Chorley woman publishes 'labour of love' Lakes book (From Chorley Citizen)

Chorley woman publishes 'labour of love' Lakes book

4:14pm Monday 6th July 2009

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A Chorley student has had a book published, 34 years after beginning it.

Wendy Stuart, a Runshaw college student has produced Lakeland in the 1930’s, which she describes as a ‘labour of love’.

It is an account of her great great grandfather, Issac Simpson’s personal discovery of the Lake District and its breathtaking beauty for the first time.

Wendy has been working on the book since 1975, when her Aunt gave her the journal.

Issac, a local clockmaker from Chorley and later Preston, where he opened Preston Gold Thread Works, was a well respected local business man.

The Gold Thread Works in Preston closed its doors in February of this year after 180 years in operation.

Wendy was fascinated by the journal, which has been kept safe by her family for almost 200 years.

The faded handwritten entries of the journal have taken her many years to decipher and transcribe.

To help with the transcription Wendy took a word processing course at Runshaw Adult College to enable her to type the entries more quickly and efficiently.

Wendy, a passionate historian, decided to follow the footsteps of Isaac Simpson and visited many of the locations mentioned in the journal.

The book is written in Georgian prose and is beautifully illustrated with dozens of contemporary drawings and photographs and many of Wendy’s own Watercolours.

Wendy, a retired art teacher, currently studying a Foundation Degree at Runshaw Adult College, said: "I felt very passionately that I should write this book and share my grandfather's journey with others.

"History should not be lost it should be shared and I hope my book brings the Lake District in the 1930’s to life for everybody who reads it."

The book has been published by Hayloft Publishing Ltd, based in Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria.

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