A HEADMASTER who delved into the history of the Lords of a County Durham castle estate is set to have his work published - 60 years after he first wrote it.

John Broumley, who was headmaster of Staindrop School from 1925 to 1941, first started writing The Lords of Raby and Staindrop, after retiring.

The work was split into two parts - one following the castle’s founding family, the Nevilles, and the second part following the Vane family who bought it in 1626.

Mr Broumley had about six copies - which were all typed - printed in 1957 but the books were gradually lost over time with only a few copies still remaining and in poor condition.

But thanks to two neighbours from the Teesdale village, the book has now been brought back to life and is set to be officially published as a complete volume.

Friends Jennifer Priestley and Hylene Bowman found an interest in the book in 2015 and set about having it published.

The pair approached the late Lord Barnard, Henry John Neville Vane, and Mr Broumley’s grandson Dr John Frankton, who both agreed to help with the project.

Mrs Bowman said: “There were only about six printed copies with two printed for his family and the rest on typewriter paper.

“Most of those have disappeared and one was in the library at Barnard Castle but it had become so delicate that they stopped lending it out and we just thought it would be a shame if we lost it.”

Mrs Priestley added: “We approached the late Lord Barnard and he was very keen and supportive and Dr Frankton was very supportive too.”

The friends have tried to keep as close to Mr Broumley’s original work as possible.

Mrs Priestley added: “It’s absolutely fascinating and there’s something for everybody - it also has the history of the different buildings and organisations in the village.”

And now more than two years later they are set to officially launch the published A5 work at a free open meeting of the village’s history society, on November 17.

The meeting will be held at Scarth Hall, in Staindrop, at 7pm where there will also be a presentation on Cockfield Fell by The Northern Echo’s chief features writer, Chris Lloyd.

The book is priced at £19.50 with all proceeds going toward’s the village’s St Mary’s Church for its restoration fund.