We host a year-round programme of meetings and events – many of which are open to everyone.
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September 2017
The Hidden Life and Legacy of William Gaskell
At this event we celebrate an important figure in the history of The Portico Library and Manchester, Rev William Gaskell. Often overshadowed by his wife, the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, William made enormous contributions to the city as Unitarian Minister at Cross Street Chapel, Chair of English and History at New Manchester College and an ardent charity worker who was spurred by the dire poverty he witnessed in Manchester. Gaskell Society member, Marjorie Darlington, will deliver an illuminating lecture on Gaskell,…
Find out more »London and S.E. Gaskell Society Meeting
At the Francis Holland School for Girls, London SW1 8JF ‘Gaskell Bronte connections’ Sophie Franklin Sophie Franklin will speak about her doctoral research and recently published biography of Charlotte Bronte (copies of which she will bring!). She will speak about Gaskell’s The Life of Charlotte Bronte and how her work feeds into the Bronte myth and how violence in Mary Barton resonates with Bronte’s Shirley. Although a Bronte scholar she will bring a fresh look to Gaskell’s work as it relates…
Find out more »A Folded Newspaper: A Monologue in the voice of William Gaskell
also 9 September and 10 September, 1:30pm &2:30pm Free - Spaces Limited Register here 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…
Find out more »Gaskell Memorial Service at Brook Street Chapel
The Annual Gaskell Service is on Sunday 24th September at 11am Please note that this year the service is not the day after the Gaskell Society Autumn Meeting, as traditionally it is, but on the Sunday before the Autumn Meeting, which is on Saturday 30th September The theme of the service is "Elizabeth Gaskell and Motherhood". Prior to the service, at 10.45 am we have the laying of flowers on the Gaskell grave and on Joan Leach's grave. Afterwards there is…
Find out more »Autumn Meeting
Autumn Meeting Booking Form 10.30 am Coffee 11.00 am The Joan Leach Memorial Lecture will be given by Dr. Ingrid Hanson, taking as her title: “ God shall wipe away all the tears from their eyes”: Elizabeth Gaskell, the body and the idea of peace. Ingrid Hanson is a lecturer in English and American Studies and Creative Writing at The University of Manchester .Using extracts from Gaskell’s North and South and Ruth, where reference is made to the eyes of…
Find out more »October 2017
Manchester Meeting at Cross Street Chapel
The Gaskell Society is pleased to announce the first talk in the Autumn/Winter series of Lunchtime Talks at Cross Street Chapel. “Great Pan is Dead” On the life and death of Branwell Brontë. Gaskell might have been ironic in casting Branwell as Pan and his sisters as the Furies, but there is something genuinely tragic, if not heroic, about Branwell’s particular journey. In this talk, Sue Newby, Learning Officer at the Brontë Parsonage Museum, explores the place of Branwell Brontë,…
Find out more »A Friends of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House Event
A "Conversation" between Professor Michael Slater and Anthony Burton on "A Literary Society and its Museum" The Dickens Fellowship is 115 years old and the Charles Dickens Museum is 92 years old. Professor Michael Slater has been involved in both since 1967, having served as President of the Fellowship and Chairman of the Museum's Trustees .Anthony has persuaded Michael to make the journey north to come to Elizabeth Gaskell's House, as did Dickens himself,so many years ago!. There Michael will…
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
The Gaskell Society is delighted to welcome the return Dr Diane Duffy, who, in the last session, led the discussions such interesting and informative way. In this session we will be studying North and South and Diane will explore the two main thematic/generic strands of the novel: industrial relatons and romance. She writes: I will begin with the romance genre which traditionally is part of the acculturation process-making men and women fit into the desired/expected social role models.Many women writers subvert this…
Find out more »November 2017
Manchester Meeting at Cross Street Chapel
Margo Singer. The Paisley Shawl – Keeping Warm in the Nineteenth Century. Details to follow Doors open at 12.15 pm. so that anyone who wishes can bring a packed lunch or purchase it at one of the nearby sandwich shops. The chapel provides tea and coffee for a small donation All our welcome. Fee: £3 members, £4 non-members
Find out more »London and S.E. Gaskell Society Meeting
Elizabeth Gaskell Illustrated’ Emma Marigliano Emma Marigliano is the Chief Librarian at the Portico Library in Manchester, a place frequented by both William who was president for many years and Elizabeth although her access was rather confined to the reading of current periodicals. Emma will speak about the ways in which Gaskell’s novels have been illustrated over the years. You may remember that we had a speaker about this topic over 10 years ago so it seems timely to renew…
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
Dr Diane Duffy will continues to explore the theme of romance in North and South Diane writes: In the second session I want us to explore the available social roles for men-father, son, husband and brother. In the second part of this session, I want us to consider how Gaskell manages to make links between the romance genre and the industrial/ social novel. Prior to the discussion there will be the usual delicious buffet lunch served at 12.30 pm. The…
Find out more »December 2017
Christmas Celebration Meeting at the Portico Library
Our special Christmas Meeting will once again take place at the beautiful Portico Library. We are pleased to tell you that this year our buffet will be provided by our Knutsford caterers. It will be a seasonal finger buffet and there will be a pay-bar, with hot drinks also available . This will be followed by Daughters of Manchester a talk by Jean Briggs. Jean will give an entertaining &…
Find out more »January 2018
The Gaskell Society New Year Lunch
The New Year Lunch will again be held in the Verandah Suite at The Cottons Hotel, Knutsford on Wednesday 10th January 2018 at 12:00 for 12:30pm. The cost is £24 which covers not only the 3 course lunch, and coffee, but also the entertainment afterwards. Please make your choices from the following menu Appetisers: Galia Melon filled with passion fruit sorbet and seasonal berries Potted Chicken Liver Pate rustic toast &…
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
At this meeting Dr Diane Duffy wants us to examine Gaskell’s presentation of the industrial relations in North and South Prior to the discussion there will be the usual delicious buffet lunch served at 12.30 pm. The discussion will begin at 2pm. and finish at 3pm. Doors open at 12.00 pm.. Charges: Members: £9 incl lunch Discussion only: £3 Non-members: £10 incl lunch. Discussion only: £4 All are welcome There will also be a chance to visit the Gaskell Exhibition…
Find out more »February 2018
Manchester Meeting at Cross Street Chapel
Following our successful Discussion Meeting last year we have decided to repeat it this year, with a discussion focussed on Lois the Witch, led by Sherry Ashworth. Sherry is a writer and Visiting Teaching Fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has previously led a reading group at Elizabeth Gaskell's House and will make a welcome return to lead further sessions in the New Year, beginning on 24th January 2018. Further details may be found on the Elizabeth Gaskell's House website elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk Lois…
Find out more »London and S.E. Gaskell Society Meeting
Emily Midorikawa & Emma Claire Sweeney on Literary Friendships Emily and Emma have recently published a lovely book about female literary friendships. Although in their Bronte chapter they focused on Charlotte Bronte’s friendship with Mary Taylor they were sorely tempted to write about the Gaskell Bronte friendship. In a Q & A session (chaired by me!) they will reveal their collaboration, their writing process and answer questions about the close friendship between Elizabeth Gaskell and Charlotte Bronte. Their book, which…
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances,the discussion on the TV version of North and South has been postponed until the next Knutsford Meeting on 28th March. Instead, at this meeting, we will once again welcome Dr Diane Duffy who will lead a discussion on "Contemporary Reactions to the Publication of North and South" This is sure to be an interesting discussion, Diane kindly supplies notes to help. Everyone is welcome and if you would like to be sent a…
Find out more »March 2018
Manchester Meeting at Cross Street Chapel
Annie Swynnerton: a talk by Rebecca Milner The first retrospective exhibition of Annie Swynnerton's work for many years has recently opened at Manchester City Art Gallery: Rebecca Milner is the Curator for Fine Art who has put the exhibition together. will talk about Annie Swynnerton The artist Annie Swynnerton was born in 1844 in Hulme: she trained at the Manchester School of Art and went on to study abroad in Rome and Paris. In 1879, she founded the Manchester Society…
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
Postponed from last month A change,this month: we leave the printed copy of novel behind and look at the BBC adaptation of North and South . Libby Tempest will lead a discussion on what we think of the adaptation, how it came to be made, issues that arose, and how close to the novel it is. We look at the various changes that were made, and what we think of the main characters and actors. We may have a look at…
Find out more »April 2018
The Gaskell Society Annual General Meeting
GASKELL SOCIETY AGM 2018 Saturday, 14th April at Cross Street Chapel, Manchester. 10.00 am: Tea and Coffee 10.30 am: AGM 11.30 am.: The Daphne Carrick Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Lucy Hanks, taking as her title, Whose line is it anyway? William Gaskell’s Revisions on The Life of Charlotte Brontё. Lucy is a PhD student at the University of Manchester, who analyses the markings and revisions on manuscripts. Her talk will explain her interest in Elizabeth Gaskell’s literary relationship…
Find out more »Knutsford Meeting
At April's meeting, our final meeting of this session, Dr Diane Duffy will focus on a consideration of some modern criticism of North and South. We will be looking at how the critical position towards ECG has changed. She will recirculate the 19th century quotations sent out last month for those who missed the meeting." I would also like people to think about what they consider to be the most significant aspect/s of ECG's novel." Prior to the discussion there will…
Find out more »May 2018
Visit to Shibden Hall: A Joint Gaskell Society & Friends of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House Event
Wednesday 2nd May :Visit to Shibden Hall Our Spring study tour this year is to the beautiful and historic Shibden Hall. Set in the picturesque Shibden valley, a mile from Halifax, Shibden Hall dates back to 1420 and offers visitors a fascinating journey through the lives of the people who lived and worked here, including the noted diarist Anne Lister (1791 - 1840). Shibden Hall’s architecture is a mix of styles reflecting its interesting and…
Find out more »Gaskell Society: Women in Textiles Study Day:
Stop Press-A few places still available Saturday 5th May 10:30-3:30 at Elizabeth Gaskell's House We are pleased to welcome Members and Friends to our latest Study Day, to be held at the beautifully restored Elizabeth Gaskell's House. A delicious lunch is included in the fee of £30. The programme for the day is as follows: 10.30 Welcome – Coffee/tea and Introduction to the Day 11.00 Dr Deborah Wynne – Chester University Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cotton Novels This talk will…
Find out more »London and S.E. Gaskell Society Meeting
Please note, this will be Fran Twinn's last meeting as organiser for the London and South East branch. The Society would like to thank Fran for all her hard work in organising the meetings for so many years and also for providing such delicious buffets. Fran writes It would be lovely to see as many members and their guests as possible at the next meeting of the London branch. The speaker is coming specially from Greece so it would be…
Find out more »The Alliance of Literary Societies AGM Weekend, Birmingham
The Gaskell Society is a member of the Alliance of Literary Societies (ALS), so our members are most welcome to attend the Alliance's AGM in Birmingham Friday, 18 May 7 pm There are lots of places to eat in Birmingham, but if you would like to join us for a Chinese buffet experience (within easy walking distance of the Ibis New Street Hotel), please indicate on the booking form – so that we can book a table. …
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