Lottery win for Gaskell’s home

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House has been awarded £50,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Emergency Fund.

The funding will provide essential support to Manchester Historic Buildings Trust, the charity that cares for the former home of Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, one of Manchester’s most popular heritage attractions.

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House has recently reopened to the public, with people reporting how much they’ve enjoyed visiting the cherished family home where Elizabeth wrote some of her most famous novels.  However, as for all heritage and cultural attractions, the impact of Covid-19 has had an unprecedented impact.  This is why The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s funding award is so incredibly important to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House; it will be used to support staff costs, overheads, an online programme of talks, marketing and the additional costs associated with providing a safe visitor experience.

Frank Galvin, Chair of Manchester Historic Buildings Trust, says, “I would like to express the thanks of all our staff, volunteers and visitors and to say how much we appreciate this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which will not only be of great practical help but also a real boost to morale at this difficult time.  As we’ve reopened our doors it’s been inspiring to see the positive contribution that heritage can make to people’s lives and wellbeing.”

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, says, “Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as Elizabeth Gaskell’s House during this uncertain time.”

 Visiting Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is one of the ways that you can support this national treasure.  Tickets are pre-bookable up to two weeks in advance, with the house and gardens all fully opened to explore every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11:00am to 4:30pm. 

A visit to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House reveals not only Elizabeth’s world as a writer, but her active social life with some of the leading figures of Victorian society.  Guests to the Grade II* listed Regency-style villa, which is situated just on the edge of Manchester city centre, included Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens and John Ruskin.  Elizabeth Gaskell was also a friend to Florence Nightingale, a friendship that has influenced the creative that guides visitors around the house, including quotes from Florence such as ‘wash your hands frequently and thoroughly’.

The funding that Elizabeth Gaskell’s House has received has been made possible by National Lottery players and was awarded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Emergency Fund. £50million was made available to provide emergency funding for those most in need across the heritage sector.  The UK-wide fund aimed to address both immediate emergency actions and help organisations to start thinking about recovery.

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is open every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11:00am to 4:30pm.  Entry is £5.50 for adults and £4.50 for concessions (senior citizens and students).  The Tea Room, located in the original kitchen, is open serving light refreshments, or visitors can bring a picnic blanket and sit in the garden with their own picnic lunch.  Tickets can be pre-booked up to two weeks in advance via www.ticketsource.co.uk/elizabeth-gaskell-house.