| Gaskell Society |
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On September 29, 1985, the 175th
anniversary of Elizabeth Gaskell's birth was commemorated in Knutsford
by a literary lunch and other events which led to the formation
of the Gaskell society.
The Society is based in Knutsford, with its many Gaskell associations,
especially as Cranford, and as Hollingford in Wives and Daughters.
Here she spent a happy childhood at Heathwaite no 17, now Gaskell
Avenue, was married in the Parish Church and is buried in the graveyard
of the three hundred year old Unitarian Brook Street Chapel surrounded
by her ancestors' graves. Mrs Gaskell's house at 84 Plymouth Grove,
Manchester, belongs to the University of Manchester. The Gaskell
Memorial Tower, situated at the Bellel Epoque Restaurant, stands
as a memorial to her in Knutsford town centre.
The Society offers a Journal, News letters, visits, meetings and
conferences, lectures and tours.
Membership Secretary, Christine
Lingard,
5 Moran Crescent, Macclesfield, SK11 8JJ.
Email: lingardgsms@aol.com
or visit
the
gaskell society website
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 One does not have to be a close observer in Knutsford to notice signs of Cranford days: Gaskell and Cranford Avenues, Elizabeth Gaskell Court, the Gaskell Memorial Tower; though Cranford and Matty pharmacies and the Cranford Cake shop have gone.
Literary pilgrims over many years have come to visit Cranford and the last resting place of the author, Elizabeth Gaskell. In 1913 a group of 4 American tourists were delighted to start and finish their tour of Britain here. They stayed at
The Angel :
‘ . . an inn of peacefulness, where in the evening you are given a private sitting room with a blazing coal fire . . and where you wake in the morning and look down over the flower boxes into the narrow street.
Cranford itself – that is to say the people of Cranford – take their fame as the home of Miss Matty and her friends with a calm that is almost indifference . . we motored quietly about the long but little town somehow everything is still done quietly and decorously in Cranford . .’
Incidentally their six week tour covered 2, 92 miles and cost less than £10 in petrol!
( Touring Great Britain by Robert Shackleton 1920)
Knutsfordians of today generally know something about the town's Gaskell connections but it more often visitors who are thrilled to pick up Cranford echoes. A booklet of Knutsford and Mrs Gaskell has a map showing the links and an introduction to her life and works ( Heritage Centre etc £2.85)
It i s more than 5 years ago that a BBC rep. came and walked round Knutsford with me to consider filming options. It was soon clear that Victorian days could not be recreated in the town, much as I would hav e loved to see a coach and four rumble down the George Yard and the ladies glide up the oak staircase to watch the magician in the old assembly rooms. Even that part of Knutsford has gone now.
In 1960, for the centenary of Elizabeth Gaskell's birth, there was a splendid costume ball at The George.
Elizabeth Gaskell grew up in the town after her mother's death when she was a year old: Her aunt lived at Heathwaite on Gaskell Avenue, then known just as Heathside. Cattle and horses and ducks grazed on the The Heath except during race week when all the country houses had guests and arrarnged balls; often the gentry raced their own horses.
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and writings: |
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Heathwaite
and Heath House 'Local associations with Elizabeth Gaskell
by Thomas Beswick" |
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Wives
& Daughters 'Wives and Daughters', Mrs. Gaskell's last
novel, is also incomparably her richest and most satisfying... |
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Controversy
and Attack 'North and South' is the second to deal with
an industrial theme, and in many ways is Mrs. Gaskell's most interesting
book... |
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Cranford,
Novels and Morals From its first page, 'Cranford' had the grace,
clarity and acute perception that go to make a classic... |
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Married
Life In Manchester Although Elizabeth and her husband were both
Unitarians, the wedding took place in Knutsford Parish Church... |
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Early
Years And Marriage It is often strange how the ideas we have of
people are affected by small and often irrelevant facts. The name
of Mrs Gaskell... |
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| Books by Elizabeth
Gaskell |
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To order any of the above mentioned titles, or to
see more by or about the author click
here
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© Some images appearing in The Elizabeth Gaskell Series are
copyright and may not be used without permission. Special thanks
to Val Boston-Davies for permission to use these images.
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| Wives & Daughters |
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EXXONMOBIL MASTERPIECE THEATRE,
the long running drama series on PBS, will broadcast "Wives
and Daughters" airing on PBS April 1 to 22, 2001 at 9pm ET
click
to visit this site
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| More Gaskell Info |
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Further information on Elizabeth
Gaskell and many other links can be found at:
the
gaskell web
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Elizabeth Gaskell