An illustrated guide to Chetham's Library, the oldest surviving public library in Britain, and the medieval building complex in which it is housed. Chetham's Library is the oldest surviving public library in Britain. It was founded in 1653, under the will of Humphrey Chetham, a prosperous Manchester textile merchant, banker and landowner. His legacy also established a school for 40 poor boys (now a specialist music school) and provided for five chained libraries to be placed in local churches. The Library, in Manchester, England, is housed in a beautiful sandstone building dating from 1421, which was constructed to accommodate the priests of Manchester's Collegiate Church (now the Cathedral). It remains one of the most complete medieval building complexes to survive in the northwest of England. The building and the magnificent library interior create a unique atmosphere for both readers and visitors. SELLING POINTS: . Tells the story of Britain's oldest surviving public library . Fully and wonderfully illustrated . Tells the story of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels's association with the Library . A fascinating overview of a unique historical collection . Chetham's has one of the largest collections of material relating to Manchester and its region