THE author of the BBC's hit costume drama North and South was inspired to write books by her Warrington-born husband.

Elizabeth Gaskell penned the novel, serialised over the past four Sundays, in 1855.

But amateur Warrington historian, Jennifer Hughes, of Pineways, Appleton, says it was Elizabeth's husband William who encouraged her to write and it was his work among the slums of Manchester that gave her novels authenticity.

Although William's family were manufacturers of sailcloth for the navy and had a business in Buttermarket Street he became a minister and teacher in the Cross Street Unitarian chapel in Manchester.

Gaskell's 18 books are grounded in working class Victorian Manchester and in North and South she vividly portrays the harsh lives of mill workers.

In 1845 the couple's only son, 11-month-old William, died of scarlet fever. Mrs Hughes said: "Elizabeth was always a prolific letter writing but she was encouraged by William to embark on her novels as an antidote to depression and despair at the loss of her little boy."

The baby was brought back to Warrington for burial in the churchyard of the Cairo Street Unitarian chapel.

Mrs Hughes said: "The family visited William's relatives in Warrington as often as possible. They usually stayed with his sister, Anne, and her husband William Robson, who was the postmaster.

"William Gaskell was not in the least overshadowed by his literary wife. He was his own man and a remarkable 19th century Warringtonian. There is a bust of him in Manchester's Portico Library to mark his 30 years as chairman of it."

An audience with Mrs Gaskell will be performed by actress Gabriella Drake on January 20 and 21 at the Theatre Clwyd in Mold, North Wales.

l Do you know exactly where in Warrington William Gaskell lived? If you can help, call Guardian reporter Elizabeth Cummins on 434114 or by e-mail to ecummins@guardiangrp.co.uk