A DECADE of discoveries lies behind a new book telling the story of a landmark Southport building, written by the woman who lives there.
Jean Ireland spent six months compiling for print some of the fruits of her explorations within the Old School House on Talbot Street, which she moved into in May 1998.
Her book - called simply 'Old School House' - relies on personal recollections, archival research and a wealth of photographs to trace the development of her home since it was built by John Fernley in 1864.
A previous resident of Southport before spending time away, Jean once admired her future home while passing it daily - but writes that "never in my wildest dreams had I imagined I would ever live in it".
When that once unimaginable prospect came true, Jean described her first tour of its interior as "so magical and interesting".
It was during a year of decorating work that she began to delve into the past of the school house that had once accompanied Trinity Hall School and Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, which were demolished to make way for housing in 1981.

Jean Ireland signs copies of her book on the Old School House at Broadhurst's Bookshop. With her is Julie Bentham from Broadhurst's

John Ruskin, the esteemed Victorian essayist, once described Trinity Chapel as "the most beautiful church in Methodism".
The first great finds were a set of sermon notes dated 1888 and signed by LB Dalby - a theological student who went on to become a Methodist minister - plus a photograph, tiles and other papers.
In 2001, the Southport Visiter featured the news of the unearthing of the long-forgotten artefacts, which led to a surge of interest in what else lay hidden in the former headmaster's home.
Jean writes: "Paul Blackham was a visitor, a local Methodist who felt there were more finds.
"We donned old clothes, crawled into the loft space and documents began to be unearthed: Methodist magazines, Practical Teacher, collars and cuffs, old pieces of newspapers, all dated late 1800s."
Jean told LookBack that the copy of the 1881 manual Practical Teacher was her favourite find, along with a 1904 photograph of Annie Birkett-Dalby, a teacher at the school and sister of Leonard.
Covering an array of subjects from natural history to personal hygiene, Practical Teacher included such curious advice as: "The use of grease for the hair should be strictly prohibited.
"Hair-oil and pomades have certain uses among dirty people, but they are out of place for children who are clean in their persons."
As well as conducting talks on the rich history of her home, Jean has been a campaigner for Southport Dialysis Unit Fund since 2003 and has hosted a number of fundraising events at the Old School House for the cause.
Of her book, Jean said: "People's reactions have been wonderful, to see the all the parts now in print."
'Old School House' is available from Pritchard's bookshop in Formby, Broadhurst's in Market Street, Southport, Southport Christian Book Centre in Wesley Street, SKB News in Eastbank Street and Southport Tourist Information Centre on Lord Street.
You can also buy it directly from Jean Ireland on 01704- 537386.

DEVOUT Methodist John Fernley - one of Southport's great benefactors - built the Old School House in 1864 for £4,000.
It was one of three houses, along with the adjoining Trinity Chapel, that Fernley built that year but is the only one still to stand.
The 1944 Education Act meant that Trinity Hall ceased to be a day school, its pupils left and only the Sunday School continued.
In 1962 the Old School House was put into the private sector for £1,950, while all the other parts of the great complex built by Fernley were demolished in 1981.
Fernley, a man of wealth, left a string of other significant marks on Southport.
It was he who constructed the meteorological observatory in Hesketh Park, which has now been refurbished.
Fernley was also a committee member of the RNLI and donated the Eliza Fernley lifeboat (named in honour of his late wife) to the town.
The boat would later be lost with nearly all its crew in the great Mexico Disaster of 1886.
Born in Stockport in 1796, Fernley dedicated his life to spreading the principles of Wesleyan Methodism and moved with Eliza to Southport in 1856.
Upon Fernley's death in 1873, the Reverend W B Pope wrote in memorial: "Mr Fernley was as resolute and tenacious carrying out his plans as he was large minded in framing them.
"Nothing ever turned him aside from a single project that he had well considered and finally determined on."

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