Blogs & News

: Lunch-time Talk: Art, Architecture & the Future of Humanity – Ruskin’s Enduring Message

Pull up a seat and enjoy finding out more about eminent Victorian John Ruskin's message for mankind, in this thought-provoking talk by Chris Bamber. Make a whole civilised Sunday of it, and visit our Ruskin exhibition to help put his message in context. You'll be able to browse some of Ruskin's writings on art and architecture, and try your hand at a spot of nature sketching too, inspired by the great artist. Or channel Ruskin's love of nature-watching

: February Half-term Family Crafts: Making Origami Cats

And do you know we are to have a kitten all the way from Paris, called Cranford; with very long hair and soft pretty eyes? Elizabeth Gaskell, from a letter, 1854 Cats! Cats! Cats! Feline friends are a firm feature in Elizabeth Gaskell's life and writing! From her own cats, Cranford and Mimi, to the unfortunate cat who swallowed a fine lace collar in her novel Cranford, and the crafty cat who stole the Christmas sausages in her short

: Online Talk: Christmas Revels in Victorian Manchester

  ***Sorry this talk has now sold out ****** Everyone loves a traditional Victorian Christmas! Get your mince pies ready, pull up your favourite chair, and join us online for a cosy Christmassy evening, as Anthony Burton reveals just how Manchester celebrated Christmas in the Victorian era. The talk will be approx 45 mins long, with time for a short Q&A session afterwards Tickets £3     ** Ticket sales will cease one day before the event starts,

: Online Talk: Cranford’s Illustrators

Cranford's famous illustrations helped to popularise Elizabeth Gaskell's much-loved novel. Find out more about the story behind these iconic illustrations in this informative online evening talk with former Portico Library Librarian, Emma Marigliano Tickets £4 ** Ticket sales will cease one day before the event starts, in order to give us time to send out joining instructions** Refer to your e-ticket for joining instructions and links. Please check your spam/junk email folder.  

: Online Talk: Blame The Mother? Elizabeth Gaskell, Nature and Nurture

  Blame The Mother? Elizabeth Gaskell, Nature and Nurture To honour Elizabeth Gaskell's birthday on September 29 we're celebrating with this online talk in the week of her birthday. Join us via Zoom for a fascinating discussion on nature versus nurture in Elizabeth Gaskell's writing, with the Gaskell Society's Elizabeth Williams. The talk will start at 7pm and last approx 45 minutes, with time for a short Q&A session afterwards. Tickets are £3 **NB: Joining instructions will be sent