HISTORIANS at Eardisley have left no stone unturned in their quest to tell more of the story about their village and its surrounds.

Following their book, Eardisley: It’s Houses and their Residents, the village’s history group instigated a number of research projects into the history of the wider parish, and the newly launched Eardisley’s Early History and the story of The Baskervilles, edited by Malcolm Mason, reports on their findings.

The group’s mission included a geophysical survey and archaeological excavation of the castle, a building survey of some outlying farms and barns, an evaluation of earthwork remains at nearby Bollingham and in an area known as The Pitts, between The Field and Eardisley Wootton.

The book also gives an account of the changes in road patterns in recent centuries, and of course the various projected routes of Eardisley’s famed tramway.

The new publication, from Logaston Press, sets out the results of these projects and includes analysis of the finds from excavations at the castle site, including evidence of metal working – a discovery described as being of national importance.

The castle was the seat of the Baskerville family, and new research by Bruce Coplestone-Crow reconsiders the various generations of Baskervilles in the 300 years following the Norman Conquest, clearly establishing the role they played in the history of the Marches and occasionally on the larger national stage.

This high-quality research and analysis is coupled with a wealth of photographs, maps and plans to provide a range of new and easily accessible information about the parish of Eardisley and the Baskerville family.

Published by Logaston Press, the 240-page paperback with over 130 colour and 50 black and white illustrations is available at £10.