- Portico Library
The Portico Library is a
subscription library in centralManchester , north-westEngland .It was established following a meeting of Manchester business people in 1803 which resolved to found an "institute uniting the advantages of a newsroom and a library". A visit by four of those men to the Athenaeum in Liverpool inspired them to achieve a similar institution in Manchester. Money was raised through members' subscriptions and it opened in 1806.
The library, mainly focused on 19th century literature, is housed in a Grade II* neo-classical
listed building , designed by Thomas Harrison (architect ofThe Lyceum, Liverpool which was the second such institution to be built in that city), and built by one of the founders,David Bellhouse .Today, the building also accommodates an
exhibition space . The ground floor is now tenanted by apublic house , while the library remains upstairs.ee also
*
Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester External links
* [http://www.theportico.org.uk/ Portico website]
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