Welcome to the third instalment of our eight hidden gems in and around Manchester.
These are places which might not initially crop up on your itinerary when planning a trip to the city, as you might never heard of them, but you definitely don’t want to miss out on seeing them.
For our first two locations on the trip, we visited the Museum of Transport and Manchester Jewish Museum. We’re now heading to the restored home of Elizabeth Gaskell.
What is it?
The home of English novelist and biographer Elizabeth Gaskell (where she lived from 1850 to 1865) was restored and opened to the public in October 2014. Restoration of the house was a huge £2.5m job, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and modelled on Elizabeth Gaskell’s letters and extensive research depicting how the house looked inside.
The stunning family home is complete with a picturesque garden, where the family often spent quality time together. The garden was hugely important to Elizabeth and drove her passion for growing both flowers and vegetables, as well as giving her a relaxing haven.
In order to achieve the correct look and feel inside the house, the website states: “We have very few furnishings that belonged to the Gaskells, but the other furniture in the house is all from that period. The chintz for the curtains and loose covers have been printed from a 1850s design, and the carpets have been specially woven, using Victorian patterns preserved by a mill in Halifax. The fireplaces, sourced locally, date from around 1840 when the House was built and the light fittings have all been converted from gas to electricity. Further research identified the original paint colours and the styles of the wallpapers.”
Elizabeth Gaskell’s house has a particularly special part in history, being the location where she wrote nearly all of her famous novels, and was graced by visits from other famous writers including Charlotte Brontë, Charles Dickens and John Ruskin.
The house is brimming with historical books, items and collections from the Gaskell’s family history, and regular talks and group tours are available to really make the most of your visit. The house is even available for hosting meetings & conferences, and as an intimate setting for your wedding day.
Free Virtual Tour of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Where is it?
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is located in Manchester City Centre, near Manchester Royal Infirmary and St Mary’s Hospital.
Check out the map below:
Click here to find out more about visiting.
Book a tour of Manchester
Want to see Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and other hidden gems in Manchester with your own eyes? Book one of our highly rated custom built Manchester Taxi Tours to see what the city has to offer, and visit the places that you want to see with the city’s only Green Badge taxi driver & tour guide John Consterdine.
