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By Jonathan Nakandala —

Manchester - John Rylands Research Institute and Library

In Manchester, you'll find a 125 year old library that looks a bit like a castle on an unassuming street in the city centre. It's still in use today and really worth a visit!

At the entrance there's a gold lettered sign on the wall that's reminiscent of a manuscript page.

The stylisation of the text is really interesting and I wonder if the typography is specific to the artist or a named style.

For example:

  • "E" in "THE" has a line that makes it look like a "D"
  • "HN" in "JOHN" has the "N" use part of the "H" but when there isn't a straight line available in "AN" for "RYLANDS" it's separated
  • The "A" in "LIBRARY" looks like a mirrored "R"
John Rylands Library - Building Name Outdoors

Attached to the building is a modern 5 story extension that expands the archives, adds a cafe and increases accessibility giving a cool juxtaposition of old and new.

It's always fun to see where parts of the exterior of the old building has been built around and is now indoors.

John Rylands Library - The Modern Building Attached to the old one

It was built in a Gothic Revival style that became popular in the mid 18th century. The library was completed in 1900 nearing the end of the fashion so there's a sense that the architectural flourishes looking more modern.

Since it was built in 1900, I wonder if it was designed with electric lighting in mind versus candles.

John Rylands Library - Stairwell

The corridors were a bit dark evoking a bit of a ghostly feel, I had some fun stopping down the aperture on my camera to f/16 and did a 25 second exposure whilst resting the camera on a railing. So people moving around became see-through 😄

John Rylands Library - Corridor Long Exposure

The carvings on the doors along the corridors had some pretty patterns.

John Rylands Library - Intricate Door Carving

There was a 100+ years old printing press on display that they still use for demonstrations. (Sadly not on the day I visited)

I horizontally flipped the picture so that we can see what it would look like printed on paper. People who layout words at a printing company are called Typesetters, I wonder if they used mirrors to double check their work back then.

It says: "Usus Est Magister Optimum" which translates to "Practice is the best teacher" So I'll take the advice to heart and use this blog to get better at writing! :)

John Rylands Library - Printing Press

The main reading room made me feel like I was on a movie set having all the trappings of a fantasy novel's grand library. Students were sitting at the tables studying in the alcoves, it's really cool that this isn't just a museum but a functioning library.

John Rylands Library - Main Hall

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