News

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House Awarded Official Museum Status

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is delighted to announce that it has been awarded full museum accreditation from Arts Council England. This announcement is particularly special as the House will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary of opening to the public in October this year.

The Accreditation Scheme is the UK industry standard for museums and galleries. As well as recognising the cultural and historical importance of an organisation and its collections, the accreditation standard helps the people involved with a museum to do the right things to help more people to access and engage with collections, and to protect them for future generations.

Through this award Elizabeth Gaskell’s House has demonstrated that it meets national standards in terms of how it is run; how it manages the collection and how it engages with visitors. Accreditation will also mean that the House can access more funding opportunities, opens potential to loan more items from other museums, and demonstrates a commitment to upholding high standards.

Director, Sally Jastrzebski-Lloyd;

‘For a small and new museum such as Elizabeth Gaskell’s House reaching these standards is no easy feat and has taken many years of hard work by staff and volunteers. Museum Accreditation demonstrates our commitment to delivering a quality visitor experience as well as maintaining the collection and House for future generations. I’m so incredibly proud of the whole team for what we have achieved.’

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is run by Manchester Historic Buildings Trust, an independent charity set up in 2000 to save the House. After a £2.5 million refurbishment project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and others, the House opened to the public in October 2014. 

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House exists to protect and promote the literary and cultural heritage of the House and to celebrate the life and literature of the Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell and her relevance today. The House gives pleasure, inspiration and a place to learn for today’s visitors, bringing the Gaskell family home to life as part of Manchester’s community.

From October 2024 there will be a programme of events and activities celebrating the 10-year milestone including a new temporary exhibition.

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House receives no core government or council funding, relying on income from admissions, events, weddings, room hires and Tea Room sales, as well as donations, to keep the House open to the public. By visiting the House you can contribute towards preserving a vital part of Manchester’s Literary Heritage, but you can also support the House further by making a donation, or joining our Friends Scheme.  Click here for more information