A LOCAL history society have celebrated a 'hugely successful year' and is confident of proving the existence of a once-thriving prehistoric civilization in a corner of southwest Cumbria.

Millom and District Local History Society has existed for over 50 years but has recently been given a new lease of life by chair and passionate historian Jan Bridget.

The society now boasts over 800 members, holding regular events and surveys to celebrate and uncover more evidence of the 'incredible' history of the Millom peninsula.

She said: “There are very few places in Cumbria that can boast occupation throughout history but Millom can, and there is evidence to back up the claim.”

Jan has written a 100-page booklet, due for publication shortly, that outlines the prehistoric discoveries made so far, and has encouraged other amateur historians to use it to help uncover more evidence of Millom civilisations past.

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She said: "I might have found a British-romano settlement, and I might have found a lost stone circle - if they can be verified, they would be completely new finds, which would be massive.

"We've done a stone survey of reworked stones used in the 12th century Holy Trinity Church, and an archaeologist already identified one that could be of Roman origin.

“We don’t have the 'sexy' finds yet that attract floods of tourists, as a lot of it is still speculative.

"For example, due to a survey this year, we know that there is a possible Roman road here, and it is begging for more research, to have a trench dug and analysed.

"What we’ve really succeeded at this year is finding sites that are definitely worthy of further investigation.

"There is a dormant South Copeland Community Interest Company (CIC)  but we’re working to rename it South Copeland Cultural Heritage CIC, with new aims and objectives, so we’d then have the legal structure to apply for big funding, and should the diocese let us, renovate the school,  and turn it into a heritage centre."

The Mayor of Millom Councillor Bob Kelly said: "Million Town Council fully supports the aims and activities of the History Society.

"The town and surrounding area have an incredible history and the society is doing a brilliant job in highlighting this and bringing it to the attention of both our residents and visitors."