Manchester’s famous Victorian villa, home of author Elizabeth Gaskell, has reopened in 2014 after a £2.5 million restoration of the property where she spent the last 15 years of her life from 1850 to 1865. Known for her socially minded novels such as Mary Barton, Cranford, Ruth, North and South, and her biography of Charlotte Bronte, her house was a refuge for many intellectuals and artists of her time including the Bronte sisters and Charles Hallé. Lovingly restored to its original glory, the project – in part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund – took more than two years. It’s a perfect destination for anybody interested in Manchester’s literary history as well as learning about one of Manchester’s great minds regarding social reform and equality. While touring the house, a visit to the tea room, situated in what was the servant’s quarters, is a highlight alongside the gardens, interactive displays and a feeling of being transported back in time.
84 Plymouth Grove, M13 9LW, Tel: 0161 2732215, Sun only from 11am, £4.95, check website for week-by-week opening times & prices, www.elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk
- Words:
- Jonathon Butterworth
- Published on:
- Tue 22 Jul 2014
