Given the current situation, listed events may be subject to change. Please double-check arrangements before leaving home. Do stay safe: we hope to see you again in person at our events before too long.
December 2020
Manchester Meeting (online) – A Christmas Ramble
The Gaskells must often have walked between their home and Cross Street Chapel. They certainly did on Christmas Day 1861 (there and back). We, in lockdown, cannot physically retrace their steps through Chorlton-on-Medlock. But, guided by the Gaskell Society's Anthony Burton, we can make a virtual expedition by Zoom, with the advantage that we can see pictures of features that have disappeared since the Gaskells’ time. Midway, we will have a short pause to celebrate, consuming such Christmas refreshments as…
Find out more »Christmas Revels in Victorian Manchester (online talk)
Everyone loves a traditional Victorian Christmas! Get your mince pies ready, pull up your favourite chair, and join us online for a cosy Christmassy evening, as the Gaskell Society's Anthony Burton reveals just how Manchester celebrated Christmas in the Victorian era. This online talk will be approx 45 mins long, with time for a short Q&A session afterwards Tickets £3 ** Ticket sales will cease one day before the event starts, in order to allow time to send out joining…
Find out more »December Second-hand Book Sale
On the second Sunday of each month, Elizabeth Gaskell's House hosts a fantastic second-hand book sale, downstairs in the Servants Hall. All proceeds go towards supporting operations and events in the House. The tearoom always has a fine selection of new and second-hand books for sale, but this is the big one! It's a chance to browse a much wider selection – two rooms filled with second-hand books, donated by book-lovers! The selection includes a variety of fiction, art, gardening,…
Find out more »January 2021
‘Knutsford’ Meeting (online) – January 2021
Our January discussion, hosted by Dr Diane Duffy, will be about the short story 'The Sexton's Hero'. You can read Dr Duffy's blog post about the story here. Points for discussion will appear soon. Our monthly meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month. We're not able to meet in Knutsford at time of writing, but we'll let you know when that situation changes - and it will! In the meantime, we'll meet over Zoom, with invitations being sent…
Find out more »February 2021
Manchester Meeting (online) – February 2021
We're planning our programme of speakers for the next season, so watch this space - and in the meantime, please save the date. It's looking likely that our meetings will take place over Zoom for the foreseeable future, but of course we'll let you know when that situation changes. All are open to both members and non-members. Online meetings are free to attend, though we do charge admission for in-person events to cover our costs. Members will receive an email…
Find out more »‘Knutsford’ Meeting (online) – February 2021
Our February discussion, hosted by Dr Diane Duffy, will compare treatments of the workers in Helen Lydia Burton's Bertha Darley and Gaskell's North and South. Points for discussion will appear soon. Our monthly meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month. We're not able to meet in Knutsford at time of writing, but we'll let you know when that situation changes - and it will! In the meantime, we'll meet over Zoom, with invitations being sent to members by email nearer…
Find out more »March 2021
Manchester Meeting (online) – March 2021
We're planning our programme of speakers for the next season, so watch this space - and in the meantime, please save the date. It's looking likely that our meetings will take place over Zoom for the foreseeable future, but of course we'll let you know when that situation changes. All are open to both members and non-members. Online meetings are free to attend, though we do charge admission for in-person events to cover our costs. Members will receive an email…
Find out more »‘Knutsford’ Meeting (online) – March 2021
Our March discussion, hosted by Dr Diane Duffy, will be about the short story, 'A Dark Night's Work'. You can read Dr Duffy's blog post about the story here. Points for discussion will appear soon. Our monthly meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month. We're not able to meet in Knutsford at time of writing, but we'll let you know when that situation changes - and it will! In the meantime, we'll meet over Zoom, with invitations being…
Find out more »July 2021
The Gaskell Society Conference 2021
The theme for our 2021 conference is 'Elizabeth Gaskell and her Contemporaries'. We'll be exploring the lives, works and importance of a number of nineteenth-century women writers. The event will take place at the Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon, North Wales. More details, including a full timetable and line-up of speakers, will be published here. This really is a very friendly and welcoming conference, so please - save those dates!
Find out more »