Please note that our 2026 Conference has now sold out for both residential and day places.

Our 2026 conference takes place in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, England.

Our theme is literary links and we’ll be exploring Elizabeth Gaskell’s links with other writers and editors, cultures of risk, economic realities, communities, fairy tales and sensation fiction. We’ve assembled an excellent line-up of speakers from all over the world. 

There’ll also be outings and entertainment over the weekend: a wonderful and thought-provoking literary escape to an excellent hotel in a glorious Yorkshire town.