A close up photo of a Victorian letter, showing Julia Gaskell's signature in cursive handwriting.

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A close up photo of a Victorian letter, showing Julia Gaskell's signature in cursive handwriting.

A Letter from Julia Gaskell

Over the past year a number of unpublished letters from Elizabeth’s daughters have been brought to our notice. Last year, for example, a letter from Meta (Margaret) Gaskell was discovered in a volume of Ruth and Other Tales. The latest discovery came

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What’s the Story? How Oasis and Elizabeth Gaskell taught the world to speak Manc

I’ve often joked to myself about the comparisons you can draw between two Mancunian legends who are close to my heart - Oasis and Elizabeth Gaskell. It was the announcement of the longed-for Oasis reunion that made me think I'd waited long

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A Testament to an American Soldier

From 1861 to 1865 the American Civil War raged and has since been described as one of the most destructive wars of all time. It is now estimated that 2% of the population – over 620,000 men – lost their lives in

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Home made cards

Valentine’s Day in Manchester

Valentine’s Day in Manchester has a fascinating history, especially in the 19th century, when it became a much-celebrated occasion. The day, traditionally associated with love and courtship, took on a particularly lively character in the industrial city as it became a symbol

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Elizabeth Gaskell and Cats

Many people visiting Elizabeth Gaskell's House with children will be familiar with our cat trail; spotting toy cats in every room, each one appropriately dressed for their surroundings, along with puzzles, jokes and crafty things to do. But what do we know

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