Now Central Ref was opened in July 1934 and to mark that event as well as its reopening I want to post a picture of the Library each month from now till the summer.
Along the way there will be some interesting stories a shed full of facts and perhaps the odd memory.
And to start the series here is the painting by Peter Topping.
The Ref was one of those wonderful places where as a student I could spend a Saturday in the warm chilling out with friends and in theory doing some work.
Although from memory there seemed to be more time spent in the basement cafe than in the main reading room.
And then depending on our mood we might be lucky and pick up a couple of tickets for the Library Theatre.
It didn’t really matter what was on as long as it finished at a decent time to get to the pub.
After I started work I went less often and it became a place I took friends and family to as part of the “see the tourist spots of Manchester” trail.
The walk up the stairs past Shakespeare always impressed them but nothing quite prepared them for the Social Sciences Library with its ranks of tables radiating out from the central hub, that wonderful dome and of course the echo.
And when I began using the place again to research the history of Chorlton I still got that same buzz on entering the building.
So with all that in mind, I look forward to any stories, any pictures any memories that people care to offer up in celebration of 80 years of the Central Reference Library.
Painting; Central Ref © 2013 Peter Topping, Paintings from Pictures,
Web: www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk
Facebook: Paintings from Pictures
Along the way there will be some interesting stories a shed full of facts and perhaps the odd memory.
The Ref was one of those wonderful places where as a student I could spend a Saturday in the warm chilling out with friends and in theory doing some work.
Although from memory there seemed to be more time spent in the basement cafe than in the main reading room.
And then depending on our mood we might be lucky and pick up a couple of tickets for the Library Theatre.
It didn’t really matter what was on as long as it finished at a decent time to get to the pub.
After I started work I went less often and it became a place I took friends and family to as part of the “see the tourist spots of Manchester” trail.
The walk up the stairs past Shakespeare always impressed them but nothing quite prepared them for the Social Sciences Library with its ranks of tables radiating out from the central hub, that wonderful dome and of course the echo.
And when I began using the place again to research the history of Chorlton I still got that same buzz on entering the building.
So with all that in mind, I look forward to any stories, any pictures any memories that people care to offer up in celebration of 80 years of the Central Reference Library.
Painting; Central Ref © 2013 Peter Topping, Paintings from Pictures,
Web: www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk
Facebook: Paintings from Pictures
No comments:
Post a Comment