Elizabeth Gaskell's Bicentenary Year
For events please refer to the Gaskell Society website
Stop Press - New booking arrangements for Dear Scheherazade
Wednesday 16 June 7 for 7.30pm
Dear Scheherazade
Gabrielle Drake’s one-woman show on Elizabeth Gaskell, postponed from January because of the bad weather, will be performed at MMU’s Capitol Theatre in the Mabel Tylecote Building, All Saints, M15 6BH.
To book please send your cheque for £15 per ticket, payable to The Gaskell Society to Mrs Margery Schofield, 202, Moston Lane East, New Moston, Manchester, M40 3QH (0161 6811439 email margery09@btinternet.com)
along with your name, address and phone number/email address.
Please enclose an S.A.E. if you wish your tickets to be sent to you, or you may collect them at the box office on the night. Don’t miss this highly entertaining performance, bringing Elizabeth Gaskell to life!
Events in the house
We do not yet have a firm date for the reopening of the house in the spring.
We hope to start with the AGM of the Trust and continue with open days and other events.
Events elsewhere
Sunday 7 March 1-4pm
International Woman’s Day,
Manchester Town Hall
Always a headline event, you can visit us in the Great Hall or nearby and catch up with our latest news, as well as seeing a great range of other women’s organisations. Entrance is free.
March 31-29 April 9.30-4.30, Monday to Friday
Portico Library Exhibition
on Elizabeth Gaskell and her circle. The exhibition will draw upon the Library’s unique collection of Gaskell first editions and books from the Library’s shelves might were borrowed by the family and influenced her work. Also objects never before on public show from the Trust’s Patron Rosemary Dabbs, great-grand daughter of Elizabeth Gaskell. Free.
Also during the exhibtion:
April 8
Talk and launch of Alan Shelston's new Gaskell Biography.
13 April
Elizabeth Gaskell and Charlotte Bronte
an evening costumed reading by Intertheatre: a dramatisation of the lives of two famous literary friends. Please book in advance, times and prices from the Library, ring 0161 236 6785
Wednesday 21 April 11am
Tour of Goya and Valette Pictures
Manchester Art Gallery
With our preferred guide Nirvana. As numbers are limited please contact
Pat Barnard pat.barnard@live.co.uk, or 0161 439 2633 to reserve your place.
Cost £5.00.
Saturday 8 May 2pm
Annual General Meeting of the Manchester Historic Buildings Trust
84 Plymouth Grove
With a talk by architect Peter Hatfield and authenic Plymouth Grove cake and glass of something sparkling. The AGM and talk are free and open to all Friends,
Refreshments £5 (pay on the day).
Please let the Secretary of the Trust, Clive Trunkfield if you are attending one or both events, 0161 338 3513
Tuesday 25 May starting at 8.45am
Visit to St Deiniol’s Library
In the picturesque village of Hawarden, by coach (starting opposite Chorlton Street bus station). The impressive building was designed by John Douglas. The Library was originated by Gladstone. It has an outstanding collection of more than 250,000 items and specialises in Theology and Victorian Studies. It also provides residential accommodation. This tour is shared with the Portico
Library.
Cost £20 includes travel, coffee or tea and cake on arrival and tour of the library. You can order lunch individually in the library cafe.
Please book with Hilda Holmes on 0161 487 2593
June 5th 2.00-4.00pm
Garden Party
Heathwaite House, Knutsford, Cheshire
Come and visit the house where Elizabeth Gaskell grew up with her beloved Aunt Hannah Lumb.
Cost £5 (pay on the day).
In aid of Gaskell House ,Plymouth Grove
Further details available from Pat Barnard, tel 0161-439 2633
or email patbarnard@live.co.uk
Sunday 6 June 12-4pm
Open Day
We hope that many new visitors will be tempted by the sight of the beautiful new exterior to pay us a visit. There will be new displays, the usual bookstall with a lot of new stock, and tea and cake for the hungry.
Sunday 4 July 12-4pm
Open Day
We hope that many new visitors will be tempted by the sight of the beautiful new exterior to pay us a visit. There will be new displays, the usual bookstall with a lot of new stock, and tea and cake for the hungry.
July 22 5.30-7.30pm
Gaskell Exhibition "A Connected Life"
John Rylands University Library, Manchester.
After a brief introduction Fran Baker will present an informal talk about the exhibition. If space permits, some of the talk will take place in the exhibition room itself - so that Fran can point out items of interest - then Society members can be left to their own devices. The Rylands Cafe will be open throughout the event for Gaskell Society members to be able to purchase refreshments.
For further details and to arrange bookings please contact either Joan Leach 01565 634668 or Fran Baker at fran.baker@manchester.ac.uk or Judith Rees 0161 941 3001 or or email at juditharees@yahoo.co.uk
September 12 12.30pm
Beyond the Bonnets!
Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester
A talk and a celebration of Elizabeth Gaskell's life in words and images, exploring her connections and networks with Unitarians nationally, her own religious views, and her opinions on the various Unitarian developments and tensions of her day.
It will be presented by the Rev Dr Ann Peart, Vice President of the Unitarian General Assembly and recently retired principal of Unitarian College Manchester, who has researched the lives of Unitarian women.
Peter Sampson, actor, member of the Chapel Street congregation and another life-long Unitarian, will be reading excerpts from Elizabeth Gaskell’s writings.
back to the top of the page