A DRAYCOTT resident investigating the history of his home has turned his findings into a book.

A DRAYCOTT resident investigating the history of his home has turned his findings into a book.

Alan Rowntree, who lives at Westfield Barn in Wells Road, started work on the barn when he moved to the village in 2003.

After it was completed he 'got a feel' for the property and wanted to learn more about the village itself, but found not a lot of research had been done on it.

Alan, aged 60, started researching Draycott and Rodney Stoke and soon had a collection of photographs and facts about the surrounding area, including Cheddar, Axbridge and Winscombe, dating back almost 500,000 years.

The former Londoner said: "I spent a lot of time interviewing the older residents in the village, some of who remembered stories about their great great ancestors.

"Everyone seems to be fascinated by the history of the area."

The barn is the main focus of the book, titled Westfield Barn, Draycott and Neighbourhood, and it is dedicated to John Spencer, a famous blacksmith in the Somerset village who was thought to own Westfield Barn and was the brother of Samuel, who was landlord of The Red Lion Inn during the 1800s.

The book also looks at the history of the village post office, cider, strawberries and some of the old Somerset families, including the Bulls, the Spencers and the Hills.

For details call 01934 743063.