LOCAL author Dane Love’s latest work is a pictorial history of the Doon Valley’s main village.

A Look Back at Dalmellington contains 40 photographs taken over the years with each picture described clearly and concisely, complete with a detailed history of the location.

Well-known writer and historian, Mr Love, has included many images of the old part of the village, including some pictures which probably have not been in print before.

There are early photographs of Main Street and High Street, showing shops and businesses that have been consigned to history, complete with information on who occupied them.

Other buildings which no longer exist also feature, such as the old Cross Keys, Our Lady’s Chapel, the school, railway station, corn mill and Knoweview.

Mr Love said: “It is interesting to see how many old buildings in the village were at one time thatched while the residents of Dalmellington included poets, shopkeepers, businessmen, and publicans.”

Much historical information on the people of Dalmellington is contained in the captions throughout the 80 pages of the book, which is fifth in the Look Back series from Carn Publishing.

The author belongs to Cumnock, but has known Dalmellington for many years, and has written more than 30 books on various Scottish subjects, and on Ayrshire places in particular.

In Dalmellington itself, the book is on sale at the Doon Valley Crafters gift shop.

It can also be bought by visiting www.carnpublishing.com, where information on other titles, including Auchinleck and Cumnock, is available.