RESIDENTS will able to see a bas relief of Elizabeth Gaskell at Knutsford Heritage Centre.

The sculpture is owned by Knutsford Town Council, and is going on display at the centre following its restoration.

The relief was created from the same model as that of the one used for the bronze relief as part of the Gaskell Memorial Tower, and has tower designer Richard Harding Watt’s name carved into it.

The relief had been in storage at the Belle Epoque at 60 King Street, where it had been since being installed by RH Watt when the building was built.

The town council funded a restoration of the relief by Lynn Edge, one of the top restorers in the UK, who specialises in ceramics and glass.

Manager and trustee of the Heritage Centre, Val Bryant said: “We are delighted to accept the Relief into the centre’s archives and collections on a long-extended loan and thank the town council for its restoration and loan.”

Cllr Peter Coan, chairman of Town Council’s Environment Committee said: “We are thrilled to see this little piece of the town’s history restored and back on public display in the Heritage Centre.”