The Gissing Trust

The Gissing Trust

The Gissing Trust was founded in 1978 by Wakefield Historical Society, Wakefield Civic Society and others to acquire and preserve the childhood home of George Gissing in Thompson’s Yard, where family memorabilia, books and an exhibition are housed.

George Gissing (1857-1903) the renowned Victorian novelist, lived as a boy behind his father’s chemist’s shop in Thompson’s Yard. Although he left Wakefield as a young man, his early experiences in Wakefield are often reflected in his writing. He wrote 23 novels, short stories, and two studies of Charles Dickens.

The Centre is in the house where the Victorian novelist George Gissing lived as a boy, behind his father’s chemist’s shop at the top of Westgate. George wrote 23 novels between 1880 and 1903, and is regarded as one of the leading English novelists of his generation, enjoying friendships with fellow writers such as Henry James and H.G. Wells. The Centre houses family memorabilia, exhibition material and a large collection of books by and about Gissing.

The Gissing Trust is a charity run by volunteers, and relies on donations from the public

Opening Times in 2023

Next opening: 5th August, 2pm – 4pm
First Saturdays of summer months May-September
Heritage Open Days: September 9th & 10th, 16th & 17th
Wakefield Artwalks: check their website: Artwalk

The Gissing Centre
2-4 Thompson’s Yard
Westgate
Wakefield
WF1 1XH

More information: Experience Wakefield

George Gissing and Wakefield

Gissing transformed Wakefield into fiction, particularly in his novel ‘A Life’s Morning’ (1888). The central character in this novel is Emily Hood who grows up in the grimy Yorkshire industrial town of Dunfield where her father works as a clerk in Dagworthy’s textile mill. An intelligent young woman, she is taken under the wing of the wealthy Baxendale family who live in the select district of St Luke’s and with their help she leaves Dunfield to work as a governess. Returning to visit her parents’ home in the suburb of Banbrigg, she walks with her father on the Heath and later she meets her lover at the ruins of Pendal Castle. Unfortunately, Emily also attracts the attention of the recently widowed Dagworthy, the owner of a mansion near the Heath. Dagworthy’s infatuation with Emily eventually leads to a tragedy.

All of the places mentioned by Gissing have their Wakefield equivalents. St Luke’s is St John’s, Banbrigg is Agbrigg, Pendal Castle is Sandal Castle and the Heath is Heath Common. As for the characters, the Dunfield MP, Mr Baxendale, is modelled on the Wakefield MP, Robert Bownas Mackie, who was a friend of Gissing’s father.

Find out more about Gissing’s novels: Books by George Gissing

George Gissing

The banner at the top of this page is based on an engraving of Wakefield by Samuel Buck: view original
© 2011 Wakefield Historical Society. All rights reserved. All articles and images are the copyright of the authors and/or Wakefield Historical Society unless otherwise stated and are not to be copied in any medium without explicit written permission..
Every attempt has been made to gain permission from the owner(s) of copyright material.
The Society is not to be held responsible for the accuracy of content, and does not necessarily endorse views held on this site.If you find broken links or other website problems please contact the Website Manager : info@wakefieldhistoricalsociety.org.uk

Wakefield Historical Society © 2024. All rights reserved | Registered charity No. 248363
Website by Wakefield Website Design.co.uk