Building Tour The John Rylands Library and Social- RIBA NW HCS Group

The NW Conservation, Heritage and Sustainability Group is proud to invite you for an exclusive guided tour of the £7.6 million transformation of the Grade I-listed John Rylands Library, led by Rory Chisholm Associate director at by Donald Insall Associates, followed by a winter social with refreshments and canapés with the fellow attendees.

The John Rylands Library Tour

The John Rylands Library is a late-Victorian Gothic building listed Grade 1 on Deansgate in the centre of Manchester, designed by Basil Champneys and completed in 1899.
Widely regarded as one of Europe’s finest examples of neo-Gothic architecture, the neo-Gothic building houses internationally significant collections of rare books, manuscripts, and archives.
It was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband, John Rylands, owner of the largest textile manufacturing concern in the UK and Manchester’s first multi-millionaire.
The transformation of the Grade I-listed John Rylands Library has upgraded the visitor experience and sensitively enhanced key areas of the building to respond and cater for the challenges of the next generation.
Led by Donald Insall Associates in collaboration with exhibition designers Nissen Richards Studio, the ‘John Rylands Next Chapter’ project consists of a series of subtle yet strategic interventions. Across the project, we have employed a cohesive architectural language that reflects the building’s evolution from its original construction through subsequent modifications in the 1920s, 1960s, and early 2000s.
Our guide is Rory Chisholm; Associate Director at DIA, a RIBA-chartered and conservation-accredited architect who led the recent 'Next Chapter' project.

Post-Tour Winter Social at Motley, Manchester

Following our tour of the John Rylands Library, we invite you to join us for a relaxed Winter social gathering at Motley (115 Deansgate, Manchester, just a one-minute walk away. Enjoy a selection of canapés and drinks while catching up with friends and colleagues in a welcoming and informal setting .

The social will begin promptly at 6:30pm, immediately after the tour, and will run until 9:00pm. We hope to see you there!

We have general admission and discounted student tickets available.

Please purchase tickets based on the part(s) of the evening you'd like to attend:

• Tour only
• Social only
• Tour + Social

Most of the tour is planned via accessible routes, with the option to enter some areas with stepped access. If you have any accessibility requirementscan you please notify us ahead of the tour and the team will ensure that the full tour is made via level-access.

Photos and videos will be take during this event. If you do not wish to be in any photos or have any concerns please email or let us know at the event.

The NW Conservation, Heritage and Sustainability Group was established by RIBA North West to provide a forum for learning, discussion, and the exchange of best practice in relation to historic buildings.

The group seeks to explore how heritage assets can be sensitively preserved while incorporating sustainable measures that ensure their continued relevance and resilience. Through a structured programme of lectures, tours, and heritage walks, members gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of re-use, adaptation, and long-term stewardship.

By sharing lessons learned, the group promotes approaches that balance conservation with innovation, safeguarding our historic environment for future generations.

The forum is chaired by Lisa McFarlane and if you would like to get involved and be part of it, please email [email protected] to register your interest.

Images credited to Gareth Gardener.

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