Elizabeth Gaskell's House

Over het museum

The villa at 84 Plymouth Grove was built around 1838 as part of a speculative suburban development south of Manchester city centre and is attributed to the architect Richard Lane. In 1850 the Unitarian minister William Gaskell moved in with his wife, the novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, and their daughters. Elizabeth wrote several of her best-known works here, including Cranford, North and South and Wives and Daughters, and the house became a meeting place for writers, reformers and visitors from Britain and abroad.

Elizabeth died in 1865 and William stayed on, and the daughters Meta and Julia lived in the house until Meta's death in 1913, after which the building and its contents were sold. Over the following decades it fell into disrepair, although it was listed Grade II* in 1952. Manchester Historic Buildings Trust began a restoration project in 2009, which was delayed by the theft of the lead roof in 2011.

After a restoration costing about £2.5 million, the house reopened to the public on 5 October 2014. Today the principal rooms are presented as they might have looked around 1857, using the family's letters and other records, and loans from descendants add personal objects. The house is run by Manchester Historic Buildings Trust with the help of volunteers, and also contains a tea room in the former kitchen, a garden planted in period style and a programme of talks and events.

Hoogtepunten

• Period rooms restored to about 1857 using the Gaskells' own letters
• William Gaskell's study with books the family owned or read
• Round table in the dining room bay window where Elizabeth preferred to write
• Loaned family items including a wedding veil and Paisley shawls
• Victorian-style garden with fernery, pergola and period fruit and vegetables
• Volunteer-run tea room in the former basement kitchen

Vaste collectie

• The house and garden – Period rooms including the study, morning room, drawing room, dining room and Elizabeth's bedroom, furnished as they might have been around 1857, with a Victorian-style garden.

Opgericht

2014

Beheerder

Manchester Historic Buildings Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

From 1 November 2026 the standard ticket rises to £9.50 and the concession ticket to £8.50. Free entry for Historic Houses members, Northern Museums Volunteer Pass holders and Visit Manchester Pass holders (pass must be shown). Registered carers visit free with a paying visitor. Tickets must be booked in advance online.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The house and garden are step-free, with a side ramp avoiding the front steps and a lift to all floors. Accessible toilets are on the lower ground and first floors; the nearest Changing Places toilet is at Manchester Museum, about 0.57 miles away. Two Blue Badge spaces are available on site and should be reserved by phone or email. Only trained assistance dogs are allowed inside, including the tea room. A Braille guidebook is available on request and large print copies of most reading material can be provided. Volunteers give spoken interpretation in most rooms and can adjust their speed or describe objects. Most of the collection and furnishings can be touched and sat on, with volunteers advising. Mobility scooters and walking aids can be used inside and in the garden.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte

Children can follow a trail led by Cranford the cat through the house, use activity baskets and dress up in Victorian clothes. The garden has a family trail with QR codes and, in summer, Victorian-style lawn games and picnics. Craft or writing activities run in the servants' hall in school holidays. The house and garden are accessible for pushchairs, baby-change facilities are on the lower ground floor next to the tea room, and breastfeeding is welcome throughout.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Secure bike parking is in the courtyard to the right of the house.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel

Volunteer-run tea room and gift shop in the basement, in the former kitchen, open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 11:00 to 16:00 (card and cash). Hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks, and soup with a roll on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 to 14:00; gluten-free and vegan options are available. The shop sells books by and about Elizabeth Gaskell, second-hand books and souvenirs. Toilets are on the lower ground and first floors.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Zakelijke evenementen

Tot 35 personen.

Meeting and workshop rooms (including the Bronte Room and the Nightingale Room) for up to 35 delegates per room depending on layout, with a screen, flip chart and hearing loop; the servants' hall and garden can serve as breakout spaces.

Je bezoek plannen