Point of interest
John Rylands Library
in Manchester, United Kingdom
A neo-Gothic library of the 1890s whose cathedral-like reading room holds treasures including a Gutenberg Bible and the St John Fragment, the oldest known piece of the New Testament.
Where it is
The library stands at 150 Deansgate in central Manchester, near the Spinningfields business district.
Address: 150 Deansgate, M3 3EH Manchester
What it is
The neo-Gothic building is regarded as one of Europe's finest examples of the style, with a cathedral-like reading room. Its treasures include rare manuscripts and early printed works, complemented by changing special exhibitions. Admission is free.
History
The John Rylands Library opened in 1900 as a gift from Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her late husband, the textile magnate John Rylands. It was purpose-built to give the public access to world-class collections of rare books, manuscripts and archives. Today it is part of the University of Manchester Library.