Writing the future with a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Posted
17th April 2026
in news
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is celebrating the news that it has been awarded a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which will help Manchester’s only literary house to write the next chapter of its story.
The grant of £232,899 will support Elizabeth Gaskell’s House to achieve a thriving future as it continues to grow its profile since opening as a visitor attraction in 2014. The funding will enable business planning, improvements to the visitor experience, and measures that will support the small team, its trustees and volunteers who care for the House and its collection. These are all vital areas for an independent museum that receives no central funding and relies on admissions, events and donations to sustain its day to day operations.
Alongside this, exciting plans are set to be unveiled that will see Elizabeth Gaskell’s House mark the tenth anniversary of Manchester’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2027.
Sally Jastrzebski-Lloyd, Director of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, says, ‘This funding will work really hard for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, enabling us to look confidently to the future and shape the vision that will take us there. It allows us to invest in the unique heritage represented by the House and its power to engage people with literature, history and community.
‘As well as strengthening our organisational resilience, it will help us to enhance the visitor experience and reach new audiences to connect more people with Elizabeth’s legacy in meaningful and lasting ways. There is much to be done, but even more to look to, with our plans for 2027 set to be the most ambitious yet for the House and the experience that it offers.’
Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: ‘We’re thrilled to support Elizabeth Gaskell’s House to work towards a strong and resilient future, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. It is fantastic news that this grant will help shape an improved visitor experience and allow new audiences to discover this already much-loved literary attraction in Manchester.’
