Treasured finds are not lost on town history buffs (From Warrington Guardian)

Treasured finds are not lost on town history buffs

Mr Olly's charismatic personality combined with a passion for his subject and investigation of places often ignored by mainstream historical accounts, ensured a highly watchable series, say the town's viewers.

He presented finds from Winwick, Daresbury, North Wales, Morecambe, Bromborough, Tatton and Chester.

Ernest Rudd, chairman of Winwick's Home Watch Association, said: "The programme was most interesting and enlightening. I wasn't aware for instance that the winding of the clock required a total of 400 revolutions, that there were musket ball indentations on the church stonework and that there is an identical layout to Winwick in Avebury, Wiltshire."

However, he did not agree with Mark about everything. "Regarding the location of the well, I still believe our annual pilgrimage goes to the correct location, the one located by Mark Olly is a large hollow that was quarried."

Clr John Gordon, chairman of Winwick Parish Council, anticipates the programme will encourage more tourists to the village.

He said: "Mark cast a fresh light on aspects of Winwick's history, which had previously seemed unimportant or difficult to understand. I didn't realise there were three giants buried under the chancel. However, there are two statues that were destroyed in the Civil War and only replaced by an anonymous donation during the 1970s that he didn't mention.

"So there is still more to learn."

For fact sheets on the places Mark Olly investigated, log on to the programme's website at www.lost-treasures.co.uk

Treasured finds are not lost on town

history buffs