AN ATTRACTION which recorded Weymouth's turbulent history is being remembered eight years after its closure.

Liam Findlay, a designer in the themed attractions industry, has completed a research project into Weymouth's popular Timewalk attraction, which closed in 2010 after being open for 20 years.

With help from Weymouth Museum and others, Liam has uncovered artwork, photographs and fascinating facts about the attraction which he has shared on his website.

The Timewalk was at Brewers Quay in Weymouth.

With a clever use of storytelling, the atmospheric attraction featured some unique hosts.

Stepping through various historical eras, visitors would encounter the nine lives of the same cat, Ms. Paws. These different incarnations were often fully costumed and always full of character, revealing each scandalous detail of their surroundings.

Liam said: "I felt it was important to make a detailed record of this important Weymouth landmark, as hardly anything was left over when it closed, and so many locals have really strong, personal memories of it.

"What was really touching to see was how appreciative locals were about this project, sharing their experiences, childhood memories and family stories. It received passionate and nostalgic responses from locals."

At the entrance to Weymouth Timewalk many of you will remember seeing 'Mrs Paws' flying a time-travelling barrel.

The entrance room reflected the feel of an old brewery, with wispy Roman numerals floating about the walls.

After paying at the counter, visitors would follow the Roman numerals up the stairs to a seating area; they would wait here for up to a minute, before a light-up sign welcomed them to open a door and begin their journey through time!

Visitors would step into a dim, musty room full of local artefacts. With the brewery archivist Mr. Cross sleeping at his desk (the animatronic would rise and fall with each snore), the Timewalk's mascot cat Ms. Paws welcomes visitors and opens a portal into the past! She does this by speaking magic words in her Dorset accent- a huge clock lights up and the hands begin to spin backwards, accompanied by mystifying music. The wall behind the clock opens like a door and visitors step into the shadowy passage behind it.

The Timewalk started in 1348, when the Black Death entered England through Weymouth's ports. Many people remember this scene for its smell.

The next scene would take visitors forward to 1588, the Sailmaker's Loft and the San Salvador.

In this scene, Shifty the cat (designed to look like an Elizabethan punk) explains England's conflicts with Spain as images are projected onto one of the sails. He misses a rat's head with each swing of his club. Visitors are encouraged to flee when an explosion is heard. The next scene involved pushing through double doors and in the dark, walking down a narrow, stinking passage among the chalky-faced corpses of Spanish sailors.

On the top deck, visitors would find the sailmaker and his apprentice looting the Spanish treasures, just as locals did in real life when the San Salvador was destroyed in Dorset.

Visitors would then move forward to 1643 and the Civil War. People could hear rioting outside the windows, through which flames can be seen. A Royalist soldier had broken into a family home and the daughter was heard crying.

The 1600s Portland stone section saw Perrywinkle Lydd, a London courtier pussycat, explaining how locals on Portland are cutting stone which is to be shipped into London and used for rebuilding after the Great Fire.

The Timewalk then jumps to 1805, the reign of King George III. To the sound of elegant strings, visitors enter an immaculate set where King George III entertains guests in finely detailed outfits at his Gloucester Lodge by the sea.

Visitors would then travel to 1793 and a smugglers scene. A building's wall was made of fabric so when the room inside lit up, people could see the smuggling business going on within.

There was also a beach scene featuring a sit-down video show, played from a Punch and Judy theatre where a cartoon ginger cat in a straw hat named Lucky Chance explained the history of Weymouth's seaside.

The final scene explored Weymouth's Devenish Brewery and introduced sacks which would rise from the vats, dance and sing whenever visitors pressed red buttons.

*For a trip down Weymouth Timewalk memory lane, Liam's website can be seen at theartofthemedattractions.com