A UNIQUE project to make public Winchester's hidden history is finally getting into top gear after more than 20 years.

The Winchester Studies is the publication of the history of the city revealed in archaeological digs since the 1950s.

It has been proclaimed as one of the top ten most important archaeological projects of the 20th century in the world.

The archaeological work in Winchester city centre, led by Professor Martin Biddle, revealed a mass of historical artefacts and information. It is the most complete research into a British city from Roman times to the 19th century.

The Cabinet of the city council on Wednesday agreed a grant of £10,000 towards the publication of the latest books in the multi-volume series.

The latest book, on the cult of St Swithun, the Bishop of Winchester from 852-862, is to be launched on July 9 at Wolvesey Palace, the residence of his successors. The book, to be priced £190, is not aimed at the general market but at academics at universities across the world.

Volumes on Anglo-Saxon minsters and the Winchester Mint are due for publication in 2004, along with a historic town atlas. A book on King Arthur's Round Table was published in 2000.

Chief executive David Cowan, who retired yesterday, said it was fitting that his last report should be on the series, as it had been the subject of his first report when he took the post in 1980.

A lack of funding had put the project into limbo but in recent years it has been rejuvenated and several volumes have already been published.

Much of the work of historians such as Prof Biddle has been donated for free but the £10,000 will go towards specialist editing including script work, drawing and photography. Mr Cowan said: "The great works are still coming. The cult of St Swithun was the most important cult in the Middle Ages until Beckett got his politics wrong. There are shrines to Swithun from Norway to France. The project is moving. This is a product which is acclaimed internationally."