International Anthony Burgess Foundation (IABF)

Stevie Mackenzie-Smith

Nestled beneath the chimney stacks on Cambridge Street, in one corner of an old mill, is the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, a modest museum dedicated to one of Manchester’s greatest and most prolific writers. It’s an intimate place, with a gem of a reading room, an extensive archive – of books, manuscripts and correspondence – and staff who are as blooming lovely as they are knowledgeable. A detour from the bustle of Oxford Road can suddenly turn into an afternoon wiled away in a small but perfectly formed cornucopia of literary history.

Although best known for A Clockwork Orange, Burgess’s creative output was astonishingly productive. During his career he penned 33 novels, 25 pieces of non-fiction and two volumes of autobiography. And that’s even before touching on his three symphonies and hundreds of musical works; for his love of the piano was as great as that of his typewriters (five of which are on display at the foundation). He once remarked “I wish people would think of me as a musician who writes novels, instead of a novelist who writes music on the side.” Three of Burgess’s pianos are housed within the collection – sadly missing is the Gaveau upright previously belonging to the famous American performer Josephine Baker; it disappeared around the time of Burgess’s death in 1993.

There are no glass cabinets here, no key-locked cupboards

Go past the café, through the mill’s old engine room, now filled with assorted mahogany dressers – all belongings of Burgess – and down the stairs and you’ll find yourself in the small exhibition space. A fishbowl sits fatly, full of matchbooks that Burgess picked up from hotel bars around the world. Close by, a photograph shows the author happily in holiday mode; suntanned, scruffy, with cigar faithfully in hand.

The reading room is the highlight of the centre. Visitors need to call ahead for access, but once you’re in you’ll feel right at home. The loud orange floor and matching chairs are a nice touch; a nod to Burgess’s most infamous work. The space is disarmingly personal. Burgess’s paintings hang from the walls, while his books and records consume the shelves. Other knick-knacks lie along the way; a wooden whale puzzle sits alongside three volumes of Bernard Shaw’s collected letters. These items, the hallmarks of a familial sitting room, feel as though they have been lifted quite seamlessly from Burgess’s home life. There are no glass cabinets here, no key-locked cupboards: the chance to sit and ponder the groaning contents is a real treat.

Given the nature of the collection, a member of staff is always present in the reading room, though they are never overbearing. You can either be left to your own devices or happily bend their ears for stories. The Tiger Beer anecdote, for example, is a good one to ask after. Burgess apparently contacted the manufacturers of the Singaporean brand after naming his first novel “Time For A Tiger.” His request? A free Tiger-branded clock in exchange, please. He was politely declined, but heard back from them years later – once he was famous, of course.

If the reading room is a haven for distraction-free study, then the centre’s events programme is better suited to an evening’s socialising. Chuck Palahniuk stopped off on a recent book tour, while poetry readings and spoken-word nights are regular features.

After all of the leafing through and poking and prodding, a stop at the café is recommended. The ceilings are high, the brick walls exposed and the light is abundant. Good, strong coffee, loose leaf teas, soups, sandwiches and cakes are all available. But faced with the offer of a “Chockwork Orange” pint, Brentwood Brewery’s chocolaty malty beer? Well, it would be rude to the great man not to.

Engine House, Chorlton Mill,
3 Cambridge Street
ManchesterM1 5BY
View map
Telephone: 0161 235 0776 Visit Now

Services and Facilities

Library, archive, cafe, bookshop and performance venue

Opening Hours

  • Monday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Tuesday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Wednesday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Thursday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Friday10:00am - 4:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

What's on near International Anthony Burgess Foundation (IABF)

Until
ActivityLiverpool
Old Dock Tours, Liverpool

The Old Dock tour is a treat for younger and older visitors alike, fans of Liverpool’s maritime past, and anybody curious about local history.

£8.50 with concessions
Until
ComedyManchester
Creatures of the Night Comedy Club

An insanely committed seven-nights-a-week, Creatures of the Night Comedy Club opens its doors (20.30-22.30 typically, though please check) for evening after evening of side-splitting comedy.

from £5.00
Until
ComedyManchester
The Comedy Vault

Every Monday night upstairs at Fierce Bar, The Comedy Vault hosts an outrageously funny open-mic night. Come and try your hand or just to watch and laugh.

free entry
Until
ComedyManchester
Comedy Balloon

Every Wednesday at Ape & Apple, Manchester’s official underground comedy club, Comedy Balloon’s friendly and warm comedy night takes place.

free entry

Where to go near International Anthony Burgess Foundation (IABF)

Traditional green and beige tram in blackpool
Blackpool
Tourist Attraction
Heritage Tram Tours

Embark on a unique and educational journey along the famous Blackpool Tramway, on board the best of the iconic Heritage Trams.

Blackpool
Tourist Attraction
Sandcastle Waterpark

Bring the whole family together for a day of fun, thrills and exciting aquatic adventures at Sandcastle Waterpark.

© Merlin Entertainments 2024
Blackpool
Tourist Attraction
Blackpool Tower Eye

Experience one of the country’s most well-known landmarks in a whole new way. Brave the glass SkyWalk, head to the 4D cinema, or soak up the views at Bar 380.

Blackpool Tower Circus
Blackpool
Tourist Attraction
The Blackpool Tower Circus

Visit the oldest permanent circus in the world, showcasing some truly jaw-dropping stunts from contortionists, acrobats and trapeze acts.

Pendle witch scaring visitors at Blackpool Dungeons
Blackpool
Tourist Attraction
The Blackpool Tower Dungeon

With interactive shows and an impressive drop ride, you’re guaranteed thrills, screams and entertainment at The Blackpool Tower Dungeon.

activity 1
Event venue
Frankie’s Paint-It Pottery

Frankie’s Paint-It Pottery is a friendly place to relax and exercise your creative muscles by having a go at pottery painting.

hotel 4
City Centre
Hotel
Shankly Hotel

A glamorous tribute to Bill Shankly in hotel form, where else will you find a place where luxury meets fun in such style?

Manchester District Guides

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in Manchester and the North

Alongside experimental performance, new writing and free arts festivals, we take a look at some of the Christmas shows happening in the North.