov. 2
Nov. 3
Nov. 4
Nov. 5
Nov. 6
Nov. 7
Nov. 8
Nov. 9
Nov. 10
Nov. 11
Nov. 12
Nov. 13
Nov. 14
Nov. 15
Nov. 16
Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Nov. 19
Nov. 20
Nov. 21
Nov. 22
Nov. 23
Nov. 24
Nov. 25
Nov. 26
Nov. 27
Nov. 28
Nov. 29
Nov. 30
Dec. 2
Dec. 3
Dec. 4
TimelineJS
Date Event Manage
5 Sep 1852

Manchester Public Library opens

ON 5 Sept 1852, the Manchester Public Library opened. This was Britain’s first free public lending library, opened under the 1850 Public Libraries Act.

Related Articles

Amy Woodson-Boulton, “The City Art Museum Movement and the Social Role of Art”