IT was very much a labour of love when author Geoff Stebbens penned a book about the historic Duddon Valley.

Not only was the work a marked success, but in the years since Mr Stebbens has uncovered a mountain of further information about the area, and with those two factors in mind, he decided it was logical to produce a new volume which has now been completed.

‘The Duddon Valley Revisited’ updates and continues the extensive local history detailed in the 2002 original ‘Bygone Folk & Industries of the Duddon Valley.’

“I was pleased at the interest the book created and I uncovered so much more detail so felt an updated book was the right thing to do,” said Mr Stebbens.

Originally from Essex - “the rural part” as he is quick to point out - Mr Stebbens moved to the area more than half a century ago as his wife was working in Barrow, and he became fascinated with local history and in particular the coper mines around Coniston.

That led him on to research the mining past of the beautiful and remote Duddon Valley, which is dominated by Duddon Hall, a beautiful and imposing country house, complete with an exotic folly called The Temple.

The new volume is lavishly illustrated with dozens of photographs and reproductions of old documents, maps and poster which bring the colourful history of the area to life.

The book, which is priced at £14.99, is now available in most local bookshops and certain other retail outlets, or by contacting the author on geoffstebbs@gmail.com .