Stretford Library

Stretford Library, on King Street, Stretford, Greater Manchester, was opened on 26 November 1940. It replaced the first free lending library in Stretford that had been established at the Stretford Public HallPublic hall built in 1878 by the Manchester's first multi-millionaire John Rylands. in nearby Dorset Street, established in 1883 by the cotton mill owner and philanthropist John RylandsEnglish entrepreneur and philanthropist (1801–1888), owner of the largest textile manufacturing concern in the United Kingdom, and Manchester’s first multi-millionaire..^[1]

The library was designed by the Manchester architect Percy Howard. Shortly after its completion the library was badly damaged during the Manchester BlitzHeavy bombing of the city of Manchester and its surrounding areas in North West England during the Second World War by the Nazi German Luftwaffe. of December 1940, and its books were removed to the Art Gallery for the remainder of the Second World War.^[1][2]

Plans to rebuild the damaged areas of the library were approved in 1951, and two years later, on 28 January 1953, the library was reopened.^[1] Stretford Library was added to the Local Heritage ListLocal heritage assets falling short of the criteria for nationally designated status. in 2023.^[3]