The Forgotten Library: Enriqueta Rylands and her books
20 May 2026 鈥� 31 October 2026
Explore Enriqueta Rylands' personal book collection.
Enriqueta Rylands founded The John Rylands Library in memory of her husband, filling it with books that she bought for the people of Manchester.
The Forgotten Library exhibition explores the book collection Enriqueta kept at Longford Hall, south 91直播. She filled her home with books: old and new, beautiful and plain, luxurious and useful.
After her death in 1908, Enriqueta Rylands left all these books, manuscripts and engravings to The John Rylands Library. Although Longford Hall no longer stands, there are traces of this forgotten library running through the shelves of the Rylands.
Through ledgers, lists and letters, discover the books Enriqueta treasured at home. Uncover her passion for collecting first editions and autographs of beloved authors from Charlotte Bront毛 to William Makepeace Thackeray, and experience the beauty of this forgotten library through intricately decorated medieval manuscripts and modern fine bindings.
The exhibition opens at The John Rylands Library on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. Entry is free.