What's On

Online Talk: Writing Home – House and Home in Elizabeth Gaskell’s literature

“Oh, I can’t describe my home. It is home, and I can’t put its charm into words” Margaret Hale, North and South, 1855

From October 2024 to September 2025 Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is celebrating its 10-year anniversary of opening the public. So, we invite you to join us as we explore themes of house and home in our online events.

The stereotype of the Victorian home is a place of domestic bliss with an angelic woman caring for her devoted family. But how did Elizabeth Gaskell portray ‘home’ in her novels and short stories? Did she subvert this ideal or gently endorse it?

Speaker Sherry Ashworth interrogates the meaning of ‘home’. She looks at literary depictions, both good and bad, across Elizabeth Gaskell’s writing. For instance, you can enjoy the cosy houses of the amazons of the classic Cranford. Then step inside the respectable working-class homes in Mary Barton or see the reality of industrial strife and starvation in North and South.

Now you can join us from the comfort of your own home as Sherry asks… what did house and ‘home’ mean to Elizabeth Gaskell?

‘Loved it… gained many insights into the books.’ Visitor to previous event

Tickets £6

Wednesday 23 April 2025, 7-8pm

**Refer to your e-ticket for zoom joining instructions and links. Please check your spam/junk mail for ticket. This talk will also be recorded and all ticketholders will receive a link to the recording via TicketSource after the event.**

You can also support the House by buying from our online shop via this link.

If you have any questions about this event, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Gift £10 to Celebrate 10 years.

Keeping Elizabeth Gaskell’s House open to the public remains a real financial challenge. Our incredible team needs your help and support to continue the story long into the future. During our anniversary year we are asking our supporters to give £10 to support the House during our anniversary year and to help us raise £10,000. You can make a donation via JustGiving.