Only a handful of people came to Elizabeth Gaskell's House today. Looks as if the wind down (or should that be the build up?) to Christmas has begun. Last Thursday was very busy but today was the opposite. Visitors are almost always very interested to ask questions and hear more about both the restoration of the house as well as Elizabeth Gaskell herself. Ifind it very enjoyable trying to bring a little of the character we think we know about, to life for people who have taken the time to seek out her house.I'm always conscious though, that other volunteers know far more than I do and seem much better at remembering dates. Maybe that's how I should get to sleep- reciting lists of dates to myself?
This week we have been trying to think of ways in which we can encourage people to vote for Elizabeth Gaskell in the "woman of Manchester" statue ballot
http://www.womanchesterstatue.org/vote/http://www.womanchesterstatue.org/vote/
I am trying to articulate something about the length of time that she has been a "champion" for the city- she wrote about it in her lifetime, brought the conditions of the poor in Manchester to the attention of the reading public and her work has lasted and continues to be read today. Perhaps she has represented Manchester over a longer time span than any of the other candidates? More research to be done.
