A NEW book charting the history of Egerton has been published by Turton Local History Society just in time for Christmas.

Stephen Tonge has spent two years researching the book which provides a fascinating into the village’s development from its origins to the thriving community we know today.

Starting in the Sixteenth Century, it focusses on the families who gave their names to the area and those who contributed to its development during the industrial revolution and beyond.

The four main families to be featured are the Walmsley and Egerton families, the mill owning Ashworths of Egerton Hall and latterly the Deakins.

The book features more than 100 photographs, a number of which have never been published before.

Among the most noteworthy are a series of previously unknown daguerreotype images of the Ashworth family from the 1840s.

The photographs were discovered at a small auction in 2017 by Jason Wright, a collector, conservator and researcher into 19th century photography. They are now in the possession of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.

“We are very grateful to Jason for giving us permission to reproduce his images in the book,” said a history society spokesman. “They really add some colour to the story of the Ashworths of Egerton Hall.”

The publication also contains rare photographs of Egerton Hall plus other local buildings including Merry Cock Hall, and Egerton Conservative Clun - now both demolished - Cox Scar farm and The Globe.

More rare images of Egerton have been uncovered since the history was printed and the society is currently digitising a collection of plate glass negatives from the early 1900s.

Extra stocks of the book have been printed to meet demand for the Christmas rush as it will make an ideal gift for residents in the area and for Egerton ex-pats keen on knowing more about their roots.

The book, priced £10, is available to buy from Crabtree’s on Blackburn Road, Egerton; Egerton newsagents and the Thomas Egerton public house.

For more details of Turton Local History Society activities and a full list of all the society’s publications visit www.turtonhistory.com