Elizabeth Gaskell's house opens for history festival

The former home of Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell is opening to the public as part of a history event.

The Cranford author lived in the Grade II listed villa in Plymouth Grove, Victoria Park, Manchester, from 1850 until her death in 1865.

It is open to visitors on Sunday for the Manchester Histories Festival, which aims to reveal new and hidden histories across Greater Manchester.

The house, which was restored in 2010, will be open until 16:00 GMT.

Gaskell wrote most of her novels in the house and authors including Charles Dickens and Charlotte Bronte are known to have visited and stayed there.

Festival visitors can see slide shows and listen to readings from Mrs Gaskells' novels and letters. www.bbc.co.uk