A monumental and historic ceramic mural of Bradford, found by social housing provider Incommunities, has been fully restored and now resides at Salts Mill in Saltaire World Heritage Site.

The six-foot mural, created in the 1960s by renowned German artist Grete Marks, depicts Bradford’s Forster Square as it appeared over a century ago.

The artwork, originally based on a Victorian watercolour by Neil Stuart Crichton, captures the canal basin and Cathedral of Bradford, reflecting the city’s rich industrial past.

The mural was discovered by employees of Incommunities, hidden behind a false wall. It was then stored in a warehouse for more than a decade and was in need of extensive restoration.

Marks, a refugee who fled to England during World War II after training at the Bauhaus, was commissioned to design the mural for the entrance of Central House offices in Forster Square.

Now, thanks to the efforts of an expert restorer, and Salts Mill, the mural has found a fitting new home, where it can be appreciated by the public.

The restored mural was unveiled at Salts Mill on Wednesday, 9th October.

Paul Egan, Head of Property Services at Incommunities, said: “We’re delighted that the mural has found a fitting home at Salts Mill, where it can be appreciated by many for years to come.

“We were fortunate to find this important piece of Bradford’s heritage – it was uncovered at one of our buildings in Bradford city centre just before we were set to move out.

“It’s great that it has now been fully restored and will be on display for the community to enjoy.”

Fiona Hutchinson, a renowned ceramics restorer, spent the last 12 months bringing the mural back to life.

Usually known for her work on much smaller pieces, Fiona took on this large-scale project with dedication and care.

Fiona Hutchinson, ceramics restorer, said: “It’s certainly been a challenge, but the more I worked on the piece the more I came to love it and appreciate the huge amount of work, both physical and mental, that Grete Marks put into its creation. It has been an honour to restore this extraordinary piece to its former glory and I am delighted to see it finally on show for the public to enjoy once more.”

The final piece is housed at the entrance to Salts Mill, with Bradford firm Iron Octopus designing a custom structure to display and frame the mural in its new setting.