Knutsford Meeting – April 2023
Brook Street Chapel Adam's Hill,, Knutsford, United KingdomOur discussion series for 2022-23 looks at Wives and Daughters. First published in serial form in the Cornhill Magazine, between August 1864 and January 1866, Wives and Daughters was unfinished when Elizabeth died suddenly in 1865. This is many people's favourite … Continued
Domestic Mental Cruelty in Elizabeth Gaskell’s Works
Francis Holland School 39 Graham Terrace, London, United KingdomA talk by Kathleen Gentle Kathleen Gentle, a postgraduate researcher at Anglia Ruskin University, examines the depiction of psychological abuse in familial and spousal relationships and focusing on Sylvia’s Lovers and the short stories “Morton Hall” and “The Grey Woman”. … Continued
Of Song and Speech: Music and Words from Industrial Lancashire
The John Rylands Research Institute and Library 150 Deansgate, Manchester, United KingdomGaskell Society member and good friend, Professor Michael Sanders, in conversation exploring the defining literary and cultural pioneers of the era. He’ll be joined by folk singer, Jen Reid, who sings Lancashire dialect songs. 5:30-6:10: Collections Encounter Drop in at … Continued
Online Talk: The Gaskells’ Garden on a Plate
onlineElizabeth Gaskell had great hopes for the garden at Plymouth Grove, not just as a beautiful place to relax, but as a source of food for the family. She even joked that ‘I find my proper vocation is farming‘. Now … Continued
Elizabeth Gaskell Conference
Anglia Ruskin University East Road, Cambridge, United KingdomWe're absolutely delighted to tell you about a new Elizabeth Gaskell conference, organised by Gaskell Society members at Anglia Ruskin University, working with the British Association for Victorian Studies (BAVS). The conference takes place in person at Anglia Ruskin University … Continued
A Visit to Tabley House
Tabley House Tabley Lane, KnutsfordKnutsford is luckier than many English towns as it boasts two historic houses with Gaskell connections: Tatton Park, the seat of the Egerton family, and Tabley House, which belonged to the Leicester family until 1975. Both houses feature in Gaskell’s … Continued
Open Day at Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel
Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel 4 Cairo Street, Warrington, United KingdomCairo Street Unitarian Chapel Chapel members are opening the chapel and garden to visitors and guests on Saturday 15th July. The chapel contains memorials and information regarding the Gaskell family and the important role they played in the life of … Continued
Online Talk: North and South Fan Fiction – A Writing Passion
onlineElizabeth Gaskell’s North and South continues to be beloved by fans around the world. Many who admire the novel or the BBC series, have been inspired to contribute their own twist to this iconic love story set against the backdrop … Continued
Online Talk: Margaret Hale – North and South
onlineOur passion for North and South continues as we take a closer look at lead character Margaret Hale. Our heroine is famous for her growing love affair with mill-owner John Thornton (played so well by Daniela Denby-Ashe and Richard Armitage … Continued
Mrs Gaskell’s Personal Pantheon – with Bob Gamble
Francis Holland School 39 Graham Terrace, London, United KingdomBob’s book of this title appeared in August 2020 and highlights connections between Unitarian communities across England by following the life and times of Elizabeth Gaskell's dear friend, Janetta Bishop Mitchell. Janetta's closeness to the Reverend William Turner of Newcastle … Continued
Online Talk: Bad Women
online‘Revenge may be wicked, but it’s perfectly natural.’ Becky Sharpe, Vanity Fair, 1847 The stereotype of the Victorian woman is that of a domestic angel, pure, innocent and a helpmate to her husband. But the women in this talk challenge … Continued
The Gaskell Memorial Service 2023
Brook Street Chapel Adam's Hill,, Knutsford, United KingdomEvery year, on a Sunday close to what would have been Elizabeth Gaskell's birthday, we lay flowers on her grave (10.45am) at Brook Street Chapel in Knutsford. We also lay flowers on the nearby grave of the Gaskell Society's founder, … Continued
Online Talk: Mary Barton and the Year of Revolutions
onlineMary Barton and the Year of Revolutions: ‘John Barton became a Chartist, a Communist’ Elizabeth Gaskell’s debut novel Mary Barton (1848) is recognised as one of the most important Victorian works to explore the working class Chartist movement, in this case through the … Continued
Autumn Meeting: A Cranford Reader: Margaret Leicester Warren of Tabley House
Knutsford Methodist Church Princess Street, Knutsford, United KingdomThe Joan Leach Memorial LectureA Cranford Reader: Margaret Leicester Warren (1847–1921) of Tabley House Pic: Wikimedia Commons We're delighted to welcome Sarah Webb, a trustee of the Tabley House Collection.In 1861 Margaret Leicester Warren (1847-1921) read Cranford. She was not impressed. This novel … Continued
Manchester Meeting – Domestic Mental Cruelty in Elizabeth Gaskell’s Works
Cross Street Chapel Cross Street,, Manchester, United KingdomKathleen Gentle's talk for our October meeting will focus on familial/spousal abuse in Gaskell's works. She'll discuss Gaskell's depiction of physical and mental cruelty and how she criticises her contemporary culture for their complicity in the abuse of women in … Continued
Online Talk: Song of the Shirt
onlineWith fingers weary and worn, With eyelids heavy and red, A woman sat in unwomanly rags, Plying her needle and thread— Stitch! stitch! stitch! Thomas Hood wrote the famous poem The Song of the Shirt (1843), in response to a newspaper report about … Continued
Online Talk: Ann Radcliffe and the Female Gothic
onlineAnn Radcliffe and the Female Gothic – ‘A genius of no common stamp’ Get ready for a spooky night of literature as we celebrate the bicentenary of Ann Radcliffe, the ‘mighty magician’ of horror and the gothic. Once the highest … Continued
Online “Knutsford” Meeting – October 2023
online*** Please note that this event is now online only, via Zoom.*** Our Chair, Dr Diane Duffy will be discussing Sylvia's Lovers for the 2023-24 Knutsford season. Gaskell’s only historical novel, Sylvia’s Lovers is set in the fictional coastal town … Continued
Online Event: Shirley – Charlotte Brontë and the Industrial Novel
onlineCharlotte Brontë is a giant of Victorian literature and the much-loved author of the classic Jane Eyre but what of her lesser-read second novel, Shirley, written in the grief and sadness of family loss? Brontë’s Shirley was set amongst the … Continued
Manchester Meeting – Elizabeth Gaskell in the Train and on the Omnibus
Cross Street Chapel Cross Street,, Manchester, United KingdomWe're delighted to welcome back committee member and one of our favourite speakers, Anthony Burton. He'll be offering a tempting taster for our 2024 Conference, which explores the theme of travel. Anthony was intrigued by paintings featuring railway stations and … Continued
How Manchester Made Shakespeare Modern – Rosa Grindon, the Suffragist Shakespearean Scholar
Manchester Central Library St Peter's Square, ManchesterDr Ian Nickson (Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham) and Dr. Monika Smialkowska (Northumbria University) will talk about the largely overlooked career of Rosa Grindon. They will chart her journey from modest beginnings in a Derbyshire village to becoming a leading … Continued
Online Tour of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
onlineUsing 360-degree photography, expert guides will bring Manchester’s literary heritage to life via an online tour of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House. From the Morning Room and Study, to the Drawing and Dining Rooms, you’ll learn about Elizabeth’s family life; how William, … Continued
Can we Devise a Gaskell Brand? – with Anthony Burton
Francis Holland School 39 Graham Terrace, London, United KingdomAs anyone who has attended Gaskell Society conferences, or joined any of the Gaskell House’s online events, will know, Anthony has a vast and wide-ranging amount of knowledge about Elizabeth Gaskell, her life, times and contemporaries. He will use Gaskell, … Continued
Online ‘Knutsford’ Meeting – November 2023
onlineOur Chair, Dr Diane Duffy will be discussing Sylvia's Lovers for the 2023-24 Knutsford season. Gaskell’s only historical novel, Sylvia’s Lovers is set in the fictional coastal town of Monkshaven, against a backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. Sylvia Robson lives … Continued
Online Event: North and South – The Preston Lockouts Anniversary
online2023 marks the 170th anniversary of the Preston Lockouts – the historical strikes that informed the plot and themes of Elizabeth Gaskell’s classic romantic novel North and South and provided inspiration for Charles Dickens in Hard Times. When workers demanded a 10% wage increase … Continued