84 Plymouth Grove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 84 Plymouth Grove |
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The front façade of 84 Plymouth Grove, now known as Elizabeth Gaskell's House
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| Former names | 42 Plymouth Grove |
| Alternative names | Gaskell House |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Location | Manchester, England |
| Coordinates | 53°27′49″N 2°13′16″W / 53.46361°N 2.22111°W |
| Completed | c. 1838 |
| Owner | Manchester Historic Buildings Trust |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Richard Lane |
| Designations | |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Mrs Gaskells House | |
| Designated: | 25 February 1952 |
| Reference #: | 1271082 |
84 Plymouth Grove, now known as Elizabeth Gaskell's House, is a special house in Manchester, England. It's a writer's house museum, meaning you can visit where a famous writer once lived. This beautiful house was home to the writer Elizabeth Gaskell and her husband, William, from 1850 until they passed away.
The Gaskell family lived here for many years. Even after Elizabeth and William died, their daughters stayed in the house. It was a family home for 63 years! Today, the house is protected as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical place.
For a while, the house fell into disrepair. But in 2009, a group called the Manchester Historic Buildings Trust started a big project. They wanted to fix up the house and make it look just like it did when the Gaskells lived there. After a lot of hard work, the house reopened to the public in 2014. Now, people can explore this historic home and learn about Elizabeth Gaskell's life.
Contents
The Story of Elizabeth Gaskell's House
84 Plymouth Grove was built around 1838. It was designed in the Regency style, probably by an architect named Richard Lane. The house was built for the growing middle class in Manchester. At the time, Manchester was expanding quickly because of the Industrial Revolution.
This house was quite grand, with 20 rooms and a special wing for carriages. It was a fancy home for its time. The front of the house has four columns with a unique lotus leaf design. For many years, the house was painted pink, earning it the nickname 'The Pink House'. But when Elizabeth Gaskell lived there, it was a "stone-colour."
A Home for a Famous Writer
Elizabeth and William Gaskell moved into the house in June 1850. They brought their four daughters: Marianne, Margaret Emily "Meta", Florence, and Julia. The family had lived in Manchester for a while because William was a minister.
Elizabeth Gaskell was a bit worried about living in such a big, expensive house. She knew many people in Manchester lived in poverty. Even though the rent was half of William's salary, Elizabeth felt it was important for William to make the decisions. The Gaskells had many domestic staff to help them, including cooks and maids. Elizabeth made sure her staff were well-trained and cared for.
Famous Guests and Friends
Many famous people visited the Gaskells at 84 Plymouth Grove. One of them was the writer Charlotte Brontë, who visited three times. She loved the house, calling it "a large, cheerful, airy house, quite out of Manchester smoke." The "Manchester smoke" came from the many textile factories in the city. Charlotte Brontë was quite shy. Once, she even hid behind the curtains because she was too nervous to meet other guests!
The Gaskells' home was often busy with visitors. It was like a "beehive" of activity. Other famous guests included Charles Dickens, who once surprised them with an early morning visit. John Ruskin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and the musician Charles Hallé also came to the house. Hallé even taught Meta Gaskell how to play the piano.
Elizabeth Gaskell lived in this house for 15 years until her death in 1865. She wrote many of her most famous books here, like Cranford and North and South. She passed away suddenly in a house she had secretly bought, hoping to convince William to retire there.
William Gaskell lived for almost two more decades, dying in 1884. After his death, his two unmarried daughters, Meta and Julia, continued to live in the house. They were involved in many charitable causes. Julia died in 1908, leaving Meta alone in the house.
The End of an Era
In 1913, Meta Gaskell passed away. This marked the end of the Gaskell family living at 84 Plymouth Grove after 63 years. Many people thought the house should become a museum to honor Elizabeth Gaskell. Even The Manchester Guardian newspaper supported this idea.
The New York Times suggested it would be cheap to turn it into a museum. However, the local council decided against it. They said the house was not beautiful enough, only important because of its connection to the Gaskell family. So, the idea of a museum was put aside for a long time. The University of Manchester bought the building in 1969 and used it for their International Society until 2000. The house was officially listed as a Grade II* building in 1952, protecting it from being torn down.
Bringing the House Back to Life
The Manchester Historic Buildings Trust bought the house in 2004. Their goal was to restore it and open it to the public. A blue plaque on the front of the house reminds visitors that Elizabeth Gaskell lived there. In 2006, the house was in very bad shape, with cracks and dry rot. It was even on a special list for buildings at risk.
Restoration work started in September 2009. First, they fixed the outside of the house and put on a new roof in 2010. They used Lead for the roof, as requested by English Heritage. But in May 2011, thieves stole most of the lead! This caused a lot of damage. The remaining lead was removed to prevent more thefts, and a new roof was built.
The first phase of repairs finished in 2013. The house was made waterproof, and the pink paint was removed. It was replaced with an off-white color, closer to its original look.
In 2012, the project received a big grant of £1.85 million. This money helped restore the inside of the house, including the bedrooms and reception rooms. They also created a special area for visitors to learn. The grant also helped restore the garden, where the Gaskells used to keep animals like pigs and cows.
The ground floor of the house has been beautifully restored. It looks just like a Victorian home. Experts researched what the rooms would have looked like. They borrowed furniture from museums and libraries to make the rooms feel authentic. They even consulted with art experts to find the right wallpaper and paint colors.
The upstairs rooms are now used for educational programs and community events. Elizabeth Gaskell's House officially reopened to the public on October 5, 2014. The people who run the house hope it will become a popular place for literary tourism, like Shakespeare's Birthplace or the Brontë Parsonage Museum.
Gallery
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The Dining Room
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The Drawing Room
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The Study Room
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Greater Manchester
- Listed buildings in Manchester-M13
