Walk along Moseley St. beside the tram tracks in the centre of Manchester and where it crosses Charlotte St. you will see an impressive building which you’ll recognize as the Bank pub. Many people don’t look further. But if you take a turn at the corner you’ll find an unassuming green door. Look up and see “The Portico Library 1806”. Enter and a narrow staircase will lead you up to a room which I promise will provide you a definite “Wow” response.

It’s been seven years now since I came back to live here, to support Mum in her final years and since I decided to become a member of the Portico. Apart from being a stunning example of Manchester’s 19th century architecture and a pleasure to step inside, it’s Reading Room provided me a quiet space to write. In these years I’ve begun to refer to the Portico as “my library”.

Now, I’m excited to be involved in the Portico’s Reunite project which will see the library again occupy all three floors of the building with an £11 million revisioning of its space.

This significant juncture in its history is being supported by a Grant from the National Lottery Commission as well as a vigorous fund-raising campaign.

See theportico.org.uk for how you can add your support.

The Portico achieves so much in its limited top floor space being not only a library with 25,000+ centuries-old books but also an inspirational art gallery and a fine cafe fast becoming recognized as one of Manchester’s best lunch spots. 

For its current exhibition “Everything and Nothing” the library staff ventured into the building’s attic where its archive is stored. What they found began to shape a consideration of what it is that makes a library and this is at the heart of the exhibition. Visitor’s are asked to contribute their ideas and to write a message to be placed in a time capsule to be opened in 2076.

For my contribution at this significant juncture in the library’s history, the library’s staff commissioned a poem from me to respond to the only other known poem to have been published, “The Portico” by Tinsley Pratt (1909). What an honour!

On display with “The Portico” by Tinsley Pratt:

#theportico.org.uk; #poetry; #porticoreunited; #antiquarianlibraries #antiquarianbooks