Elizabeth Gaskell's House

Elizabeth Gaskell's House Historic Victorian House and museum. Home of Manchester writer Elizabeth Gaskell. Booking essential via website. Keep up to date with news and events here!

Beautifully restored home of novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, & her family at 84 Plymouth Grove.

Last night was our Party 🎉 This was our chance to thank our volunteers for all their hard work! The food was prepared ...
05/06/2026

Last night was our Party 🎉

This was our chance to thank our volunteers for all their hard work! The food was prepared by one of our volunteers, Liz, who did an amazing job - thank you 👏

And well done also to our winning quiz team ✨

Thank you to everyone who came for a wonderful evening!

Volunteers' Week

‘Now, dear, leave it to other women to make shirts and darn stockings, and you devote yourself to this (writing)’ Letter...
05/06/2026

‘Now, dear, leave it to other women to make shirts and darn stockings, and you devote yourself to this (writing)’ Letter to Harriet Martineau, 1823

Journalist, writer, traveller, translator, abolitionist, feminist and social reformer. Harriet Martineau may be the most famous Victorian woman you’ve never heard of. Now is your chance to change that!

Her friends and fans (and sometimes foes) included Elizabeth Gaskell, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Queen Victoria, Charles Darwin and George Eliot. Despite being deaf since childhood, she rebelled against the restrictions on contemporary women’s lives. Martineau travelled to America, Europe, Egypt and the Middle East, rejected traditional religion and was a radical free thinker

In July we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of Harriet Martineau - a woman ahead of her time with The Charles Dickens Museum and Chawton House.

Where? Online talk via zoom
When? Wed 15 July, 7pm
What? Harriet Martineau – ‘Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare’
Book now via link in comments 👇

It is now or never! 📣 Today is your absolute last chance to lock in your spot for the Cranford TV Classic talk, Wed 3 Ju...
03/06/2026

It is now or never! 📣 Today is your absolute last chance to lock in your spot for the Cranford TV Classic talk, Wed 3 June online.

Tickets are selling fast and time is officially running out. Tap the link in comments to book your tickets right now! 🎟️✨

It's 2026 and we want to say a HUGE thank you to our incredible volunteers ❤️ ❤️ ❤️As a very small organisation, we re...
02/06/2026

It's 2026 and we want to say a HUGE thank you to our incredible volunteers ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

As a very small organisation, we rely on a team of volunteers to help us in a variety of different ways - and what a wonderful job they do!

You might have met our volunteers on one of our open days, on our Welcome Desk, Tea Room or in our recreated Victorian rooms. But they also manage our garden, run a conservation cleaning group, and help with private tours, weddings and fairs, amongst other things.

Volunteers are the reason we're able to open our doors and keep Elizabeth's story alive, so thank you to every single one of them, past and present - you're amazing! 👏 🥳 ✨

Volunteers' Week ❤️

'A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly — better than always doubting and doubting and seeing diffic...
02/06/2026

'A little credulity helps one on through life very smoothly — better than always doubting and doubting and seeing difficulties and disagreeables in everything' Cranford

'In the first place, Cranford is in possession of the Amazons; all the holders of houses above a certain rent are women....
01/06/2026

'In the first place, Cranford is in possession of the Amazons; all the holders of houses above a certain rent are women... In short, whatever does become of the gentlemen, they are not at Cranford.'

Join like-minded literary fans online this Wed 3 June to celebrate the TV adaptation of the much-loved Cranford.

What - Online talk: Cranford - A TV Classic
Where - Online via zoom
When - Wed 3 June, 7pm
How - book via link in comments 👇

Don't forget you can watch live online or on-demand via the recording link.

“so, after dessert, in orange season, Miss Jenkyns and Miss Matty used to rise up, possess themselves each of an orange ...
31/05/2026

“so, after dessert, in orange season, Miss Jenkyns and Miss Matty used to rise up, possess themselves each of an orange in silence, and withdraw to the privacy of their own rooms to indulge in sucking oranges.” Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

The BBC TV adaptations Cranford (2007) and Return to Cranford (2009) were hailed as rich and funny portrayals of Victorian provincial life. The series featured a wealth of stars including Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton and Francesca Annis. Heidi Thomas’s screenplay reflected both the gentle humour and the pathos of rural life in a Cheshire town on the cusp of industrial change.

Find out more about the wonderful adaptations with Dr Chris Louttit online...
📚 Online Talk: Cranford – A TV Classic
🔎 Wed 3 June
👒 Online via Zoom
🎟️ Tickets - link in comments

“I wanted to see the place where Margaret grew to what she is, even at the worst time of all, when I had no hope of ever...
28/05/2026

“I wanted to see the place where Margaret grew to what she is, even at the worst time of all, when I had no hope of ever calling her mine.” North and South, 1855

“Miss Jenkyns wore a cravat, and a little bonnet like a jockey-cap, and altogether had the appearance of a strong-minded...
27/05/2026

“Miss Jenkyns wore a cravat, and a little bonnet like a jockey-cap, and altogether had the appearance of a strong-minded woman; although she would have despised the modern idea of women being equal to men. Equal, indeed! she knew they were superior.” Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell, 1853

What's your favourite Cranford moment or quote?

More Cranford events in comments 👇

Want to read Elizabeth Gaskell aloud in her own home?Now you can join one of our friendly shared reading sessions.Workin...
26/05/2026

Want to read Elizabeth Gaskell aloud in her own home?

Now you can join one of our friendly shared reading sessions.

Working with charity , Elizabeth Gaskell’s House are hosting a series of events where you can experience the joy of reading together.

🎟️ Tickets are free, booking required. Link in the comments.

📆 Sunday 21 June, 11am & 2pm
📆 Wednesday 24 June, 11am & 2pm

Address

Elizabeth Gaskell's House, 84 Plymouth Grove
Manchester
M139LW

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

01612732215

Website

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