Author | Lightnews

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · 9h

Only one sleep till the Devizes launch. I included a couple of easter-eggs that only long-time residents will notice.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · 23h

Devizes Castle looks like a fairy tale from the road. In the new book, the children spot a page in a tree by the gate.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · 1d

Clocks go back today, which means an extra hour in bed or an extra story before breakfast. I know which one I’m choosing.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · 2d

A slow Saturday morning, mug of tea, and a local story to share. The Lost Pages books are basically Wiltshire and Somerset in rhyme form.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · 3d

Catherine Hill in Frome is beautiful but steep! I recommend Moo-and-Two is for coffee if you need a rest halfway up.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · 3d

Roundway White Horse, cut in 1845, watches over Devizes. You can see it from miles away - and in the book, Ollie catches a page right on it.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · 4d

Did you know the Clifton Suspension Bridge opened in 1864, years after Brunel died? It’s one of Bristol’s proudest landmarks - and a windy spot for lost pages.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · 5d

Caen Hill Locks in Devizes have 29 in a row (16 in the main flight) - a proper workout for anyone passing through. Patch loved that bit of the new book.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · 5d

Bristol and Frome have been keeping Patch busy lately! Next up is Devizes on 28 Oct.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · 28d

I was interviewed by mjdj on West Wiltshire radio about my books - now available to listen again here: westwiltsradio.com/shows/talk-a...

(Skip to 40:00 to hear my bit).

TALK AND TUNES with mjdj – 16sept25 – West Wilts Radio

1 captain sensible happy talk (theme tune) 2 baby’s wadrobe – celia earl chat 3 abba dancing queen 4 queen good old fashioned lover boy 5 tremeloes here comes my baby 6 hollies i cant let go 7 linx so this is romance 8 jim capaldi it’s all up to you 9 children’s author – chat benji barkley 10 joli sanctuary 11 dolly parton & kenny rogers islands in the stream 12 tom jones if i should ever leave you 13 robert palmer i didnt mean to turn you on 14 bee gees jive talking 15 kungs v cookin on three burners this girl 16 soft cell say hello, wave goodbye 17 dawn penn no, no, no 18 bob marley & the wailers could you be love 19 10cc the things we do for love 20 micky john bull another lonely night 21 hall & oates sara smile 22 dan penn & spooner oldham i’m your puppet 23 original i luv u baby 24 four tops bernadette

westwiltsradio.com

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 23

Frome’s Valentine Lamp and Independent Market make their way into the series. Salisbury readers – why not collect both adventures this week?

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 23

I (and the book!) are featured in "Inside Salisbury" this week. Please have a read:

open.substack.com/pub/insidesa...

Inside Salisbury: Princess Royal visit, The Lost Pages of Salisbury and a FREE Haircut.

Get ready for Blithe Spirit

open.substack.com

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 23

Release day! The Lost Pages of Frome is out now. Salisbury remains available on Amazon, but today we celebrate Frome’s cobbled hills.

benjibarkley.com/frome/

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 22

Looking ahead: Frome launches tomorrow (23rd Sept). Expect Catherine Hill, Cheap Street’s leat and even Nunney Castle.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 22

Monday motivation: Salisbury Cathedral took 38 years to build – quicker than most medieval cathedrals. Still soaring in the story today.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 21

Reminder: Bath hardbacks are still available. Local families love spotting the Royal Crescent and Roman Baths in rhyme.

The Lost Pages of Bath - Benji Barkley

The Lost Pages of Bath - Join Rosie, Ollie, and Patch on an adventure through Bath's treasures including the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Royal Crescent.

benjibarkley.com

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 21

Stonehenge makes an appearance in The Lost Pages of Salisbury as pages get caught between its stones.

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Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 20

World Cleanup Day – a chance to tidy up, just like Rosie and Ollie gather lost pages. Reading + real-world care = a great family lesson.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 20

Weekend plan: a walk to Salisbury’s Churchill Park. In the story, Patch barks with delight when he finds not one but two pages there.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 19

Throwback: Bradford-on-Avon launched just last month. From Saxon Church to Tithe Barn, it’s still in stock alongside Salisbury.

The Lost Pages of Bradford-on-Avon - Benji Barkley

The Lost Pages of Bradford-on-Avon - Join Rosie, Ollie, and Patch on an adventure through Bradford-on-Avon's treasures including the Tithe Barn, Town Bridge, Saxon Church.

benjibarkley.com

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 19

Arrr, Talk Like a Pirate Day be upon us! What be Patch’s seafarin’ name, matey? Captain Barkbeard, perhaps? Share yer young buccaneer’s best idea while readin’ The Lost Pages of Salisbury!

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 18

Castle Street is one of Salisbury’s historic thoroughfares. In the book, a page blows down it with Patch in pursuit.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 18

The King’s House, now Salisbury Museum, appears in the story. The building itself dates back to the 13th century.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 17

Arundells, former home of Prime Minister Edward Heath, sits in Cathedral Close. Rosie finds a page resting in its garden.

Benji Barkley @benjibarkley.bsky.social · Sep 17

Mompesson House on Cathedral Close is an elegant 18th-century building. My dog is better behaved than Patch, but this shot still took a few attempts!