Millbrook - The Hidden Past by Rosaleen Wikinson.

A CHILD smuggled down from London to Millbrook by its mother triggered the outbreak of the Great Plague in Southampton in 1665.

The chilling claim is just one of the many intriguing tales in Rosaleen Wilkinson's latest book, Millbrook - The Hidden Past, being published next month.

Rosaleen, of Shanklin Gardens, Shirley, spent two years researching and writing about the history of the Southampton suburb, dating back to 10,000BC.

Funded by the Outer Shirley Regeneration Board, The Peter Barker Memorial Trust and Hampshire Gardens Trust, the 112-page book, priced just £9.99 with an initial print run of 2,000 copies, will be available from the Outer Shirley Regeneration office in Irving Road, Maybush, from May 16.

Rosaleen, who worked closely with Eileen Downes of the Millbrook Local History Project in writing the book, said: "Anyone with an interest in local history will enjoy the book. It's full of tales from over the years, like when Millbrook ceased to be a village on its own and became part of Southampton in 1954.

"I delved into the Southampton City Archives, used Southern Daily Echo pictures and many photos that people living in Millbrook kindly donated to me. The area has so many characters and such a story to tell, the book could have gone on and on.

"My husband Peter wrote three chapters on Millbrook railway station and the area's link with Southampton docks, and one of my two son's, Tim, now works in the area.

"My other local history books on Bitterne Junior School and Shirley life from Doomsday to D-Day have sold very well, and I hope interest is just as high for this one."

Eileen Downes, whose history group meets regularly at The Down To Earth Centre in Millbrook Community School, Green Lane, hopes the keenly awaited book will spark a greater interest in local history among people of all ages.

"It's wonderful to see the book finished.

"I think Rosaleen has done a tremendous job with it. It's difficult to pick out a favourite section - it's very difficult to put down.

"We are always looking for more people to come along to our meetings, and this book will give us an awful lot to talk about."