BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//The Gaskell Society - ECPv6.18.3.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Gaskell Society REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20240331T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20241027T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20250330T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20251026T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20260329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20261025T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20270328T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20271031T010000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261103T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261103T150000 DTSTAMP:20260829T134352Z CREATED:20260728T131351Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260829T134352Z UID:9295-1793710800-1793718000@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Manchester Meeting - Sustainability and Mrs Gaskell’s life and works DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/manchester-november-2026/ LOCATION:Cross Street Chapel\, Cross Street\,\, Manchester\, M2 1NL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261006T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261006T150000 DTSTAMP:20260624T105911Z CREATED:20260501T122615Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260624T105911Z UID:8891-1791291600-1791298800@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Manchester Meeting - 'A Little Paradise': the Urban and Rural Homes of a Manchester Manufacturer DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/a-little-paradise/ LOCATION:Cross Street Chapel\, Cross Street\,\, Manchester\, M2 1NL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260919T110000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260919T120000 DTSTAMP:20260805T130659Z CREATED:20260728T134744Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T130659Z UID:9062-1789815600-1789819200@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Autumn Meeting 2026 - Elizabeth Gaskell: asserting copyright and legal liaisons DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/autumn-meeting-2026/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:Online,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T124500 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260912T124500 DTSTAMP:20260811T192721Z CREATED:20260806T103350Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T192721Z UID:9315-1789217100-1789217100@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Emma Woodhouse and Sylvia Robson: (in)dependent heroines and their narrative fates DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/london-september-2026/ LOCATION:Francis Holland School\, 39 Graham Terrace\, London\, SW1W 8JF\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:London & SE,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society - London & SE Branch":MAILTO:gaskellsocietylondonse@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260506T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260506T200000 DTSTAMP:20260107T170006Z CREATED:20260107T170006Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T170006Z UID:8422-1778094000-1778097600@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:‘I wish I were a girl again\, half-savage and hardy\, and free’ – Emily and Anne Brontë DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/i-wish-i-were-a-girl-again-half-savage-and-hardy-and-free-emily-and-anne-bronte/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:talk ORGANIZER;CN="Elizabeth Gaskell's House":MAILTO:enquiries@elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260429T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260429T200000 DTSTAMP:20260107T170535Z CREATED:20260107T170535Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T170535Z UID:8424-1777489200-1777492800@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Charlotte Brontë and Elizabeth Gaskell- A Friendship DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/charlotte-bronte-and-elizabeth-gaskell-a-friendship/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:talk ORGANIZER;CN="Elizabeth Gaskell's House":MAILTO:enquiries@elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260422T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260422T200000 DTSTAMP:20260107T171251Z CREATED:20260107T171027Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T171251Z UID:8425-1776884400-1776888000@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:The Invention of Charlotte Brontë – Elizabeth Gaskell and her Infamous Brontë Biography DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/the-invention-of-charlotte-bronte-elizabeth-gaskell-and-her-infamous-bronte-biography/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:talk ORGANIZER;CN="Elizabeth Gaskell's House":MAILTO:enquiries@elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260418T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260418T130000 DTSTAMP:20260114T185750Z CREATED:20251014T161501Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260114T185750Z UID:8181-1776506400-1776517200@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Gaskell Society Annual General Meeting 2026 DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/agm-2026/ LOCATION:Cross Street Chapel\, Cross Street\,\, Manchester\, M2 1NL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260303T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260303T150000 DTSTAMP:20260225T115617Z CREATED:20250513T144407Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T115617Z UID:7500-1772542800-1772550000@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Manchester Meeting - 'Elizabeth and Ruth' with Livi Michael DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/manchester-meeting-march-2026/ LOCATION:Cross Street Chapel\, Cross Street\,\, Manchester\, M2 1NL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/image.png ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260303 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260401 DTSTAMP:20260303T111436Z CREATED:20260303T105017Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T111436Z UID:8736-1772496000-1775001599@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:RECORDING - Ruth\, from Fact to Fiction with Livi Michael DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/recording-ruth/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:Meeting,Online,talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/image.png ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260214T124500 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260214T160000 DTSTAMP:20260112T200608Z CREATED:20260107T172344Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260112T200608Z UID:8428-1771073100-1771084800@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Richard Hooke and his Photo-Painted Portrait of William Gaskell DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/richard-hooke-and-his-photo-painted-portrait-of-william-gaskell/ LOCATION:Francis Holland School\, 39 Graham Terrace\, London\, SW1W 8JF\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:London & SE,talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/William-portrait-Oxford-2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society - London & SE Branch":MAILTO:gaskellsocietylondonse@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260211T160000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260211T170000 DTSTAMP:20260203T173325Z CREATED:20260203T173118Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T173325Z UID:8548-1770825600-1770829200@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Anatomy of the Author - Elizabeth Gaskell and the Female Gothic DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/anatomy-of-the-author-elizabeth-gaskell-and-the-female-gothic/ LOCATION:University of Manchester\, Oxford Road\, Manchester\, M13 9PL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,talk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260203T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260203T150000 DTSTAMP:20250806T141259Z CREATED:20250513T145615Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250806T141259Z UID:7499-1770123600-1770130800@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:The Earliest Continental Travellers' Tales of Manchester DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/manchester-meeting-february-2026/ LOCATION:Cross Street Chapel\, Cross Street\,\, Manchester\, M2 1NL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260203T000000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260228T000000 DTSTAMP:20260212T174129Z CREATED:20260204T163500Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T174129Z UID:8557-1770076800-1772236800@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:RECORDING - The Earliest Continental Travellers' Tales of Manchester DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/the-earliest-continental-travellers-tales-of-manchester-recording/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:Manchester,Online,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251203T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260101T235500 DTSTAMP:20251202T164147Z CREATED:20251201T122911Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251202T164147Z UID:8380-1764752400-1767311700@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:RECORDING ACCESS - Christmas Travel in Elizabeth Gaskell's Day DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/recording-christmas-travel-2025/ LOCATION:onine CATEGORIES:Meeting,Online,talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/a-merry-christmas-995d4b.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251202T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251202T150000 DTSTAMP:20251107T180101Z CREATED:20250513T145056Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251107T180101Z UID:7498-1764680400-1764687600@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Manchester Meeting - Christmas Travel in Elizabeth Gaskell's Day DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/manchester-meeting-december-2025/ LOCATION:Cross Street Chapel\, Cross Street\,\, Manchester\, M2 1NL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/a-merry-christmas-995d4b.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251108T124500 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251108T150000 DTSTAMP:20250522T153700Z CREATED:20250522T152613Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250522T153700Z UID:7581-1762605900-1762614000@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Mary Sidney Herbert and Elizabeth Gaskell: networks across time and place DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/mary-sidney-herbert-and-elizabeth-gaskell/ LOCATION:Francis Holland School\, 39 Graham Terrace\, London\, SW1W 8JF\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:London & SE,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society - London & SE Branch":MAILTO:gaskellsocietylondonse@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251105 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251201 DTSTAMP:20251107T174022Z CREATED:20251103T162856Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251107T174022Z UID:8308-1762300800-1764547199@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:RECORDING ACCESS - "That Wicked Paris": Fashioning the Good Englishwoman DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/that-wicked-paris-recording/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:Meeting,Online,talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Fashions-for-1844.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251104T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251104T150000 DTSTAMP:20251103T162338Z CREATED:20250806T145342Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T162338Z UID:7846-1762261200-1762268400@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:"That Wicked Paris": Fashioning the Good Englishwoman DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/manchester-meeting-november-2025/ LOCATION:Cross Street Chapel\, Cross Street\,\, Manchester\, M2 1NL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251029T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251029T200000 DTSTAMP:20251013T092013Z CREATED:20251013T092013Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251013T092013Z UID:8098-1761764400-1761768000@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Online Talk: Halloween – Victorian Ghost Stories DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/online-talk-halloween-victorian-ghost-stories/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:Online,talk ORGANIZER;CN="Elizabeth Gaskell's House":MAILTO:enquiries@elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251015T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251015T200000 DTSTAMP:20251013T090740Z CREATED:20251013T090740Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251013T090740Z UID:8095-1760554800-1760558400@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Online Talk: "A Flattering Malady" - Disease and Dying in Victorian Fiction DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/flattering-malady/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:Online,talk ORGANIZER;CN="Elizabeth Gaskell's House":MAILTO:enquiries@elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251009T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251031T233000 DTSTAMP:20251009T191337Z CREATED:20251009T185537Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251009T191337Z UID:8079-1760014800-1761953400@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:RECORDING ACCESS - Samuel Bamford and the Gaskells DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/recording-samuel-bamford-and-the-gaskells/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bamford-1856-1-1.jpeg ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20251007T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20251007T150000 DTSTAMP:20250725T090530Z CREATED:20250513T142040Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250725T090530Z UID:7494-1759842000-1759849200@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Samuel Bamford and the Gaskells DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/manchester-meeting-october-2025/ LOCATION:Cross Street Chapel\, Cross Street\,\, Manchester\, M2 1NL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250924T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250924T200000 DTSTAMP:20250707T105947Z CREATED:20250707T105947Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250707T105947Z UID:7777-1758740400-1758744000@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Online Talk: North and South – Fashion in the TV Classic and Novel DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/north-and-south-fashion/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:Online,talk ORGANIZER;CN="Elizabeth Gaskell's House":MAILTO:enquiries@elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250918T190000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250918T200000 DTSTAMP:20250707T105658Z CREATED:20250707T105658Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250707T105658Z UID:7773-1758222000-1758225600@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Online Talk: At Home with Elizabeth Gaskell DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/at-home-with-elizabeth-gaskell/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:Online,talk ORGANIZER;CN="Elizabeth Gaskell's House":MAILTO:enquiries@elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250526T000000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250630T235900 DTSTAMP:20250526T111404Z CREATED:20250526T111059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250526T111404Z UID:7587-1748217600-1751327940@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:RECORDING ACCESS - Trailblazer: the Life and Work of Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/recording-barbara-leigh-smith-bodichon/ LOCATION:online CATEGORIES:Online,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society - London & SE Branch":MAILTO:gaskellsocietylondonse@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250510T124500 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250510T150000 DTSTAMP:20250428T131758Z CREATED:20241113T112942Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250428T131758Z UID:6924-1746881100-1746889200@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Trailblazer: the Life and Work of Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/trailblazer-the-life-and-work-of-barbara-leigh-smith-bodichon/ LOCATION:Francis Holland School\, 39 Graham Terrace\, London\, SW1W 8JF\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:London & SE,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society - London & SE Branch":MAILTO:gaskellsocietylondonse@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250304T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250304T150000 DTSTAMP:20240828T110432Z CREATED:20240606T103225Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240828T110432Z UID:6374-1741093200-1741100400@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Manchester Meeting - Britishness and the Four Nations in the Novels of Elizabeth Gaskell DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/manchester-meeting-march-2025/ LOCATION:Cross Street Chapel\, Cross Street\,\, Manchester\, M2 1NL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250208T124500 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250208T150000 DTSTAMP:20250113T183950Z CREATED:20241113T112540Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250113T183950Z UID:6920-1739018700-1739026800@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:London & SE Meeting: Conjuring in Cranford DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/conjuring-in-cranford/ LOCATION:Francis Holland School\, 39 Graham Terrace\, London\, SW1W 8JF\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:London & SE,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society - London & SE Branch":MAILTO:gaskellsocietylondonse@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250204T130000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250204T150000 DTSTAMP:20241112T154925Z CREATED:20240606T103020Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241112T154925Z UID:6368-1738674000-1738681200@gaskellsociety.co.uk SUMMARY:Manchester Meeting - Meta Gaskell and James Bryce: the story of a failed relationship DESCRIPTION:« All Events\n \n \n \n \n \n Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas Writings \n \n \n \n \n \n Thursday 10 December\, 2026\n\n \n\n \, \n\n\n7:00 pm\n\n \n\n\n\n \n - \n\n8:00 pm\n\n\nGMT\n \n \n \n \n \n \n£5 – £6 \n \n \n \n One of our most popular speakers\, Anthony Burton\, returns with his now traditional festive talk – grab a mince pie\, get comfortable.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Reading Christmas stories: illustration by Birket Foster to Elizabeth Gaskell’s Christmas book\, The Moorland Cottage\, 1850.\n \n \n \n \n \n The runaway success of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol (1843)\, celebrating the ‘kindness\, joviality and pathos of the season’ (Thackeray)\, caused many Victorian publishers to badger their authors to produce something similar.  Some responded heartily\, others didn’t (‘distasteful humbug’ – Trollope).   Elizabeth Gaskell had mixed feelings about such seasonal writing\, and produced a mixed bag of stories\, described in this illustrated talk. Anthony Burton organised a series of exhibitions\, at the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood\, 1981-97\, on the history of Christmas celebrations.  Later\, from 2014\, he supplied regular Christmas lectures for Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester\, and some Christmas study days for the Victorian Society Manchester branch.  In 2021\, with Diane Duffy\, he produced Christmas with the Gaskells\, a booklet published by the Gaskell Society (see below). Anthony is also editor of the Gaskell Society Newsletter. This talk takes place online only and will be available to ticketholders after the event via recording.  \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n Add to calendar \n \n \n\n \n \n \n Google Calendar\n\n \n iCalendar\n\n \n Outlook 365\n\n \n Outlook Live\n\n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n About Christmas with the GaskellsIn Victorian England the celebration of Christmas surged. Following Dickens\, many authors produced heart-warming stories for the season. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote seven of these\, but was not comfortable doing so\, for “I could not write about virtues to order”.  However\, like everyone else\, she participated in the merriment that went on\, even in a grim industrial city like Manchester. This illustrated booklet gathers together everything we have found out about her experience of Christmas observances: carols\, turkeys\, Christmas trees\, and family parties. Buy the booklet (UK shipping only\, sorry) Overseas? We also have a PDF downloadable ebook.  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n George Buckland\, Elizabeth Gaskell and the Reports of the Unitarian Ministry to the Poor \n\n\n \n \n Sensation Fiction - Lady Audley's Secret URL:https://gaskellsociety.co.uk/event/manchester-meeting-february-2025/ LOCATION:Cross Street Chapel\, Cross Street\,\, Manchester\, M2 1NL\, United Kingdom CATEGORIES:Manchester,Meeting,talk ORGANIZER;CN="The Gaskell Society":MAILTO:gaskellsociety@gmail.com END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR