A SIX week festival of commemoration for the town’s most beloved authoress has been launched by the Elizabeth Gaskell Society.

The writer, who lived for many years in Knutsford, died on November 12 1865 and this year marks the 150th anniversary of her death.

The Gaskell Society are now commemorating her life with a series of special events across the town, including the Gaskell exhibition, which has been unveiled at the Heritage Centre.

Pam Griffiths, secretary of the Elizabeth Gaskell society, said: “A mere 5 years ago, The Gaskell Society was celebrating the bicentenary of Elizabeth Gaskell's birth and her inclusion in a window of Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey.

“This year, the thirtieth anniversary of The Gaskell Society, we have the honour of commemorating the 150th anniversary of her death in 1865.

“Knutsford's famous adopted daughter loved this town and made frequent return visits whenever possible.

“We, in turn, are proud to be closely associated with this remarkable woman, who, through her novels wrote gently with grace and acute perception but also exposed the social issues of the day,such as extreme poverty, unfit housing and sexual morality, leading to accusations of subversiveness.

“This bravery and its accompanying anxieties, almost certainly contributed to her early death at the age of 55.”

As well as the exhibition, there will be a number of special events taking place both across the town, and in Manchester, where Elizabeth also lived for more than a decade.

On Friday November 6 from 2pm to 3pm, John Rylands Library will host ‘Collections encounter of Gaskell Manuscripts’ where visitors will receive talks from archivist Fran Baker and Laura Caradonna.

One of the main events will take place on Saturday November 14, two days after the 150th anniversary, where people will gather for a commemorative tea party at Knutsford Heritage Centre with Elizabeth’s Gaskell’s great-great-great-grand daughter Sarah Prince.

There will also be a commemorative service at Brook Street Chapel on Sunday November 15 from 11am.

Town mayor, Cllr Tony Dean launched the Gaskell Exhibition ealier in the month. He said: “There is so much I didn’t know about Elizabeth Gaskell’s life and friends, the exhibition gives a fascinating insight into one of the town’s most famous citizens and I thoroughly recommend a visit.”

For the full list of events, visit gaskellsociety.co.uk/events/