The Portico Library and Gallery

 

Lyceum  Library, Liverpool

Portico Library, Manchester

The Portico Library and Gallery opened in Manchester in 1806 as a newsroom as well as a library. It consists of a remarkable 19^th century collection of approximately 25,000 books, housed in the splendour of its original purpose-built, Grade 11* listed building, all reflecting the social and cultural interests of its early members. These included John Richard Taylor who founded the Guardian following the Battle of Peterloo, and Richard Cobden, the radical Liberal statesman and co-founder of the Anti-Corn Law League. Entrance to the Gallery and its frequent exhibitions is free. The problem may lie in finding this hidden gem. It is situated above the Bank Pub on Mosley Street, and is

Rather palatial interior of the Bank Pub in Mosley Street

described as “in a building that resembles an ancient Greek temple.”

Richard Cobden

I had not known of the Portico until I read recently that it had been awarded £453,964 from the National Lottery to develop a £7 million plan to transform the library. The ambitious prize-winning plan includes creating dining and exhibition spaces, a new ‘collections’ care lab’ and areas for events and meetings plus the introduction of a ‘Northern bookshop’.

The Portico happened originally because of the reputed jealousy of the Manchester business community of the 1802 opening of the Lyceum Library in Liverpool, designed by Thomas Harrison in the Greek Revival style. They wanted something similar in Manchester! In total, 400 Manchester businessmen became early members and it was their money which facilitated the building of the Library and its early acquisitions. This original membership included doctors, lawyers, merchants and factory owners with much of their wealth founded in the lucrative but exploitative cotton trade. Their objective was to found a centre where knowledge could be accessed and was widely available, a typically Victorian and worthy endeavour to democratise information.

Joseph Sunlight: architect

The Portico thrived until after WW1 when it faced closure because of a shortage of both members and consequently, of money. Joseph Sunlight, a local architect, came up with a survival plan which was to sell books and reduce the physical size of the Library. The lower floors were taken over by the Bank of Athens, now the Bank Pub, with the smaller library continuing to operated on the top floor, several flights of stairs up! The new plan which has attracted the National Lottery grant, is to reunite all three floors for the Portico after a century apart. Additionally, because of a lack of money, and perhaps, a wider recognition, the condition of the original collection of books has sadly deteriorated hence the urgent need for the ‘collections care lab’ in the current plan.

Thom Keep: Portico Librarian

Thom Keep, the Portico librarian, believes that the Portico has untapped potential. He says that it has been serving food and drink [as well as providing books and exhibitions] since 1806 and he has plans to develop its reputation as a chic lunch spot, the oldest in Manchester! In addition, he believes that local interest in Manchester’s 19^th century history is high and the Portico is also unique in that most of its library content is of the 19^th century providing a concentrated resource for specialist research. All this will help in raising the further £2 million still required for the transformation programme which John Carpenter, the Chair of the Portico, describes as ‘visionary’.

The Portico is home to the Portico Prize for Literature, a leading literary prize which celebrates the strong regional and literary identity of the North of England. It also hosts the Portico Prize  for Young Writers and The Portico Prize for Poetry which both aim to mirror the objectives of the Portico Prize. 

Interior of the Portico Library