LOCAL author Giuliano (Julian) Carosi has penned his second book on the hidden and long-forgotten history of Corsham.

The new book, Corsham Revealed More, is a sequel to his first book, Corsham Revealed, and is the second he has self-funded.

Printed by CorshamPrint Creative Solutions, the new book continues exploring the hidden and long forgotten history of Corsham.

This book is A4 sized with 300-plus pages and contains many photographs of Corsham's past.

Mr Carosi said: "The new book covers Corsham's famous people, street name origins, WWII pre-fab era stories along with 100 years of news reports of the town from 1761-1861.

"There is an interesting story of 20-year-old World War Two Pilot Officer Joseph Hugh Jolliffe who died when crashing his plane in a Neston field.

"The old High Street Maternity Hospital is explored; Lloyd George's principle secretary Albert Sylvester's time in Corsham is revealed, and there is also a very detailed history on the nearby village of Gastard.

"I also take a look at how the underground murals by Olga Lehmann came into being and there are some fabulous unique photos of the Claremont Ladies' College in 1915.

"Facts on the long gone Corsham Station Hotel are revealed as are Arthur Hobbs' WWI reports sent back from the front.

"Mallie Etherds, the Wise Woman of Easton makes an appearance, and the story of Charlie Barnes, who walked his three cows up from the Isle of White to settle in Neston, is fascinating.

"In 1904 Corsham's Town Crier Charlie Bethel tried to wheel a cubic foot of Bath stone (1 ¼ cwt) 45 miles on a wheelbarrow from Corsham to Bristol and back in twelve hours as a result of a wager!"

Mr Carosi's new book is dedicated to Corsham's Reverend Colonel Edward Gell, Corsham's own Unknown Soldier, and also to Miss Doris Chappell, who managed the Corsham Maternity Home on a voluntary basis for over 30 years between 1919-1951 for the benefit of the County of Wiltshire.

Around 1,000 copies have been printed, which are available at the Corsham Bookshop in the High Street and online at Amazon and eBay, priced £20.

Mr Carosi's first book is also available at £14.99. For a signed copy, email juliancarosi@corshamref.org.uk