of Elizabeth Gaskell, her books and her family and the many leading
nineteenth-century literary figures who were their guests, but also
the history of the varied communities who have lived along Plymouth
Grove since it was first developed.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s house is a detached villa, retaining some of its original large
garden space. It was built about 1838 when Plymouth Grove was on the
outskirts of Manchester. It has beautiful reception rooms on the ground
floor, with their original doors, shutters and plasterwork. Upstairs are
the large airy bedrooms and below the very spacious domestic quarters
(without any of their original fittings).
Plans for use
It is suggested that the impressive main rooms on the ground floor
should be fully restored and open to the public. These include William
Gaskell’s study (currently used as a second-hand book shop), the morning room and the spacious drawing and dining rooms. Historic paint and wallpaper analysis and late nineteenth century photographs will help to identify the appropriate interior decor.
The extensive lower ground floor will be adapted for educational and
community use - the biggest rooms will hold groups of 50-60 people. New
toilets will be installed and a lift for the disabled fitted. There will also be a catering kitchen.
The first floor which contains five large rooms (several capable of
holding groups of 30+ people) and two smaller ones will be let as
individual seminar rooms or offices.
The coach house wing will provide an education room and caretaker’s
flat. The garden will be suitably landscaped to provide a setting for this
important house, using the map of 1850.
The Owners, Manchester Historic Buildings Trust
In 2004, after a long campaign, the Trust acquired the freehold of 84
Plymouth Grove. We are a registered charity, a company limited by
guarantee and a building preservation trust.
The Patrons of the Trust are Sir Neil Cossons (until recently the
Chairman of English Heritage), Mrs R Trevor Dabbs (Elizabeth Gaskell’s
great-great-granddaughter), Gabrielle Drake the actress, who performs a one-woman show as Elizabeth Gaskell, Dame Judi Dench, star of the recent
acclaimed television Cranford and Jenny Uglow, biographer of Gaskell.
Progress so Far
Much has been achieved since the Trust took over the building. In
2008, with the help of English Heritage and the Architectural Heritage
Fund, an Options Appraisal, Business Plan and Conservation Management
Plan have all been completed. Our professional team of architect,
quantity surveyor and structural engineer has completed surveys of
the building and has applied for planning approval and listed building
consent. We now have three Project Officers, paid for by English
Heritage and the Architectural History Fund, working for us.
The estimated cost is in the region of 2.3 million, of which £500,000
is already forthcoming. The Trust now plans to start major fundraising
to secure the balance
The Trust is working in partnership with English Heritage, the
University of Manchester, the Gaskell Society, Architectural Heritage
Fund, Association of Preservation Trusts, Cultural Regeneration for
Inner South Manchester, the Friends of Swinton Grove Park, Victoria
Baths, the Pankhurst House and others.
With the help of the Friends of Plymouth Grove, we have run a whole
series of Open Days, Heritage Open Days, tours of the house and art
projects for schools. We have welcomed many special interest groups, given
numerous outreach lectures, collaborated with local tenants’ groups
(who now use the house for meetings), and created new display and
publicity materials.
We are working with the ‘City South Partnership’ initiative and have
close links with the other Ardwick heritage assets, especially Victoria
Baths and the Pankhurst House.
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Friends of Gaskell House
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Community
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Links & Acknowledgements
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This building is historically important, especially due to its association with Elizabeth Gaskell, a social commentator of
international standing on the industrialisation of England.” Henry Owen John,
English Heritage
“The house is ... of great historical significance to our city, our nation and indeed internationally. ...it has potential to be an important part of the regeneration of the Ardwick area”
Tony Lloyd
MP
“we remain strong supporters of the project, which we see as being one of very considerable regional importance”
Michael Oglesby,
Chairman,
Oglesby Trust
“the building’s heritage merits and the conservation benefits of
bringing it back into use are not disputed”
Michael Walmsley,
HLF
“I’m very pleased to hear that you are restoring 84 Plymouth
Grove, I raised the original money to buy it for the University, back
in the late sixties!... It was a marvellous house with a marvellous history”
Anna Ford
“I send my heart-felt support... Elizabeth Gaskell was a
wonderful writer, and also a major figure in the social and
intellectual life of Manchester. I am sure today’s Mancunians will be proud to see her home recovered and to important use.”
Joan Bakewell
More…
We recently received this delightful poem from Mr Philip Watts click here to download a copy in Adobe pdf format.
