Mr Monkey briefly examined the windows in the cloister then went into the Spencer Room. This is where the first books bought for the Library are kept. In 1892 Mrs Rylands purchased the library of the Spencer family from the 5th Earl Spencer - he needed the money and the collection had mostly been amassed by the 2nd Earl. Mrs Rylands paid £210,000 for 43,000 volumes, including many bibles and 4,000 books printed before 1501. This purchase effectively turned the John Rylands Library from a religious library into a world renowned scholarly institution.
Return to Mr Monkey visits the John Rylands Library
Copyright Rik Shepherd and Mr Monkey.