He looks at medieval hospitals, the effects of the Plague, the treatment of the insane, almshouses, charities, the isolation hospital, the Chapel House, and life in the workhouse and its infamous "Spike" or tramp ward.

The material in this booklet was originally published in 1990 by the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley's Libraries Division. It has been redesigned and published by Leonie Press in order that the information should continue to be available to new readers.

I have always had an interest in history and archaeology but apart from reading about the subjects did nothing practical about them until the the opening of the Whiston Community Centre in 1973 when a public meeting was held to discuss ideas for activities in which young and old could participate.

I suggested a Local History Group - to my surprise about a dozen people came forward and a meeting was held which led to the formation of the Whiston Historical Society. A committee was formed and I was elected as Honorary Secretary, a position I have held for the past 30 years!

In 1974 Liverpool University held a 10-week course on Local History at Prescot which helped to put us on track for research and in 1979 I did a correspondence course on Industrial Archaeology with the Open University.

I wrote "From 'Spytell Hous' to Hospital" in 1990. It was originally published by the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley's Libraries Division but cutbacks in local authority services have meant it has been out of print for some years. Following the success of my book "A History of Wiston" Leonie Press has re-published it