A MUSEUM has taken temporary charge of a 375-year-old book ahead of an exhibition.

Elizabeth Mason travelled to Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, from Shropshire, bringing with her a lace design book from 1632. It will be one of many attractions at a lace exhibition at the museum from September 9 to April next year.

The book is in excellent condition and is believed to be the most complete of its kind.

Mrs Mason's husband, John, bought the book for a few pence at a rummage sale in Newport, Shropshire in the 1940s.

She said: "My husband, John, has had it for about 60 years now, and I think its the only one out of captivity, so to speak, and certainly the most complete.

"It only has three pages missing - many of them were damaged because they were used so much. This will be the first time it has ever been on show."