The Portico Library, Subscription library in Manchester, England
The Portico Library is a subscription library in Manchester, housed in a sandstone building on Mosley Street designed in the Greek Revival style. It is a Grade II* listed building that functions as both a lending library and a venue for exhibitions and events.
The library was founded in 1806 by Manchester merchants who wanted a place to read newspapers and books during the city's industrial growth. Over the 19th century it became a meeting point for the city's intellectual life, hosting readings and debates.
The library takes its name from the portico, the columned porch that frames the building's entrance on Mosley Street. Inside, visitors can still see the original wooden shelves and a curved gallery running around the upper level, giving the reading room a feeling that has barely changed since the 19th century.
The entrance is on Charlotte Street, around the side of the main building facing Mosley Street. The library opens several days a week and offers free access to exhibitions and the reading areas on the upper floor.
Peter Mark Roget, the library's first secretary, is said to have laid the groundwork for his famous thesaurus here, a reference book first published in 1852. The connection between this building and one of the most consulted works in the English language is rarely mentioned on a visit.
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