STROLLING through the grounds of St Peter's Church is a landmark that you could easily miss but has a highly important position in the history of Bournemouth.

It is a tomb that was built soon after the arrival of Sir Percy Florence Shelley in this area. He came to oversee the building of Boscombe Manor as a summer base for his wife Lady Jane and his mother Mary Shelley, the author of the classic horror story, Frankenstein who, sadly, died before work on their new home was finished.

Known as the 'Tomb of Talents', the Shelley family tomb is among the interesting memorials highlighted in a new booklet by Bournemouth local guide and historian John Walker, focusing on some of the memorials that can be found within St Peter's and its churchyard.

Funds from the booklet, "St Peter's Church, Bournemouth: Notable Personal Memorials in the Church and Churchyard" that has just been published by the Friends of St Peter's - a fundraising charity - will go towards projects within the church and the town centre parish it covers.

"When Mary (Shelley) was near to death, Lady Jane asked her where she would like to be buried," writes the author in the booklet.

"Mary replied: 'I would like to rest at Bournemouth near to you, but I would like to have my father and mother with me'."

And thus Mary was buried in the tomb in what was then a country churchyard along with the re-interred remains of her parents, the writer and novelist William Godwin, and the feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft.

Sir Percy and Lady Jane were also later to be buried in the tomb.

The booklet follows a route through the church along with the churchyard and provides an interesting guide to those seeking a short afternoon walk, starting at the Tregonwell family tomb, Captain Lewis Tregonwell being recognised as "the founder of Bournemouth".

Another significant stopping point is the grave of Sir Dan Godfrey (1868-1939), the musical director of the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra, now known as the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, who held his position for over 41 years.

Other items of interest on John Walker's walk include the Pilot Officer Cecil Hight Rnzaf Winged Plaque, a memorial to the New Zealand Officer who died in defence of the Empire at Bournemouth in the August of 1940.

He died when his Spitfire was shot down over Talbot Woods after an aerial dogfight at 4,000 feet. Pilot Hight Road in West Howe, Bournemouth is named after him.

Other larger memorials include the Gladstone Plaque, the Keble Chapel and the stained glass Monro Window to the right of it.

The booklet costs £1.50 and can be obtained from St Peter's Church, Bournemouth. or post-free by contacting the author on 01202-265436.