© Joel Goodman - 07973 332324 - all rights reserved . 18/08/2020. Manchester , UK . The library's oldest artefact , Thomas Grelle's Charter to the Burgesses of Manchester, which was written on 14th May 1301 and formally established the foundation of the Township of Manchester , is placed on a table in the library's Reading Room . A whistle-stop , behind-the-scenes tour of Manchester Central Library , as staff make preparations to reopen this Thursday (18th August 2020) . Photo credit : Joel Goodman