News

Funding Update

Thanks to a grant from The Pilgrim Trust Elizabeth Gaskells House has been able to complete urgent repair works to ensure the Grade II* listed building continues to be watertight, accessible and safe for visitors for years to come.

Work to repair the stair carpet took place in early January, and made use of traditional carpet fitting techniques that saw the existing carpet lifted and re-fitted with new underlay, using hand-stitching methods.

In early Spring, gutter encapsulation work was carried out on the roof in an effort to address issues of damp and to reduce risks of leaks in the future.

The final stage of the project was minor redecoration work to the Drawing Room, staircase and Bronte Room, which took place at the end of June.

Sally Jastrzebski-Lloyd, Director – ‘All the staff, trustees and volunteers are extremely grateful to The Pilgrim Trust for their support. The independent charity that owns the House could not have funded this work from reserves without putting the financial stability of the organisation at risk. This grant has given us security that the building is in good shape for the foreseeable future.’

The Pilgrim Trust is an independent charitable trust which gives around £3 million each year in grants to charities and other public bodies that focus on preserving the UK’s heritage or on bringing about social change. The Trust aims to improve the life chances of the most vulnerable and preserve the best of our past for the public to enjoy.