A HISTORY writer has published a book about the hidden secrets in Brecon’s past.

Mal Morrison, who is originally from Brecon but now lives in Builth Wells, described his new book, Secret Brecon, as an “open history tour” of the area.

The 70-year-old, who is a former parademic and runs a first aid business, said history has always been a big passion of his but he mostly writes and researches his books as a hobby in his spare time. The new book is the sixth he has written.

Mal says his deep interest in history was probably inspired by his late uncle, local historian Albert Tilly, who was a verger at Brecon Cathedral.

Mal said: “I decided to write about things that most people don’t know about the town. You can walk around and let the book guide you, and become fully immersed in the history and the ambience of the area. The spark has always been there. When I used to go away on holiday, the people I was with would always want to see the sights but I would always want to see things like the gravestones.

“I think my uncle was really influential because he always knew a lot about history and he helped to get me interested when I was young – he made it really magical. I even used some of his unpublished work in this book.”

Chapters in the book include sections on Brecon’s nearby rivers and mountains, crime in the town and the secrets of the priory and cathedral. One chapter looks into the history of Brecon’s seven holy wells while a chapter on the town’s transport tells the story of the infamous Brecon and Merthyr Railway – nicknamed ‘The Breakneck and Murder Railway.

Mal said he learnt about the 1916 Torpantau Railway accident after coming across the gravestone of Brecon man James Morgan who died in the rail crash at the age of 23. Another chapter contains the story of one of the first holders of the Victorian Cross, who is buried at the cathedral.

Mal also includes chapters on two “secret walks” that readers can take in the town. The two walks go in opposite directions from Ship Street to Watton Mount but have very different stories to tell.

Mal said he did much of the research into his new book at Brecon library, which is why he decided to launch the book there last week with a book signing. He said: “I’ve done a lot of research in the library here and the staff here have been really good to me.

“I’ve spent a lot of time hidden in the corner with the microfilm looking at old newspapers. It’s fascinating to read some of the everyday court reports from the 1900s in the old newspapers, which probably seemed quite mundane at the time but they are really interesting now.”

Mal has a seventh – “paper-backed sixed” book, which is also about Brecon – due to go on sale in June.

Published by Gloucester company Amerley Publishing, Secret Brecon can be bought either on their website, in local bookshops or on Amazon for £14.99.