A HISTORIAN and teacher, nicknamed 'The Ancient Britain' by his pupils, left an indelible stamp on Burnley.

Walter Bennett wrote a four volume 'History of Burnley', further books on the Pendle Witches and the History of Marsden and Nelson, and two about Burnley Grammar School.

Kept in a glass case in Burnley Library, they are the life's work of Walter Bennett MA, history and Latin master at the grammar school from 1921 to 1947.

His History of Burnley took him five years to research and was first published in 1951.

A blue plaque today marks his semi-detached home in Reedley Drive, Reedley, where he lived for more than 50 years.

Walter was born in Staffordshire in 1889 and won a scholarship to Manchester University, where he met his wife, who was studying French. She taught French at Nelson Grammar School and died in 1970.

He came to Burnley in 1920 and he earned his Ancient Britain' tag as he had a passion for archaeological digs at local Bronze Age settlements.

His enthusiasm for his subject had a lasting effect on many of his students, including Titus Thornber, Ken Spencer and Harry Simpson, who all subsequently wrote local history themselves.

Walter co-founded Burnley and District Historical Society in 1948.

He died in 1983, aged 94, and the historical society stages an annual Walter Bennett memorial lecture.