The Portico Library
@porticolibrary.bsky.social
The Portico Library is Manchester’s original 19th-century home of literature and learning. Uncovering, imagining, and sharing new histories together.
A massive thank you to Richard Barrett and @corridor8.bsky.social for such an incredibly lovely review of Stephen Emmerson's How to Read a Book exhibition, which is on display now at The Portico.
🔗 You can read the full piece here: corridor8.co.uk/article/step...
🔗 You can read the full piece here: corridor8.co.uk/article/step...
November 24, 2025 at 12:08 PM
A massive thank you to Richard Barrett and @corridor8.bsky.social for such an incredibly lovely review of Stephen Emmerson's How to Read a Book exhibition, which is on display now at The Portico.
🔗 You can read the full piece here: corridor8.co.uk/article/step...
🔗 You can read the full piece here: corridor8.co.uk/article/step...
The Portico Library is seeking a new Chair of Trustees to help lead our exciting plans for the future of the Library....
November 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The Portico Library is seeking a new Chair of Trustees to help lead our exciting plans for the future of the Library....
Reposted by The Portico Library
Reading Antiquities of Athens & Attica Vol. 2 - my fav book @porticolibrary.bsky.social as part of a movement workshop.
November 22, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reading Antiquities of Athens & Attica Vol. 2 - my fav book @porticolibrary.bsky.social as part of a movement workshop.
Next week, join artist and writer Stephen Emmerson for an evening of curated poetry inspired by his exhibition How To Read A Book.
🔗 Book your spot here: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...
🔗 Book your spot here: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...
November 19, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Next week, join artist and writer Stephen Emmerson for an evening of curated poetry inspired by his exhibition How To Read A Book.
🔗 Book your spot here: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...
🔗 Book your spot here: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...
🧵 Join us this Friday, as we celebrate the launch of Jennifer Reid's The Singer Not The Song.
A display of words, spineless wonders and dialects from the Jennifer, interwoven with books from the Portico Collection.
A display of words, spineless wonders and dialects from the Jennifer, interwoven with books from the Portico Collection.
November 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
🧵 Join us this Friday, as we celebrate the launch of Jennifer Reid's The Singer Not The Song.
A display of words, spineless wonders and dialects from the Jennifer, interwoven with books from the Portico Collection.
A display of words, spineless wonders and dialects from the Jennifer, interwoven with books from the Portico Collection.
🧵 A remarkable discovery by Portico Library volunteer Rebecca Lamb has revealed that Charles Dickens signed the Library’s Strangers’ Book in May 1844 — confirming that one of the world’s most celebrated novelists once stepped inside Manchester’s oldest subscription library...
November 6, 2025 at 12:11 PM
🧵 A remarkable discovery by Portico Library volunteer Rebecca Lamb has revealed that Charles Dickens signed the Library’s Strangers’ Book in May 1844 — confirming that one of the world’s most celebrated novelists once stepped inside Manchester’s oldest subscription library...
🧵 Weddings at The Portico!
The magic of being part of these big days never wears off, and we count ourselves so incredibly lucky to be part of them...
The magic of being part of these big days never wears off, and we count ourselves so incredibly lucky to be part of them...
November 5, 2025 at 1:49 PM
🧵 Weddings at The Portico!
The magic of being part of these big days never wears off, and we count ourselves so incredibly lucky to be part of them...
The magic of being part of these big days never wears off, and we count ourselves so incredibly lucky to be part of them...
🧵Have you had chance to see our latest exhibition, How To Read A Book, yet?
Created by writer and artist, Stephen Emmerson, How To Read A Book is a collection concerned with language, writing, and memory...
Created by writer and artist, Stephen Emmerson, How To Read A Book is a collection concerned with language, writing, and memory...
November 4, 2025 at 12:49 PM
🧵Have you had chance to see our latest exhibition, How To Read A Book, yet?
Created by writer and artist, Stephen Emmerson, How To Read A Book is a collection concerned with language, writing, and memory...
Created by writer and artist, Stephen Emmerson, How To Read A Book is a collection concerned with language, writing, and memory...
We're thrilled to have been awarded Highly Commended in the Independent Venue of the Year category at the national Famtastic Rocks ceremony!
Our wedding and private hire offering — which is headed up by the brilliant Michelle Hill and Ellie Holly — was highlighted for praise by judges.
Our wedding and private hire offering — which is headed up by the brilliant Michelle Hill and Ellie Holly — was highlighted for praise by judges.
November 3, 2025 at 12:05 PM
We're thrilled to have been awarded Highly Commended in the Independent Venue of the Year category at the national Famtastic Rocks ceremony!
Our wedding and private hire offering — which is headed up by the brilliant Michelle Hill and Ellie Holly — was highlighted for praise by judges.
Our wedding and private hire offering — which is headed up by the brilliant Michelle Hill and Ellie Holly — was highlighted for praise by judges.
Reposted by The Portico Library
My day. Exciting but shattered now after installing @porticolibrary.bsky.social then a v atmospheric Polidori #Vampyre reading in the reading room with Byron’s vampire fragment on display.
October 31, 2025 at 8:29 PM
My day. Exciting but shattered now after installing @porticolibrary.bsky.social then a v atmospheric Polidori #Vampyre reading in the reading room with Byron’s vampire fragment on display.
Tomorrow, join us for an unforgettable evening with Sharon Wright, award-winning journalist and biographer, and Graham Watson, debut author and literary sleuth...
October 31, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Tomorrow, join us for an unforgettable evening with Sharon Wright, award-winning journalist and biographer, and Graham Watson, debut author and literary sleuth...
Did you spot The Portico on @itvnews.bsky.social last night?
Our Pan African Congress 80th anniversary exhibition aired yesterday!
You can find the story online now: www.itv.com/news/granada...
Our Pan African Congress 80th anniversary exhibition aired yesterday!
You can find the story online now: www.itv.com/news/granada...
October 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Did you spot The Portico on @itvnews.bsky.social last night?
Our Pan African Congress 80th anniversary exhibition aired yesterday!
You can find the story online now: www.itv.com/news/granada...
Our Pan African Congress 80th anniversary exhibition aired yesterday!
You can find the story online now: www.itv.com/news/granada...
🧵 Last Saturday, we hosted the gorgeous wedding of Sophie and Joe. It was our biggest wedding of the year and took place under our historic dome...
October 30, 2025 at 11:39 AM
🧵 Last Saturday, we hosted the gorgeous wedding of Sophie and Joe. It was our biggest wedding of the year and took place under our historic dome...
🧵 Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into lovingly repairing historic books from The Portico's 19th-century collection...
October 29, 2025 at 11:12 AM
🧵 Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into lovingly repairing historic books from The Portico's 19th-century collection...
We've got loads of exciting family-friendly activities coming up this week to celebrate the half term...
October 27, 2025 at 12:02 PM
We've got loads of exciting family-friendly activities coming up this week to celebrate the half term...
We're thrilled to announce that we'll be hosting next year's Women In Folk Song Conference.
Taking place next April, the conference will investigate and celebrate the often-overlooked roles of females in the traditional folk song world...
Taking place next April, the conference will investigate and celebrate the often-overlooked roles of females in the traditional folk song world...
October 24, 2025 at 12:17 PM
We're thrilled to announce that we'll be hosting next year's Women In Folk Song Conference.
Taking place next April, the conference will investigate and celebrate the often-overlooked roles of females in the traditional folk song world...
Taking place next April, the conference will investigate and celebrate the often-overlooked roles of females in the traditional folk song world...
Reposted by The Portico Library
Amazing night at the @porticolibrary.bsky.social
Literal chills tonight. 🕯️✨
A spine-tingly evening in @porticolibrary.bsky.social feat @essiefox.bsky.social and @kateagriffin.bsky.social — featuring full-on fangirling over Victorian Gothic (❤️ Jane Eyre ❤️) and a first edition Byron. 📚💀
#BookCommunity #Manchester #GothicLiterature #ReadersLife
A spine-tingly evening in @porticolibrary.bsky.social feat @essiefox.bsky.social and @kateagriffin.bsky.social — featuring full-on fangirling over Victorian Gothic (❤️ Jane Eyre ❤️) and a first edition Byron. 📚💀
#BookCommunity #Manchester #GothicLiterature #ReadersLife
October 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Amazing night at the @porticolibrary.bsky.social
We're in love with these stunning snaps taken during Bimbo Ponmile's book launch earlier this month at The Portico.
📸 Photos by the fantastic Gideon Okorie
📸 Photos by the fantastic Gideon Okorie
October 23, 2025 at 10:57 AM
We're in love with these stunning snaps taken during Bimbo Ponmile's book launch earlier this month at The Portico.
📸 Photos by the fantastic Gideon Okorie
📸 Photos by the fantastic Gideon Okorie
Reposted by The Portico Library
Literal chills tonight. 🕯️✨
A spine-tingly evening in @porticolibrary.bsky.social feat @essiefox.bsky.social and @kateagriffin.bsky.social — featuring full-on fangirling over Victorian Gothic (❤️ Jane Eyre ❤️) and a first edition Byron. 📚💀
#BookCommunity #Manchester #GothicLiterature #ReadersLife
A spine-tingly evening in @porticolibrary.bsky.social feat @essiefox.bsky.social and @kateagriffin.bsky.social — featuring full-on fangirling over Victorian Gothic (❤️ Jane Eyre ❤️) and a first edition Byron. 📚💀
#BookCommunity #Manchester #GothicLiterature #ReadersLife
October 23, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Literal chills tonight. 🕯️✨
A spine-tingly evening in @porticolibrary.bsky.social feat @essiefox.bsky.social and @kateagriffin.bsky.social — featuring full-on fangirling over Victorian Gothic (❤️ Jane Eyre ❤️) and a first edition Byron. 📚💀
#BookCommunity #Manchester #GothicLiterature #ReadersLife
A spine-tingly evening in @porticolibrary.bsky.social feat @essiefox.bsky.social and @kateagriffin.bsky.social — featuring full-on fangirling over Victorian Gothic (❤️ Jane Eyre ❤️) and a first edition Byron. 📚💀
#BookCommunity #Manchester #GothicLiterature #ReadersLife
Starting a discussion on historical gothic fiction with Hammer Horror. Sarah Dutson talking to writers @essiefox.bsky.social and @kateagriffin.bsky.social for Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies.
We also got out the volume of our 1832 edition of the life and work of Lord Byron.
We also got out the volume of our 1832 edition of the life and work of Lord Byron.
October 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Starting a discussion on historical gothic fiction with Hammer Horror. Sarah Dutson talking to writers @essiefox.bsky.social and @kateagriffin.bsky.social for Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies.
We also got out the volume of our 1832 edition of the life and work of Lord Byron.
We also got out the volume of our 1832 edition of the life and work of Lord Byron.
🧵 Tomorrow night at The Portico!
In this free, inspiring masterclass and interview with Carol Ann Whitehead, Dr Kevin Dalton-Johnson shares his personal experiences as a student, teacher, and leader within the British education system...
In this free, inspiring masterclass and interview with Carol Ann Whitehead, Dr Kevin Dalton-Johnson shares his personal experiences as a student, teacher, and leader within the British education system...
October 22, 2025 at 10:25 AM
🧵 Tomorrow night at The Portico!
In this free, inspiring masterclass and interview with Carol Ann Whitehead, Dr Kevin Dalton-Johnson shares his personal experiences as a student, teacher, and leader within the British education system...
In this free, inspiring masterclass and interview with Carol Ann Whitehead, Dr Kevin Dalton-Johnson shares his personal experiences as a student, teacher, and leader within the British education system...
Tomorrow evening at The Portico, join award-winning novelists Essie Fox and Kate Griffin to find out more about the process of writing historical fiction and how to create a Gothic atmosphere.
Tickets are just £3, book yours here: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...
Tickets are just £3, book yours here: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...
October 21, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Tomorrow evening at The Portico, join award-winning novelists Essie Fox and Kate Griffin to find out more about the process of writing historical fiction and how to create a Gothic atmosphere.
Tickets are just £3, book yours here: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...
Tickets are just £3, book yours here: www.theportico.org.uk/event-calend...
Reposted by The Portico Library
Library within a library @porticolibrary.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Library within a library @porticolibrary.bsky.social
It’s #worldmenopauseday and we’re here to welcome you. Or discuss hot flushes, shaving, anger, vertigo & sleep remedies. And our wisdom.
Btw🔥this means something else to us.
#menopause
Btw🔥this means something else to us.
#menopause
October 18, 2025 at 11:34 AM
It’s #worldmenopauseday and we’re here to welcome you. Or discuss hot flushes, shaving, anger, vertigo & sleep remedies. And our wisdom.
Btw🔥this means something else to us.
#menopause
Btw🔥this means something else to us.
#menopause
🧵 A lovely and remarkable homecoming story for a Friday!
An 1863 edition of The Art Journal has been returned to the Portico Library by retired architect Harman Scott, almost a century after it likely left our shelves...
An 1863 edition of The Art Journal has been returned to the Portico Library by retired architect Harman Scott, almost a century after it likely left our shelves...
October 17, 2025 at 11:09 AM
🧵 A lovely and remarkable homecoming story for a Friday!
An 1863 edition of The Art Journal has been returned to the Portico Library by retired architect Harman Scott, almost a century after it likely left our shelves...
An 1863 edition of The Art Journal has been returned to the Portico Library by retired architect Harman Scott, almost a century after it likely left our shelves...