EIGHT bells sounded aboard the Garlandstone as the book 'Morwellham's Child' was launched last Wednesday.

Author Tania Anne Crosse, in period dress, handed the first copy of her book to Morwellham Quay museum director Peter Kenwright, also in Victorian costume, after descending the gangplank of the Garlandstone.

Mrs Crosse then toured the museum, stopping at several locations to give dramatised readings from the book, ably assisted by aspiring actress Sarah Cuncliffe, who acted the part of the heroine, Rebecca, most convincingly.

Accompanying them was Bob Rose, Tavistock town crier, who gave a brief historical background to each building or area before introducing the next instalment.

Mrs Crosse said she had originally visited Morwellham Quay while on holiday and immediately felt an affinity with the place and the people who used to live there.

'By the end of the day I was hooked. My head was spinning with so many characters, and the story grew out of them and the historical background,' she said.

'So much happened in a short time around the late 1860s, it was begging to be written about.'

With research, the book took three years to write and Mrs Crosse is indebted to Kathleen Pymm, of the Friends of Morwellham, and Charlie Force, who restored the barge 'Lynher' at the quay, for their invaluable assistance, detailed information and inspiration.

'The story is about Rebecca Westbrook, the harbour master's spirited young daughter, who finds herself in the position of being the only person in Morwellham who can save the port from a source of impending disaster.

'It has a happy ending, but is also nostalgic and the reader is left wondering what will happen to the quay next,' Mrs Crosse added.

But despite her affinity with the era, Mrs Crosse said she would not like to have lived then: 'It sounds so romantic, but life was a lot harder even if you were fairly well-off. In any case, I am asthmatic and wouldn't have lived beyond childhood!'

Her next book will have the background of the decline of mining around Tavistock and Peter Tavy and Mary Tavy, inspired by articles in the Friends of Morwellham journals.

Museum director Peter Kenwright said the book 'Morwellham's Child' was 'marvellous' and would add to people's understanding of life at the quay. 'Although it is not based on true historical characters, it is typical of those who lived and worked here and adds a lot of insight,' he said.

'It would be wonderful if it were made into a TV series or film,' he added.

Morwellham's Child is published by Garlandstone Press and is available, price £7.95, from the Quay, from the National Trust or local bookshops. More information can be found on the website http://www.morwellhamschild">www.morwellhamschild.

co.uk