A huge festival to celebrate one of West Yorkshire’s most famous residents Anne Lister is taking place over the next few days in and around her former home, Shibden Hall.
Anne was brought back to life by Sally Wainright in her BBC series Gentleman Jack by Happy Valley creator Sally Wainright. Surrane Jones took on the role and the show.
The series, which is set in Yorkshire in the early 1800s, follows iconic Yorkshirewoman Anne Lister – who famously lived at Shibden Hall, Halifax – working to restore her uncle’s estate which she inherited, and began a dangerous romance with another woman, which was documented in her diaries.
Join in the celebration of Anne Lister’s birthday and walk in her footsteps at Shibden Hall where walks, talks, parties, and tours will be held across the Calderdale region to mark her birth.
Anne Lister Birthday Festival 2023 explores the places she knew, lived, and visited – so you can get a real feel for the history of the woman and what made her.
Read More: Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta Confirms Castle Howard As New Venue With Sam Ryder As Headliner
Anne Lister lived at Shidben Hall until her death in 1840 and left behind a series of diaries that detailed her various love affairs with women – a very taboo think, especially at that moment in history.
There are over 70 events taking place from yesterday until the 3rd of April in and around Shibden hall which has seen an increase in visitors since the BBC drama hit our screens.
Jenny Lynn from the Calderdale Council said: “The incredible success of Sally Wainwright’s Gentleman Jack brought Anne’s story to a wider audience and we’re expecting visitors from across the world to festival events and Calderdale’s cultural venues.”
Councillor Jane Scullion said: “Gentleman Jack has been a cultural phenomenon and has inspired many visitors to come and walk in Anne’s footsteps and experience our vibrant towns and villages for themselves”.
Sadly the show was cancelled last summer. HBO who co-produced the show with BBC told Deadline : “HBO will not be moving forward with a third season of Gentleman Jack When we began this journey more than five years ago, we knew the series’ creator Sally Wainwright had a uniquely compelling vision.”
If you’d like to visit the festival, head over to the Shibden Hall website here to see what’s on.
Read More: First-Ever Dog Festival In East Yorkshire Is Coming With Scent Trails, Dog Shows and Puppuccinos
