What's On

Online Talk: Celebrating a Victorian Christmas – Elizabeth Gaskell, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Brontë and more

Step into the festive season to discover how some of your favourite Victorian writers celebrated Christmas, from Elizabeth Gaskell’s ‘jollification for the servants’ to that original master of yuletide writing, Charles Dickens.

We take a look at Boxing Day magic tricks with Dickens as he turns ‘ladies’ handkerchiefs into candies’ and find that even Poet Laureate Alfred Tennyson enjoyed a live author’s reading of the classic A Christmas Carol. What did Charlotte Brontë give to her husband’s congregation?

Sit back with a mince pie as we bring some festive cheer to you from Elizabeth Gaskell’s House.

Absolutely beautiful reading which really held my attention. I really enjoy these talks.’ Visitor to previous online event

Tickets £6

Wednesday 3 December 2025, 7-8pm

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Keep the Pages Turning

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. If you would like to support the House with an additional donation you can do so via this link.

3 December

7pm - 8pm

Talk, Talks

I'm afraid we must do some shopping

Elizabeth Gaskell 1863