A new book by Looe town crier Roger Bennett takes a fun and informative look at one of the town’s most intriguing buildings.

St Nicholas Church in West Looe was built as a chapel of ease in the 14th century. It was intended as a place of worship for all those too old or infirm to climb the hill to St Martin’s or tackle the even more arduous route to Talland.

But in the centuries since, the church has been used for all sorts of things; the building has served as a town hall and magistrates court, a boys school, a theatre and even, at one time, as a prison for debtors, felons, and other miscreants.

During the two years or so Roger spent researching the book, he enlisted the help of church archivist Deirdre Croker.

St Nicholas Church West Looe: The story of an historical multi-purpose building (price £8) is available by emailing roger_bennett @hotmail.com