Blogs & News

: Script-writing workshop

Join us at the House for an all-day script writing masterclass with playwright Amanda Dalton. Develop an idea and bring it alive, under Amanda's expert tuition, using the beautifully-restored surroundings of Elizabeth Gaskell's House as inspiration. You'll have exclusive access to the splendid regency-style rooms and gardens for the day, in the spot where Elizabeth Gaskell herself penned most of her famous books, while you learn the techniques and skills to develop your own script.   Tickets £55,

: FREE TALK: The Daily Grind: the Servants’ View

There are very few accounts by servants themselves of their life; probably they were too tired to reflect on it.  But from other sources, we can reconstruct their duties and conditions.  This talk describes some of their tasks, tells how they ate, dressed and slept, and hints at how they felt. This talk is given by Anthony Burton and is included in admission. Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is run by Manchester Historic Buildings Trust (charity no. 1080606) and all money gained

: FREE TALK: The Servant Problem: the Employers’ View

Servants were employed in Elizabeth Gaskell's time by almost everyone except the very poor.  And almost everyone grumbled about them.  One book about the servant problem was called The Greatest Plague of Life.  At least many of the grumbles took the form of (rather bad) jokes: this talk may make you smile. This talk is given by Anthony Burton and is included in admission. Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is run by Manchester Historic Buildings Trust (charity no. 1080606) and all

: Christmas Literature

Join Anthony Burton for a talk about Christmas literature during the Victorian period.  The Victorians boosted Christmas marketing, not least in the book trade.  The most famous seasonal offering was Dickens’s Christmas Carol and Elizabeth Gaskell collaborated with Dickens in writing Christmas tales. Seasonal refreshments will be on sale from 11-4pm in the Tea Room. The talk is included in admission. Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is run by Manchester Historic Buildings Trust (charity no. 1080606) and all money gained through private

: Victorian Christmas Customs

Join Anthony Burton as he talks about Victorian Christmas customs and how Elizabeth and her family, as Unitarians, celebrated Christmas at Plymouth Grove. Seasonal refreshments will be on sale from 11-4pm in the Tea Room. The talk is included in admission. Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is run by Manchester Historic Buildings Trust (charity no. 1080606) and all money gained through private tours, talks, room hire and ticket sales goes towards the ongoing maintenance and running costs of the house.