AS rich in history as it is in character, one of Darlington’s oldest buildings has inspired an evocative new book.

The Secrets of 24 Blackwellgate draws upon the past of a building that has stood in the town centre for more than a century.

Believed to date back to the early 1800s, 24 Blackwellgate is now home to Guru Boutique.

With a past shrouded in mystery and a host of original features, the building has inspired a trio of friends to take up an imaginative exercise.

Guru’s owner, Beryl Hankin, Bridget Lowery and Rachal Davidson have created a series of stories based in and around the venue.

Leaning towards the supernatural, the collection includes tales of witchcraft, time travel and the fate of the young women who lived during the time the area was apparently known as “Darlington’s red light district”.

Ms Hankin said: “It has a lot of history but I’d never considered doing anything like this until I was talking to Bridget and Rachal and something just clicked.”

“We think the building deserves to be famous simply for having managed to stay standing for so long while most of the other buildings around it have been demolished and rebuilt in different styles.”

Ms Lowery spent time studying the history of the site before penning her contributions to the book while Ms Davidson drew upon ghostly goings-on at the allegedly haunted shop.

The Secrets of 24 Blackwellgate, priced £6.99, will be launched at Guru on Saturday, September 10.

It can be pre-ordered from the shop or at guruboutique.co.uk for £5.