A BEQUEST from a much-loved local figure forms the heart of a new exhibition about Liskeard - containing many photos that have never before been seen in public.

The Reverend Willie Cox died in April last year, aged 91.

He had a lifelong interest in local history, and bequeathed to Liskeard Old Cornwall Society his collection of images by the well-known Liskeard artist and photographer John - known as JK - Broad.

Broad, who died at the end of World War Two, also ran Broad’s Stores at the top of Church Street, which Mr Cox managed in his youth.

Now the collection features in the new exhibition ‘Memories of Liskeard: A Look at the Archives of Liskeard OCS’.

The exhibition is staged at Stuart House from today to August 19 (10am to 3pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 1pm on the Saturday).

Liskeard OCS archivist Jackie Jenkins and recorder Paula Arthur have been putting the exhibition together, and say: ‘There are lots of images people haven’t seen before.’

The exhibition also gives people the first chance to see the statue recently given to Liskeard by the team behind last year’s Man Engine project.

Thousands of people saw the largest mechanical puppet ever made when it came to the town in the summer of 2016 in tribute to the area’s mining heritage, and the statue of an engine house was the team’s way of saying thanks.

It was presented to Liskeard Mayor Christine Whitty in July by Golden Tree Productions.