Founded in 1653 by a bequest from Humphrey Chetham (seen below in the monument dedicated to him in the adjacent Cathedral), Chetham's Library is the oldest public library in the English-speaking world. It operates as an independent charity and remains open to readers and visitors free of charge.

The Humphrey Chetham monument in the Cathedral

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The library sits across the courtyard.

The entrance to the library is through the doorway below.

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The Reading Room

In this alcove. below, by the window, - it is said - that Karl Marx, who had travelled up from London, met with his friend Friedrich Engels who was living in Manchester.