also  9 September and 10 September, 1:30pm &2:30pm
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Philip Watts has written A Folded Newspaper, an imagined piece in which William Gaskell writes a letter of thanks to the painter of his portrait to discuss her work and its reflection of him. In this ‘letter’ William’s words and those of his circle are woven in with the the author’s own. The piece is often performed informally in William’s Study at Gaskell House on Sunday afternoons. The Portico Library is delighted to host some repeat performances of the piece during the Heritage Open Days weekend. The monologue compliments our small exhibition, which tells the story of the commission of two artworks to commemorate William Gaskell during his Chairmanship of the library.

Gaskell Society member,Philip Watts is a poet, a retired teacher of English and Drama, Heritage Education Guide and volunteer at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, where he established the Plymouth Grove Writing Group