Ga
sk
Knutsford - The Real Cranford
explore
ell A
A50
1
v
R
oad
enue
3
er
3
hest
Manc
Elizabeth Gaskell’s tales of Cranford were set in her
Knutsford
A50
home town of Knutsford in Cheshire, which she
Bex
t
on R
To
ft
R
o
a
d
renamed Cranford, and told of the lives of a band of A50
Gr
een Str
women, assuring us that ‘the ladies of Cranford are quite
oad
oad
y
R e
oad
et
sufficient... a man, is so in the way in the house’.
Stanle
T
o
f
t
R
R
www.visitknutsford.co.uk
ed C
T
a
t
s Str
eet ton Str
ow
eet
Princes
Minshull St.
Silk Y
1
Heathwaite,
and it also appears in Gaskell’s
6
Gaskell Memorial
a
Gaskell Avenue
Wives and Daughters. It was
Tower, King Street
Ch
Mill
r
d
here along what was the stable
C
u
hur
r
Str
ch
Knutsf
ord 7
The house looks over the Heath,
yard of the Royal George where
Built in 1907 by Richard Harding
eet Her
itage
c
Vi
9
an area of common land which
Mar
h C
King Str
Elizabeth found her inspiration
Watt, this was originally the Kings
Hill
ew entre
eet
To
ft
R
o
a
d
2
3
in Gaskell’s time was home to a
10
for Miss Matty’s Teashop and
Coffee House, although today it is
c
lif
Gask
ell B508
Tatton Park
racecourse. This may also have
6
the gossipy Miss Pole.
the Belle Époque restaurant. Watt
f
e
Gr
Tow
er
been where Cranford’s Miss said at the opening that Gaskell’s
o
v
e
eet
Betsy Barker’s cow fell into the works had given him real delight
4
K
ing Str
lime pit before being clothed in a
3 No. 15 King Street
and he thought the town should
Adams Str
KNUTSFORD
flannel waistcoat. Further up the
The home of Captain Henry Hill,
acknowledge its famous daughter.
STATION
road is the house of another of
a half – pay captain who had
A bust of her can be seen on the
Cotton
Shop Yard
Knutsford’s famous characters,
fought at the battle of Waterloo
tower along with a list of her works.
eet
Moorside
Edward Highwayman Higgins.
and the possible inspiration for
8
3
In Gaskell’s time however, this
Cranford’s Captain Brown.
7
The Angel Inn,
Moorside
would have been home to the
King Street
5
fictional Mrs Jamieson.
4
Knutsford
Parish Church
The Angel was a noted posting Brook St
house and inn in Gaskell’s time
Unitarian
Quarry
This is where Elizabeth was
Chapel
and in Cranford, Lord Maulevere
Bank Mill
married to William Gaskell in
stayed here whilst visiting Captain
1832. The wedding itself was a
Brown. Minshull Street, next to the
happy affair and Elizabeth
Angel was referenced as the Shire
wrote that most of the houses
Manchester
Lane in Cranford.
‘sanded’ for her day, a local
custom of writing messages
8
The Old Vicarage,
and patterns in coloured sand.
King Street
5 Brook Street
It is thought that Elizabeth had this
Unitarian Chapel
building in mind when telling the
story of Peter, the Vicar’s son and
Elizabeth died, aged 55, and was
brother of Miss Matty.
buried in the grounds of this
14
2 The Former Royal
beautiful chapel along with her
9
Knutsford
George Hotel,
husband William and two of Heritage Centre
King Street
their daughters. A description of
Cranford Tours depart from the
the building can be found in
Heritage Centre, King Street,
It was in the assembly rooms of
‘Ruth’, another of Gaskell’s
Knutsford. Tickets are £5 each.
this coaching inn that the
works. This chapel is where
For timings and to book in advance
Cranford ladies marvelled at
Gaskell worshipped whilst living
call 01565 650506.
Signor Brunoni’s magic tricks
in Knutsford.
www.knutsfordheritage.co.uk
Manchester - Plymouth Grove
12
Bus
Stn.
Elizabeth Gaskell lived all her married life in Manchester
library, where William Gaskell was
where you can still see some places associated with her.
Chairman. A beautiful building, with
The novels Mary Barton and North and South are both set
a gallery open to the public.
in the city, as well as some short stories.
14 Murray's Mills, Ancoats
13
Elizabeth took visitors here to show
11
The Gaskells' House,
12
Cross Street Chapel
them the whole process of cotton
15
84 Plymouth Grove William Gaskell, Elizabeth's
cloth manufacture. The building has
now been repaired for other uses.
Home of Elizabeth Gaskell from
husband, was the Unitarian
1850 until her death in 1865,
minister here and you can see
15
Manchester Art Gallery ST
OCKPO
and of the family until 1913. At
the new chapel on the site. There
to Piccadilly Station
UPPER
City Centre R
T
RO
present under restoration, but
is a memorial plaque to
Built in 1835, the gallery was known
AD
BROOK
McDonalds
A6
the ground floor will be open on
Elizabeth.
as the Manchester Institution and
The Gaskell House
Bu
ses 1
STREET
is a short walk down
7
set days from early June
with the neighbouring Atheneum
Devonshire Street
3, 1
9
from the A6
2
onwards.
13
The Portico Library
hosted many important events. R
E
E
T
O
XFORD RO The Gaskells’ House
R
E
ST
Copies of Elizabeth Gaskell's
Today it is a thriving gallery with an
PL
84 Plymouth Grove
YMOUTH
N
S
HI
books are preserved in the
interesting Manchester display.
to
AD
GRO
T
VE
D
E
V
O
Oxford
A5
11
18
B5
O
N STREE
4
Bu
Road 1 Bu
ses
1 1
Station
7
ses 1
96,
19
Man G
R
O
V
E
GRAFT
7
2010 Highlights
7
y
3, 1
bu
ses
9
2

S
W
IN
T
O
N
Denotes events in Knutsford Denotes events in Manchester Hospitals
There are a variety of events to celebrate this Sunday 6th June 21st - 25th July Sunday 5th September Sunday 3rd October 11am
anniversary including guided walks, exhibitions and
First Open Day at
RHS Show and Floral Walk The Knutsford Great Race Service Commemorating
Plymouth Grove
performances, these are some of the highlights.
Knutsford Town Centre Moorside, Knutsford
Mrs Gaskell's 200th Birth
Manchester
This year’s Walk will have more stunning The main event is the Penny Farthing
The home of Mrs Gaskell from 1850-1865.
Anniversary
displays and a fantastic floral competition. Championship - World Series which is an
Plymouth Grove welcomed many eminent
Brook Street Chapel, Knutsford
www.rhs.org.uk/shows- endurance race and starts at 2pm.
31st March 2010 - 30th April Thursday 29th April visitors including Charles Dickens and
www.gaskellsociety.org
events/tattonpark www.theknutsfordgreatrace.co.uk
(Excluding 2nd & 5th April)
Elizabeth Gaskell
Charlotte Bronte.
Elizabeth Gaskell - Walking and Rail Tour
5th - 9th October
Thursday 5th August Tuesday 14th September
A Writer's Life
7th June - 5th September
Manchester Visitor Information Centre Woman of Letters: Gaskell’s A Gaskell Celebration
Old Time Music Hall
Portico Library, Manchester
Visit locations connected with Mrs Gaskell Elizabeth Gaskell Autograph Collection & Knutsford Library (Ticketed event)
Knutsford Amateur Operatic Society
This exhibition draws together an overview
and her family, learn about her life and
and the Doctor Victorian Celebrity
Readings from some of Mrs Gaskell's Musical Highlights, Humour and Hilarity,
of Mrs Gaskell’s life and work with special
books, taking the train to Knutsford for lunch.
Quarry Bank Mill & Styal Estate, Styal John Rylands Library
novels with refreshments. also featuring the play "Old Poz"
items from the library's own collection and
www.toursofmanchester.co.uk
An exhibition to celebrate the bi-centenary of A lecture by Dr Pamela Corpron Parker of
t: 01565 632 909 performed by Knutsford Little Theatre.
some rarely-seen treasures. Mrs Gaskell and her connection with Quarry Whitworth University USA.
www.knutsfordaos.org
www.theportico.org.uk
Saturday 1st May
Bank Mill through her Uncle, Dr Holland. www.library.manchester.ac.uk
Thursday 16th September
Royal May Day
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
“Country and City”
Wednesday 6th October
Thursday 8th April
Knutsford Town Centre
Saturday 14th August
John Rylands Library
Talk and Tour - Elizabeth
Alan Shelston talks about his
Dating back to 1864, Knutsford’s May Day
Wednesday 16th June
festival is a highlight of the town’s calendar.
Elegant Economy – the
Talk by Jenny Uglow, Gaskell’s biographer. Gaskell’s Cheshire
new biography Brief
Dear Scheherazade by
clothes of Cranford
www.library.manchester.ac.uk
Tatton Park, Knutsford
Lives: Elizabeth Gaskell
14th - 17th May
Gabrielle Drake
John Rylands Library
Joan Leach, MBE gives a talk about how
Saturday 18th September
Portico Library, Manchester
Flower Festival &
Capitol Theatre, Manchester
While the 1830’s clothes are lovely to look at,
Mrs Gaskell linked to Knutsford and the
Commissioned to provide an overview of the Victorian Victuals
Gabrielle Drake, star of stage and TV, in her
they also give fascinating clues about how
Fashioning the Past surrounding area, followed by a tour
life of Manchester's most important writer.
one-woman show, telling the story of Mrs
costume reveals character in the novels of
John Rylands Library around the mansion and a visit to the
Brook Street Chapel, Knutsford
www.theportico.org.uk
Gaskell's life in the writer's own words.
Mrs Gaskell. 'Elegant Economy' is a one–
A fascinating account of how costume exhibition featuring Mrs Gaskell’s Cheshire.
Each arrangement will depict one of Mrs
www.gaskellsociety.co.uk
hour presentation with two performers.
historian Gillian Stapleton researches and www.tattonpark.org.uk
Gaskell’s Novels.
Saturday 10th April
www.historywardrobe.com
creates the lovely replica corsets, costumes
www.brookstreetchapel.org
Sunday 27th June and bonnets of the History Wardrobe.
Friday 8th October
Guided Walk to
Discover Knutsford’s
30th August & 31st October
www.historywardrobe.com
Elizabeth Gaskell and the
Tabley Old Hall & Lunch
Monday 31st May
Lions Cranford Street Fair
Cranford Days
Elizabeth Gaskell's
Tuesday 29th September
19th Century Novel Lecture
Tabley House Museum
Joan Leach MBE will conduct a guided walk
King Street, Knutsford
Assemble in Canute Place, Knutsford Cheshire Exhibition
Elizabeth Gaskell's
Tatton Park, Knutsford
to the site of the Old mooted Hall, a picnic A variety of market stalls, entertainment
A trail back through the years with
Tatton Park, Knutsford
Discover the secrets of Mrs Gaskell’s world
spot for the young Elizabeth Gaskell. and refreshments for all the family with a
anecdotes of Mrs Gaskell’s life and the times
Knutsford is her inspiration for Cranford but
Birthday Celebration and literary works, and learn about
www.tableyhouse.co.uk Victorian theme.
of old Knutsford. The walk will end with
other stories and her letters tell of her links
11am A TALK in Brook Street Chapel on surviving Gaskell archive material from the
www.knutsfordlions.org.uk
refreshments at Brook Street Chapel.
with Tatton and Dunham Halls, Tabley
Elizabeth Gaskell and her novels. John Ryland’s collection. Special access to
Tuesday 13th April
t: 01565 634668 e: Joanleach@aol.com
House and Capesthorne, and the Cheshire
12:30pm Two course LUNCH at the the atmospheric Egerton library.
countryside. Learn more in the exhibition in
Belle Epoque (Gaskell Memorial Tower) www.tattonpark.org.uk
Elizabeth Gaskell &
1st June - 31st August
14th July - 28th November
the Mansion at Tatton Park.
Book directly 01565 633060.
Charlotte Bronte;
Elizabeth Gaskell’s Life -
Elizabeth Gaskell:
www.tattonpark.org.uk
3pm Gaskell guided WALK. Saturday 4th December
a costumed reading
Trades and Businesses
A Connected Life
www.gaskellsociety.org
Two Victorian Christmas
1st - 30th September
Portico Library, Manchester
1810-1865 John Rylands Library
October
Concerts by OPUS 5
This presentation by the InterTheatre Knutsford Heritage Centre This exhibition draws on the Library's world-
The Illustrated Gaskell Exhibition
performers tells the story of the friendship An insight into Knutsford during the class Gaskell collections, and looks at how her Knutsford Library
Knutsford Literature Festival
Brook Street Chapel, Knutsford
between two of the nineteenth century's Victorian period. Focussing on shops and
social networks influenced her fiction and
Exhibition on various artists that have been
Knutsford
The varied programme will include
greatest writers in their own words. businesses as it was and how it is today.
the worlds she depicted in her books.
used to illustrate Mrs Gaskell's fiction
Staged every October with talks and
Seasonal Songs and music that would have
www.theportico.org.uk www.knutsfordheritage.co.uk arranged by Mike Eddison from Cheshire
events held in venues around the town.
been enjoyed by the Gaskells.
t: 0161 306 0555
Archives and Local Studies.
e: Knutsfordlitfest@yahoo.co.uk
www.gaskellsociety.org
www.cheshireeast.gov.uk
For a full list of events please visit www.elizabethgaskell.co.uk
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7