WORKING as a room guide for visitors to Ormesby Hall inspired Mark Whyman to look more deeply into the lives of the last occupants of Teesside's only stately home.

Ruth and husband Colonel Jim were the last generation of the Pennyman family to live in the 18th Century Palladian mansion, at Middlesbrough, where the family had lived for 370 years.

Retired personnel manager Mr Whyman, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, spent 25 years researching his book, The Last Pennymans of Ormesby Volume 1 1833-1944.

He presented a copy of his book yesterday to Liz Hayward, learning and access manager with the National Trust. She said: "For the first time, we have a comprehensive document of the most recent years of the hall, and this adds greatly to our knowledge of local history."

The book relates first-hand accounts of the First World War, told through letters from the front line, and a unique view of the Curragh Mutiny, in March, 1914, when 57 British Army officers based in the Curragh Camp, Ireland, threatened to resign their commissions, rather than enforce the Home Rule Act 1914.

It also tells of how the Pennymans set up a cooperative scheme of allotments to help depressionhit miners' families in east Cleveland.

The book describes how Ruth Pennyman came to write the libretto for Michael Tippett's first opera, which had its premier in the village hall at Boosbeck.

Mr Whyman is an author and lecturer who has taught adult education classes.

■ The Last Pennymans of Ormesby, ISBN 978-0- 9545789-3-0, price £9.99, is 208 pages long with 100 black and white photographs.

It is available from The National Trust, at Ormesby Hall, Guisborough Bookshop and books@lawrence bruce.com In addition, signed copies are available from Bargate Publications, 40, Bargate, Richmond North Yorkshire, DL10 4QY.