FAMILY researcher Christine Thompson who lives in Ireland is hoping Gazette readers in the Marlborough area can help throw some light on her past.

Her grandfather Thomas Rogers lived at Devil's Den Cottage close to the cromlech at Clatford just west of Marlborough.

Her father Ted Rogers who died three years ago was born in 1917 at the cottage, which was demolished in about 1960.

It was originally called Devil's Den Cottage but the name was later shortened to Den Cottage, for superstitious reasons.

Mrs Thompson lives near Belfast and is carrying out an oral history project and trying to find out as much as she can about her family's history.

Her father lived on the Manton House estate for many years, where he worked as a maintenance man.

Mr Rogers also worked for the former Ailesbury Arms in Marlborough and for Hilliers the builders.

Mrs Thompson has several photographs of the single-storey brick and slate cottage that had a distinctive Norman arched front doorway.

She wants to hear from anyone who can remember her father or grandfather or knew why the cottage was demolished.

Mrs Thompson said: "I am interested in any information about this cottage because I can't understand why it was pulled down."

She said farmers and estate owners of the period were notorious for neglecting the cottages their staff lived in and it was quite possible that it was in such bad condition it had to be pulled own.

The researcher said: "It's quite possible that I have relatives left in the Marlborough area.

"There were a number of Rogers families but I would love to hear from anyone who can recall the family that lived at Devil's Den Cottage or who knew my grandfather or my father."

Anyone with information about her family or Devil's Den Cottage should ring her on 028 427 71713.