The MGS archives are stored in the Ian Bailey Archive Library, which is adjacent to the School Hall and is managed by our full-time Archivist, Rachel Kneale, and three part-time Old Mancunians (from L to R in the photograph): John Bever, Bob MacKay and Jeremy Ward.

Viewing our Archive Material

The MGS Archive contains a wealth of material on the 500 year history of the School, much of which will interest researchers, including genealogists and family historians. Rachel is always happy to take enquiries from researchers via email, post or phone, and will do her best to respond with any information she is able to supply.

Researchers may visit to consult archive material in person, but should contact the Archivist in advance to arrange a suitable time to visit.

Individuals can undertake research in a number of ways:

Archival material can be consulted in person, subject to data protection restrictions, free of charge. Appointments should be made with the Archivist in advance.

The Archivist will undertake short research on your behalf, free of charge, providing it takes less than twenty minutes to complete. However, we always welcome voluntary contributions to our bursary fund.  An example of short research might be checking for dates that an individual attended MGS, or the dates a member of staff worked at the School. The Archivist is happy to advise on the likely length of a piece of research.

More detailed research, taking over twenty minutes to complete, is charged at £10 per half hour. This cost includes a reasonable number of copies of documents (up to 10 pages) if appropriate and UK postage.  Enquiries of this nature might include providing detailed statistical information, finding details of a pupils academic career at the School or references to an individual in School magazines.

Prospective researchers should please note that records less than 75 years old may not be consulted without the prior permission of the High Master.


Our Treasures

Some of the treasures of the Archive Library include handwritten cards from writers such as George Bernard Shaw, HG Wells and Rudyard Kipling.

The MGS Visitors’ Book from 1931 – 2006 includes signatures from The Queen when she visited in 1965 and ‘Monty’ of Alamein, when he visited in 1956.

Alongside the treasures, the Archive Library holds a wealth of material which reveals what MGS was like through the years, and what – to a great extent – the School is still like today: the photographs, admissions registers, text books and scrap books, uniform, a complete collection of Ulula which began publication in 1873, the drama and music programmes – all contribute in demonstrating first-hand the history of MGS.

Between November 1985 and July 1988, The Manchester Grammar School deposited a tranche of the material to the Manchester Central Library Archives Department, a catalogue of which can be consulted in the Ian Bailey Archive Library. Much of this material covers the first three hundred years of the School’s existence.

For further information please contact Rachel Kneale This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by telephone on 0161 224 7201 Ext 361
You can also now visit our listing at the National Archives website.

To read more about Rachel please enter here