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Visit From MP Afzal Khan

The team were delighted to welcome Afzal Khan, the MP for Manchester Rusholme, to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House for a tour and introduction this week.

Afzal was elected as the Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme in 2024, which since the boundary changes now includes Elizabeth Gaskell’s House.

House Director, Sally Jastrzebski-Lloyd, gave Afzal a tour of the House, sharing with him the history of House, the restoration and achievements of the award-winning volunteer team ahead of the 10-year anniversary of the House opening.

The House itself was built around 1838, as part of a new development in, a then, leafy suburb on the edge of Manchester, away from the noise and pollution of the factories and mills. Elizabeth and her husband William, along with their four daughters, moved into the House in 1850. It was their third Manchester home, and the rent was considered expensive at £150 a year. After Elizabeth’s death in 1865, members of her family continued to live in the House until 1913. The contents were auctioned in 1914 and the House was sold to the Harper family, who lived here until the late 1960s. Manchester University then bought it to use as a centre for international students.

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is now run by Manchester Historic Buildings Trust, an independent charity set up in 2000 to save the House. After a £2.5 million refurbishment project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and others, the House opened to the public in October 2014. The House is run by a small team of staff and a large team of volunteers.

During his visit Afzal was particularly interested to learn about the philanthropic work of Elizabeth’s husband, William, a Unitarian Minister, and the Gaskells’ involvement in social reforms in the city such as improving education, public health, and the rights of women. Many of these reforms were championed through Elizabeth’s novels and William’s career.

Afzal Khan; MP:
We’re incredibly lucky to have such a beautiful building with such rich social history in the Ardwick and Rusholme area. It was great to learn about the restoration process and to meet the volunteers. I’d urge anyone to find the time to visit.‘

The House is open to the public every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11am-4.30pm. Last entry 3pm. School groups, private tours and wedding hire available on other days.
For details on admission click here