[6] Initial construction of the building began in 1938, with completion finishing 13 years later due to the outbreak of the Second World War halting the work.

[7] Parkinson Court was refurbished in 2004, being restored to its former glory as a gateway to the Brotherton Library, which opened in 1936 alongside the rest of the university campus.

& Tragedies) published in 1623 and valued at around £15 million,[10][11] manuscripts by Victorian Era writers The Brontë sisters and hundreds of letters to French poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman and human rights activist, Victor Hugo.

[5] At present, the Parkinson Building houses a range of services for staff and students of the university whilst having collections available to the general public.

[13][14] Parkinson Court has an exemplar Palladian floor plan, which has a double height ceiling in the middle of a cross under the clock tower.