A NEW book chronicling the lives of three families is being launched at a north Herefordshire castle next week.

Rosemary Croft, author of A Truly Happy and Affectionate Family: Life Among the Denmans, Crofts and Baillies 1733 - 1847, will be at Croft Castle, Yarpole, on June 5 at 2.30pm to sign copies.

Much of the book is based on the diaries of Elizabeth Denman, whose husband Thomas was one of Britain’s most respected surgeons and whose daughter Margaret married Sir Richard Croft.

The book, published by the author and privately printed, will retail for £15.