Blogs & News

: The Tale of Two Bad Mice

Come along and help our two bad mice make some mini accessories for the doll’s house in this drop-in craft workshop inspired by Beatrix Potter’s classic tale. Drop in, no need to book. Usual admission plus £1 for under 16s.  

: A Letter to William: Reconstructing the Past

In July 2016, while working on the Coach House at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, workmen discovered a letter wedged between the brickwork and roof trusses in what is now the Nightingale Room. Although the pages were badly scorched, they were reasonably legible. It was sent from Maryport, Cumberland, in June 1853, to William (Will) Preston, a servant to the Gaskell family. In one of her letters, Elizabeth Gaskell noted that Will slept in the attic space above the stables.

: Alice In Wonderland

Curiouser and curiouser... Come to our whacky workshop and make a Mad Hatter’s mad hat! And if the weather’s good, head to the garden and wear it outside for a game of croquet on the lawn. Curiouser and curiouser! Drop in, no need to book. Usual admission plus £1 for under 16s.

: Revolutionary Women Around the World: Art Exhibition and Discussion

Come join us to learn and discuss revolutionary women such as Queen Amina of Zaria, Elizabeth Gaskell and others who contributed to our world’s educational, political, economic and societal structures. The speakers will be; Sairah Yassir-Deane Sairah is a Clinical Relations Specialist who has formerly worked for a Charity which specialises in researching and disseminating contributions from overlooked civilisations. She is also a community activist who has raised funds and awareness for various charities including Remembering Srebrenica, Cancer Research UK and others.

: Dressing the Victorian Lady – Outerwear and Accessories

Join us for an informative and entertaining talk from Margo Singer and Polly MacLeod on Dressing the Victorian Lady, focusing on Nineteenth-Century outerwear. In this session, Margo and Polly will talk through and show examples of fashionable outerwear, looking at how it was constructed and decorated. The discussion will include shawls, and the different types worn by different classes. You'll have the opportunity to see how a Victorian lady would wear her shawl and learn how to identify a