Blogs & News

: Online Event: North and South FanFiction- A Writing Passion

Celebrate the much-loved romantic story of John Thornton and Margaret Hale as they navigate their feelings for each other in the gritty industrial world of Milton (Manchester). The classic novel and BBC TV Series North and South, starring Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe, was unusual for a period drama in showing working class city life. Its groundbreaking story and setting have inspired many retellings. Now a new generation of writers have created their own stories based on our

: Online Talk: Margaret Hale – North and South

Our passion for North and South continues as we take a closer look at lead character Margaret Hale. Our heroine is famous for her growing love affair with mill-owner John Thornton (played so well by Daniela Denby-Ashe and Richard Armitage in the 2004 BBC TV adaptation) and their relationship is at the heart of both the novel and series. However Margaret is an independent woman and complex character, whose assumptions about gritty industrial North are constantly challenged by

: 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.

: Online talk: North and South – The Preston Lockouts Anniversary

2023 marks the 170th anniversary of the Preston Lockouts - the historical strikes that informed the plot and themes of Elizabeth Gaskell's classic romantic novel North and South and provided inspiration for Charles Dickens in Hard Times. When workers demanded a 10% wage increase in Preston in 1853, the factory owners simply locked the gates and left 18,000 people out of work. So, what really happened during the lock outs? Are characters like Mr Thornton and Higgins based on real people? And

: 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