THE find of a photo album has shed more light on an extraordinary family history dating back to before the Norman Conquest.

Kathleen Farrance, 79, has been given a 1920s photo album containing pictures of her family which was found during a clear-out of a shop attic.

But the pictures are just a small part of Mrs Farrance's research which even shows members of her family were once hanged, drawn and quartered for treason.

The pictures of her mother belonged to Alex Boagey, a friend of Mrs Farrance's family in Redcar.

It is believed that Mr Boagey, an original partner in the Redcar firm and shop, which eventually became AA Sotheran, left the album at work. He died in the 1950s.

Mrs Farrance, who still lives in Redcar, heard about the find after a public appeal by former shop owner Peter Sotheran.

She contacted him and explained that her family, the Bulmers, were big friends with the Boageys, who had no children, and she even inherited Mrs Boagey's gold watch.

"I remember we would go round to their house and sing songs round the piano and things like that," said Mrs Farrance.

"I was really pleased to have this album. I think I live in the past sometimes."

Mrs Farrance can trace the family back all the way to 1065 with a gap of only ten years.

She said the Bulmers were once extremely powerful and owned Wilton Castle, near Redcar.

They fell out of favour in the northern rebellion against Henry VIII in 1536 to 1537.

One of her ancestors who took part in the rebellion was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn while his wife was burnt at the stake and the Bulmers lost all their power.

Effigies of the Bulmers can still be found at Wilton Church and there is still a Bulmer Court at the flats at the site of the original castle.