Manchester’s hidden gem: a look inside city’s oldest buildings and newest concert venue

Manchester is packed with history but perhaps there are some hidden gems which may be a secret to many people who live in the city.

Resting unassumingly inside the grounds of Chetham’s School of Music lie Manchester’s oldest buildings and the city’s newest concert hall.

Founded in 1653 and out of view from most passers-by is Chetham’s Library. The accredited museum plays an important role in Manchester’s medieval history.

It is the oldest public library in Britain, and is home to more than 120,000 books, maps and manuscripts, some dating back as far as the 13th century.

In contrast to the historical buildings is The Stoller Hall. The independent music venue opened within the new school building as a home for both school and professional music and other genres of performance.

Chetham’s history began in 1421, and students still get the opportunity to perform in the 600-year old Baronial Hall attached to Chetham’s Library.

It opened as a charitable school in 1653, and educated the poor boys of the district for 400 years before becoming a co-educational music school in 1969.

Chetham’s is now the largest specialist Music School in the UK and is the only one based in the north of England.