Book lovers: Don’t Sleep on the Elizabeth Gaskell House

84 Plymouth Grove in Manchester, UK is home to a literary sight that’s sorely underrated: the Elizabeth Gaskell House. No trip to Manchester is complete with stopping to pay tribute to this unparalleled Victorian writer.

On a recent trip to Manchester, I had the privilege of touring the Elizabeth Gaskell Museum, which has only been open to the public since 2014. I loved the opportunity to step back in time to Manchester at its industrial peak, and to imagine Elizabeth writing there in the company of her many children.

Author of such classics as North and South and Mary Barton, Elizabeth Gaskell shone a spotlight on the issues that accompanied early industrialism: starvation, plague, poor working conditions, and class warfare. But she also wrote about love and hope, with such cozy books as Cranford and Wives and Daughters.

Read on to find out how to visit this extraordinary Manchester museum and to learn more about Elizabeth Gaskell.

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Whenever possible, I recommend buying books at local bookshops or through Bookshop.org, because shopping there puts the profits right into the hands of indie bookstores all over the country.

You can check out my Elizabeth Gaskell reading list on Bookshop here:

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Who was Elizabeth Gaskell? 

Elizabeth Gaskell was a Victorian novelist who wrote in a variety of genres, from social novels about the industrialization of Manchester (Mary Barton, North and South), to lighthearted English country novels (Cranford), to biography (The Life of Charlotte Brontë). She was buddies with the likes of Charles Dickens, Charlotte Brontë, and Florence Nightingale and was a prominent writer of her time. 

There are so many interesting facts about Elizabeth Gaskell, a fantastic writer. Sadly, these days she often gets overlooked in favor of the more popular Brontë sisters. 

“The difference between Miss Bronte and me is that she puts all her naughtiness into her books and I put all my goodness”

Elizabeth gaskell

Elizabeth Gaskell Novels in Order:

• Mary Barton (1848)
• Cranford (1851-53)
• Ruth (1853)
• North and South (1854-55)
• My Lady Ludlow (1858-9)
• A Dark Night’s Work (1863)
• Sylvia’s Lovers (1863)
• Wives and Daughters (1864-66)

Elizabeth lived her entire married life in the city of Manchester, the world’s first industrialized city. She lived with her husband, who was a Unitarian Minister, and their four daughters.

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Related: Some of Gaskell’s novels have been adapted into some really lovely TV series. Cranford and North and South are my favorites.

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Elizabeth Gaskell House at 84 Plymouth Grove: A History

The Elizabeth Gaskell Museum in Manchester at 84 Plymouth Grove was the Gaskells’ third and final home in Manchester. As their family grew, they found themselves needing more space, finally settling here in this family home.

Elizabeth lived at 84 Plymouth Grove from 1850 until her death in 1865. She wrote nearly all of her most beloved books while living here, including: Cranford, North and South, and The Life of Charlotte Brontë. 

After Elizabeth’s death, the Gaskell family continued living here until 1913. In 1914, the house’s contents were auctioned off. For a time, the house became housing for international students attending the nearby Manchester University. 

Now, the Elizabeth Gaskell House at 84 Plymouth Grove is run by the Manchester Historic Buildings Trust. After a massive refurbishment project to return the house back into what it once was, the Elizabeth Gaskell Museum opened to the public in 2014. 

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Visiting the Elizabeth Gaskell House: What To Expect

Today, those looking for something unique to do in Manchester can visit the Elizabeth Gaskell House and learn more about the accomplished Victorian writer. 

Here’s an overview of what you can expect from a visit to 84 Plymouth Grove.

Walking through the Gaskells’ rooms

Upon entering and purchasing a ticket (or showing a pre-purchased ticket), you will move through a series of rooms that have been restored to resemble how they looked when the Gaskells lived here. In each room, there is a volunteer museum docent who offers to give you more information about the room, or you can simply wander on your own. 

I recommend hearing what information the docents have to share, as in these rooms, there are not many informational plaques to get the information for yourself. The Elizabeth Gaskell Museum docents during my visit were very enthusiastic to talk about Mrs. Gaskell, a passion that is contagious and inspiring. 

Here are the rooms you can explore in the Elizabeth Gaskell House in Manchester. 

William Gaskell’s study 

The first room, on your right upon entering the Gaskells’ house, is William Gaskell’s study. This room will immediately draw the eye of any book lover, as all the walls in the room are lined with bookshelves filled with antique books. 

You’ll see William’s desk where he worked as well as a portrait of him on the wall. The docent was eager to tell me about how supportive a husband William was to Elizabeth, going above and beyond, particularly in the Victorian age, to support his wife’s writing career. 

One thing I loved about the study was that you are allowed and encouraged to remove the antique books from the shelves and flip through them. Though these are not the original books owned by the Gaskells (remember, their possessions were auctioned off in 1914), they’ve done a good job of recreating what might have been on the shelves. 

They used a combination of records to fill the shelves at the Elizabeth Gaskell House: 

• Records of what books William checked out from the library (Elizabeth, being a woman, wasn’t allowed to check out books)
• Records of what books were sold from their estate at auction
• Books they referenced in personal letters

Some of the books contain a laminated card inside that explain the significance of that book to Elizabeth or William. When you grow accustomed to museums in which you can’t touch anything, it’s a unique and fun change to interact with your surroundings here at the Elizabeth Gaskell House.

Drawing room

In the drawing room of the Elizabeth Gaskell house at 84 Plymouth Grove, you’ll see a large, welcoming room complete with grand piano and a fireplace (there is an interesting story about its marble mantle once being stolen!). 

In this room, the docent will tell you all about the Gaskell children, and what each of their unique talents and interests were. 

Dining room / Elizabeth’s writing corner

Next, you’ll move through into the Gaskells’ dining room. There are two seating areas in here. A smaller table by the window is apparently where Elizabeth Gaskell would sit to write, so she could enjoy the natural light from the windows and also oversee her four children in the dining room. On this table, explore some replicas of personal letters to Gaskell from Charles Dickens, as well as letters she wrote to others.

A larger table is also in the dining room, where the Gaskells would have hosted members of William’s congregation for dinner. Just imagine Elizabeth sitting across from a wealthy factory owner after having published Mary Barton! There’s no denying, Elizabeth Gaskell was ballsy!

Elizabeth Gaskell’s bedroom

Next, you’ll go upstairs, where the only remaining room of the Gaskells’ to see is the bedroom. You’ll see a four poster bed and even some clothes hung in the wardrobe (though the rain had made the doors tricky to open when I was there). 

This is the most recently renovated room in the Elizabeth Gaskell Museum, only opened to the public since 2021. 

Other exhibits

Once you’ve seen Elizabeth Gaskell’s bedroom, you’ve now finished the part of the museum that recreates their lives here. The other two rooms on the upper floor contain exhibits relating to Elizabeth Gaskell and her works. 

In one room, you can play a film produced by the Elizabeth Gaskell Museum that talks about the significance of three Elizabeth Gaskell novels:  Mary Barton, Ruth, and North and South. You’ll also informational plaques on the walls talking about the Manchester that Elizabeth Gaskell knew, both the real industrial city and how it corresponds to her works set there. 

In another room, which is labeled as the room in which Charlotte Brontë once stayed, you can learn even more about Elizabeth and her works. 

Related: 5 early editions of Mary Barton: A Manchester Tale are kept at the nearby Chetham’s Library, the oldest library in England. If you’re in Manchester, it’s absolutely worth visiting.

Interactive Elements

There are some fun and creative ways to interact with your surroundings in the Elizabeth Gaskell Museum. These include being able to peruse the books on the shelves in William’s study and using a touch screen interactive map of Manchester.

Children can also find opportunities to interact here. There are multiple places in the house with costume pieces for children and adults alike to pick out and play dress-up during your visit. 

Tea Room & Gift Shop

On your way out, you’ll of course exit through the gift shop, but there’s also a tea room here where you can stop for tea and cakes. 

In the gift shop of the Elizabeth Gaskell Museum, you’ll find a good selection of secondhand books for sale at great prices, making this a great place to shop for books in Manchester in addition to the many lovely Manchester bookshops. You’ll also find all of Gaskell’s books (new) for sale. 

Tip: Make sure you ask them to stamp your book noting that you purchased it at the home in which it was written! 

You’ll also find a small selection of other Elizabeth Gaskell-inspired products, like teacups, tea towels, and puzzles. 

Open Hours & Ticket Prices

Currently, the Elizabeth Gaskell house at 84 Plymouth Grove is open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, from 11-4:30 (last entry at 3 pm). 

It is possible to visit on other days of the week if you are coming with a group of at least 10 people. In that case, you’d need to book a private group tour in advance by filling out the form on the website.

You can pre-purchase tickets with timed entry to the Elizabeth Gaskell house online, or purchase upon arrival. 

Tickets to the Elizabeth Gaskell Museum are good for 12 months. So, once you visit, hang onto your ticket, and you can return at any time in the next year for free. 

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Tips for Visiting the Elizabeth Gaskell Museum

After having visited 84 Plymouth Grove myself, here are my tips for making the most of your visit:

• Allow yourself a minimum of an hour to spend here, and up to two hours, depending on how thoroughly you want to explore the house
• Read as many Elizabeth Gaskell novels as you can before visiting! This always makes a visit more enjoyable. Focus on her Manchester novels in particular, as these are given the most attention in the museum. 
• Ask the docents for more information. It’s literally what they’re there for! Even if you’ve never read an Elizabeth Gaskell novel before, they will be so eager to tell you about this remarkable Victorian writer. 
• Pay a visit to the nearby Blackwell Bookshop. It’s about a 10-minute walk and well worth a stop. 
• The Elizabeth Gaskell Museum runs regular online talks relating to Gaskell’s works, so even if you can’t visit in person, you can join in the fun online.
• Did you know you can get married in the Elizabeth Gaskell House? What a cool literary wedding venue!

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How to get to the Elizabeth Gaskell House

The Elizabeth Gaskell Museum is located at 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester. This is a little outside of central Manchester, and it isn’t located on any of the tram lines. 

To get to the Elizabeth Gaskell House from Central Manchester, you can choose from the following:

• Take the bus (Bus 50 goes directly from central Manchester to a stop just around the corner from Elizabeth Gaskell’s house)
• Walk about 30 minutes
• Drive or hire a car (I used an uber, and it only cost about 8 pounds from the Northern Quarter). 

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What else to see in Manchester

If you’re a book lover in Manchester, make sure you don’t miss the incredible Chetham’s library (the oldest public library in Britain), Portico Library, or the John Ryland Library. You should also definitely make time to visit the many great indie bookshops in Manchester.

Finally, be sure to catch a play at one of the many theaters there (I saw Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Exchange Theater). 

Gaskell lovers can also take a 40-60-minute train ride to the nearby village of Knutsford, where Gaskell grew up, and where she was buried. 

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That wraps up this ultimate guide to visiting the Elizabeth Gaskell House in Manchester, England. What other writers’ houses are you interested in visiting?

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