Early in 2025 Elizabeth Gaskell’s House announced its inaugural writers’ residency, in collaboration with The Writing Squad and Manchester City of Literature. The project was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and celebrated the House’s 10-year anniversary of opening to the public.
Three young writers, Georgia Affonso, Princess Arinola Adegbite and Guruleen Kahlo, were asked to respond in any written form to one of three themes; the House itself; Social equality as explored in Elizabeth’s writing and Elizabeth’s experience as a female writer.
Their resulting experience and work formed the exhibition ‘I’ve Never Read Elizabeth Gaskell’ which was displayed at Manchester Central Library during June 2025 for the Festival of Libraries and then moved to the House from July to November 2025. The exhibition continued to tour other Manchester libraries during 2026. A book of the writers work was also produced,
The writers also devised and led creative writing workshops and resources for schools.
Read the work created by our Writers in Residence
Poems by Princess Arinola Adegbite – https://elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk/about-elizabeth-gaskells-house/the-house/poems-by-princess-arinola-adegbite/
Short Story Collection by Guruleen Kahlo– https://elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk/about-elizabeth-gaskells-house/the-house/short-story-collection-by-guruleen-kahlo/
A Tour, a play by Georgia Affonso – https://elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk/about-elizabeth-gaskells-house/the-house/a-tour-by-georgia-affonso-2/
