GENERAL

Mr Atty's Edwardian book of cycle rides

A FAMILY heirloom which had lain hidden away in the wardrobe of a home in Stockton Heath is now available to be read by a much wider audience.

Warrington artist Henry Atty never made any money from his paintings, but left behind a substantial body of work scattered through the town when he died in 1961.

Despite spending his life drawing, painting and writing, he preferred to give his work away as presents to friends and family.

One such work, a handwritten and illustrated manuscript detailing his favourite cycle rides around the area, was presented by Mr Atty to his good friend John Leech, the Warrington GUARDIAN's first staff photographer.

The Edwardian period piece, in beautiful copper plate handwriting with full colour borders and original painted illustrations, has now been published by Stockton Heath based company, Alfresco Books, after being rediscovered by Mr Leech's granddaughter, Jeanette Morgan.

Jeanette said: "I am very excited about the book. It wasn't exactly hidden away, but it was kept in the wardrobe when I was at home, and all through my childhood it was known as 'Mr Atty's book'.

Publisher Jen Darling said: "We had to do a lot of research for the last page, because not much was known about Henry.

"He never sold his work, he gave it to his friends. They were always quite poor and he used to paint on the backs of cardboard boxes.

"I am very pleased with the way the manuscript has come out."

Examples of Mr Atty's work are still scattered around the town and the present owners are invited to the official launch of the book, which takes place at Warrington Library on October 8.

The book, entitled "Edwardian Rambles", is available in bookshops priced £14.95.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.