Stories about the history of a small west Suffolk village have been recorded for future generations to enjoy, thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant.

In 2012, Little Waldingfield History Society became one of the first groups to be awarded a £9,800 grant under the lottery’s All Our Stories project, which encouraged applicants to explore, share and celebrate their heritage.

And now two years on, the community project has culminated in the publication of a full colour, 350-page book entitled Little Waldingfield: Our village history 1840-2014.

Every penny from the sale of the volume will go towards much needed ongoing maintenance on the village’s 15th Century St Lawrence Church.

According to history society chairman Susan Moore, the project has been a labour of love for the five trustees involved in writing the book, along with members of the wider village community who helped with research which extended across the globe. The book picks up from where Harry Clive, a much respected resident of the village, finished his book Beyond Living Memory, which was published in 1979 and documented Little Waldingfield’s history from 1300 to 1840.

It is hoped the new title, which incorporates memories of older long-standing and ex-residents, will stimulate an interest in local history.

Mrs Moore said: “We all acknowledge that Harry’s book was a magnificent achievement in the 1970s given that he did not have the luxury of the digital research facilities available to us today.

“This grant has enabled us to preserve the history of our village for others as Harry did before us and perhaps someone else will continue long after we are gone.

“The Heritage Lottery Fund gave us that opportunity and the people and friends of Little Waldingfield embraced it. Today we have something that we can all be proud of.”

The All Our Stories small grant programme, was launched in 2012 in support of the BBC TV documentary, The Great British Story.

Books are available from Andy Sheppard on 01787 247980.