Mrs Gaskells House

MANCHESTER

SJ8596 PLYMOUTH GROVE, Chorlton-On-Medlock 698-1/21/618 (South West side) 25/02/52 No.84 Mrs Gaskell's House

GV II*

Also known as: No.84 The International Society PLYMOUTH GROVE Chorlton-On-Medlock. Villa, now premises of International Society. c.1830-40. Painted stucco on brick, shallow hipped slate roof. Square double-fronted plan plus coach-house wing attached to south-west corner. Classical style. Two storeys over basement, 3 bays, symmetrical; plinth, giant pilasters with lotus-leaf capitals, 1st-floor sill-band, plain frieze, moulded cornice and low parapet with raised centre. The centre has a shallow rectangular porch with engaged columns distyle in antis (capitals matching those of the pilasters), deep plain frieze, cornice and blocking course, and 4 internal steps up to recessed glazed and panelled divided doors with margin panes; and at 1st floor a window with shouldered architrave. All the windows are 12-pane sashes, those at ground floor taller and with floating cornices on consoles. Two ridge chimneys. Three-bay left return wall in matching style. Rear: prominent segmental-ended bow to centre of ground floor, with steps up to north side; 12-pane sashed windows with plain reveals. Interior: entrance hall with round-headed doorway in screen with fanlight; staircase with stick balusters. Coach-house wing: basement and 2 storeys. History: home of the novelist Mrs Gaskell during the latter part of her life (her 2 earlier homes in Manchester, in Dover Street and Upper Richmond Street, no longer exist).

Listing NGR: SJ8540596333