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Introduction
About the Society
September 29th, 1985, the 175th Anniversary of Elizabeth Gaskell's birth was commemorated in Knutsford, Cheshire, by a literary lunch and other events which led to the formation of the Gaskell Society (Registered Charity No 1098017).
Although the Society has no building as headquarters, its centre is Knutsford, with its many Gaskell associations, as Cranford and Hollingford in Wives and Daughters. Here she spent a happy childhood, was married at the Parish Church and is buried in the three-hundred-year-old Brook Street Chapel's graveyard, with her husband William. Two of her unmarried daughters and a number of her ancestors are also buried there.
The Society hold its AGM in Manchester in March. The Society also holds a special Autumn meeting in September in Knutsford.
Aims of the Society
The Society's objects are to promote and encourage the study and appreciation of the work and life of Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell (1810-1865).
To record sources of information about the work of Elizabeth Gaskell and any other material relating to her life, family, work and memory.
To foster and stimulate an understanding of her work and life by other means.
To arrange visits to places associated with her or her books.
To encourage republication of her work.
To promote and support special projects relating to her life and work at suitable times.
To co-operate with other societies having an interest in Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell and her times.
Gaskell Discussion Group
Is an e-mail discussion list to connect society members and anyone interested in the life and works of Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865). Those of you interested in related fields - for example, Dickens, the Brontës, industrial novels, Victorian family issues, are invited to join this list and contribute your notices, inquiries and information.
How to subscribe to the Gaskell discussion group
On the Internet, go to http://mailman.creighton.edu
Scroll down through the lengthy list of lists to "gaskell-l" and click
on that name. Then follow the simple instructions to subscribe.
General queries can be sent to Mary H. Kuhlman, Dept of English, Creighton University, Omaha NE 68178, USA.
84 Plymouth Grove
The Society is also very pleased to be connected with 84 Plymouth Grove in Manchester, the home of the Gaskells from 1850 until Elizabeth's death in 1865. It was there that she wrote most of her novels, met many celebrated personalities and enjoyed such an interesting life.
The Friends of Plymouth Grove are a charitable organisation, who, in order to raise funds to preserve and restore this famous house, host a number of fascinating events, open to both members and public alike.
Details of forthcoming meetings are listed below, and future events are to be found here, as are details on how to become a member and do your bit to celebrate such an important home.
84 Plymouth Grove is currently developing a new dedicated website, further details, of which will be published here.
Latest News & Events
2010 is the bicentenary year of the birth of Elizabeth Gaskell. To commemorate this very special year, the Gaskell Society is planning a series of special events. The Society will be hosting the Alliance of Literary Society Annual General Meeting and there will possibly be a Gaskell Conference taking place in Belgium. The Secretary of the Gaskell Society, Joan Leach M.B.E is also hoping to publish a commemorative booklet Mrs Gaskell and Cheshire.
The Friends of Whitworth Park
Have stated that they have a vacant plinth and are considering placing a sculpture of Elizabeth Gaskell on it.
Cranford
Dame Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Francesca Annis, Julia McKenzie and Jim Carter return in the popular award-winning BBC One drama about the lives of the people of Cranford, in a two-part special for Christmas 2009.
Fresh from four BAFTA Television nominations, seven BAFTA Craft nominations and six Broadcasting Press Guild nominations, as well as the TRIC Award 2007 for Best Drama Programme earlier this year and the RTS Award for Best Writer, the two-part special will be produced by co-creator Sue Birtwistle (Pride And Prejudice), directed by Simon Curtis (Five Days, Freezing) and written by Heidi Thomas (Ballet Shoes, Lilies).
Brook Street Unitarian Chapel
The final resting place of Elizabeth Gaskell, Brook Street Unitarian Chapel in Knutsford Cheshire, is being promoted in a regional tourist campaign. Brook St Chapel has a fascinating history and is already something of a place of pilgramage for fans of the novel Cranford and of Elizabeth Gaskell's other novels. 84 Plymouth Grove where she wrote most of her novels was opened during the winter months due to demand from fans and last month Knutsford library reported that there had been a surge of people borrowing copies of Cranford following the success of the BBC period drama.
The Gaskell Society
See Meetings & Events for further forthcoming events.
Cranford
A DVD of the recent BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford is now available in the shops and contains a section on "The Making of Cranford"
Friends of Plymouth Grove
Saturday 28th June 2.30p.m
84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester
Unitarianism in the Time of the Gaskells
Following in the footsteps of William Gaskell
A talk by Rev. John Midgely, recently retired minister of Cross Street Chapel, Manchester. This talk promises to be a very interesting one as the Rev. John Midgely discusses Unitarianism in the time of Elizabeth and William Gaskell and their contemporaries. The talk will be followed followed by one of the famous "Gaskell House Refreshments"
.
Doors will be open at 2p.m.and the cost is £7-50
Book now while tickets are still available.
Dame Judi Dench, who played Miss Matty Jenkyns, in the recent adaptation of Cranford, has said that she is delighted to be a patron of 84 Plymouth Grove.
And of course...
There is always more to be seen at Cranford (external website) - The BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's works broadcast in 2007. Further information from the BBC can be found by clicking here (external website).
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