• historic
  • adlington hall
  • capesthorne hall
  • john barrow memorial
  • john rylands library
  • leeds city museum
  • ordsall hall
  • st. peter's
  • victoria baths
• parks
• ecclesiastical
• secular
• domestic

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Client	University of Manchester
Location	Manchester
Status	Grade I listed
Summary	Repair, refurbishment and modernisation, including major new pitched roof intervention and large scale glazing repairs
Completion	February 2007
Build Value	Total construction £11.3m Refurbishment £3.5m

John Rylands Library was built at the end of the nineteenth century to house a number of significant collections which were being assembled by Enriquita Rylands in memory of her late husband, the cotton magnate John Rylands. The library building was designed by Basil Champneys who has achieved one of the most stimulating and uplifting interiors in Manchester.

Lloyd Evans Prichard was commissioned in 1997 by Manchester University to undertake a full condition survey of the original building and its three extensions. This survey set out to prioritise defects noted and to provide cost estimates for repair. The document was accepted by the University who, after deliberation, made an application to the HLF for support. This application included, in addition to extensive repairs, the proposal to build a new extension broadly on the footprint of the 1970s existing building. Lloyd Evans Prichard were responsible for the repairs and reinstatement at the existing building, while working alongside Austin-Smith:Lord who were the architects for the new building.

One element of the conservation work was to complete Champney's vision by the erection of a traditional timber trussed pitched roof, covered with green Westmoreland slates over historically problematic existing roof. Other works included rebuilding the leaded glazing, masonry repairs, leadwork, asphalt roof reinstatement, masonry cleaning internally and overhauling the heating and ventilation.

The library is now complete and open to the public, although visitors must make a special visitation to the original cathedral-like entrance hall, as the main entrance is now via the new building extension.