THE Man in the Iron Mask story of last week has generated a lot of interest.

We featured a photo of Bridport taken in 1908 showing a crowd gathered around a man in an iron mask who was apparently walking round the world.

Thanks to Looking Back reader Eddie Prowse we can today reveal more about this mysterious man.

His name was Harry Bensley and behind this photograph we feature today, taken on the seafront at Weymouth, is a wonderful tale of Edwardian eccentricity.

In a London club, two very rich men were discussing whether it would be possible for a man to walk round the world without showing his face.

A wager of $100,000 was laid. Bensley, a 31-year-old playboy, agreed to attempt the feat. Rules required Bensley to push a perambulator wearing an iron mask, which was not to be removed for any reason.

He set off on January 1 1908 with a pound in his pocket, a change of underwear in the pram, and had to sell picture postcards to fund his travel. He was required to visit a specified list of British towns and a further 125 towns in 18 other countries. He also had to find a wife who would marry him without a sight of his face.

He was to be accompanied by one other person to see the rules were observed. The First World War intervened and he volunteered for military service, thus bringing the attempt to an end.

However, he was given £4,000 as a consolation, which he gave to charity.

What a shame Harry never completed his journey! And what an extraordinary story - thanks so much to Eddie Prowse for sharing this information with us.