Blogs & News

: International Women’s Day Banner Making

Celebrate International Women's Day 2024 and champion the achievements of women by joining our drop-in banner making workshop with renowned textile artist Dr. Sarah-Joy Ford. In this international women’s day special workshop you will be invited to make your own feminist textile banner inspired by the Elizabeth Gaskell’s feminist legacy in Manchester. We will be using heat bond applique, hand stitching and embellishment techniques and tassel making. All the materials will be provided and you will be able

: MACFEST : Turkish Floral Art Workshop

Join us for an exciting Turkish/Ottoman illuminated floral arts workshop with Ashfia Ashrif, an artist and a student of Tehzip/ illumination.During the demonstration she will also speak about her journey as an artist and showcase some of her work. Introduced by: Fiona Fulton, Neighbourhood Engagement Officer. Tickets £5. Please note that booking for this event must be done via MACFEST Eventbrite page and that we cannot take bookings via the House.

: Exhibition: Tales of Manchester Life – Elizabeth Gaskell’s Manchester

A new exhibition exploring how Elizabeth Gaskell presented Manchester and its people through her novels and short stories, and the impact she had through her writing. Elizabeth was a true radical of her time, but as a woman, the influence and importance of her writing has not been recognised by history in the way that it has for her contemporaries such as Charles Dickens.  Elizabeth’s writings about the industrial North made a huge impression to her contemporaries, not just

: Stitching our own Stories

In this textile oral history workshop we will be focusing on sharing our connections, memories and involvement with Elizabeth Gaskell’s House. We will start the workshop with a small free writing workshop to get our ideas and memories flowing. Then we will move to the textiles portion of the workshop where you will each make your own quilt panel telling your personal story with the Elizabeth Gaskell's House. Each quilt square is a book panel, a space to

: M13 Residents Go Free

To coincide with the Swinton Grove Park Community Christmas light switch on, local residents with a M13 postcode can gain free entry to Elizabeth Gaskell's House on Wednesday 3 December. The House will be decorated for Christmas click here for more information and open from 11am, with last entry at 3pm. Pick up Christmas gifts from our museum shop and try festive treats in our Tea Room plus we have craft activities in the servants' Hall for all