Paul Heskes
John Rylands tower staircase ceiling
A view of the ceiling above the tower staircase leading into an octagonal viewing portal giving access to the first floor gallery by way of a tiny metal gate.
ISO 400 1/5th s @ f/4
Commissioned by the wife of John Rylands (Enriqueta Rylands) as a memorial to her late husband, to house a collection of 40,000 books including many rarities. designed by architect Basil Champneys and built between 1890-1899 in a Gothic Victorian design reminiscent of church architecture.
White marble statues of John and Enriqueta, sculpted by John Cassidy, can be found facing each other at either end of the main reading room. By todays standards, the legacy left by John Rylands to his wife amounts to £250,000,000
The stone used to build the library is known locally as 'Shawk' being pink or buff in colour and is originally quarried near Penrith in Cumbria.
John Rylands tower staircase ceiling
A view of the ceiling above the tower staircase leading into an octagonal viewing portal giving access to the first floor gallery by way of a tiny metal gate.
ISO 400 1/5th s @ f/4
Commissioned by the wife of John Rylands (Enriqueta Rylands) as a memorial to her late husband, to house a collection of 40,000 books including many rarities. designed by architect Basil Champneys and built between 1890-1899 in a Gothic Victorian design reminiscent of church architecture.
White marble statues of John and Enriqueta, sculpted by John Cassidy, can be found facing each other at either end of the main reading room. By todays standards, the legacy left by John Rylands to his wife amounts to £250,000,000
The stone used to build the library is known locally as 'Shawk' being pink or buff in colour and is originally quarried near Penrith in Cumbria.