A BOOK telling the extraordinary story of how a business in Chagford has remained in the same family for over a century has been published.

'The James Bowden Story', written by Peter James Smith, tells the story of James Bowden and Son, which started as a blacksmith's forge and a small shop in the front room of a house and grew into an international business.

Three family businesses in Chagford Square have remained in the same family for more than 100 years — James Bowden and Son, Webber's and the post office.

The early history of the book is recorded from contemporary and family records and Chagford Local History have supported the project.