ALARM bells rang when Alan Davies stumbled on a hidden gem of a book in the archives strong room in Leigh town hall.

The 350-years-old work by a mystery writer could change the history of the women's movement!

The 180 page publication from the 17th century entitled "Woman's Worth" gives an insight into a well educated woman laying down her strongly held views that women are better than men.

Alan, Wigan Council's heritage officer, believes the book could be an important find and early research has caused excitement with women's study experts in America.

Leafing through the pages of history is something of an occupational hazard for Alan who regularly comes into contact with rare and significant antiquated documents and books.

With more than 25 years of experience in archives he was working in the strong room when his gaze fell on the work which is subtitled "A treatise proving by sundry reasons that women do excel men".

He said: "Over the years I have encountered many extremely important documents and publications, but occasionally something stops you in your tracks as being particularly special.

"There is possible only one work covering women's issues that pre-dates Woman's Worth, the much translated 16th century On the Nobility and Pre-eminence of Women by Henricus Cornelius Agrippa.

"There is every chance that this book is an important and unique study."

He added: "Given the nature of the work and the mood of the times it was written it is quite possible that only the writer ever saw it and only now is it getting its first public airing.

"If this private work had been widely published at the time who knows how events might have been brought forward by at least a few generations."

Alan was so excited by the discovery that he contacted Professor Kari McBride at Arizona University's department of Women's Studies.

She said: "What a find. I wish I could hop on a plane right now and visit you to see this little treasure."

Examination and study of the small, unassuming work has only just begun and it is bound to be of interest to scholars of women's issues and history alike.

The 11 chapters, with reference to women in the Bible, reveal the writer's feelings that women are more chaste, more religious, more valiant, wiser and more charitable than men.

For Alan it is the feeling of a bond with a writer from centuries past that is the most awe-inspiring feeling of the entire experience.

He said: "One of the powers of archives is the physical connection with the author. To hold this lady's study in your hands 350 years after its production is a thrill open to anyone who makes use of the archive collection in Leigh Town Hall."