It’s the perfect Christmas gift for anyone with a love of local history and architecture.

Liz Gordon, Managing Director of Brilliant Fish PR and Marketing, can now add ‘author’ to her biog.

She is the co-author, with Paul Rabbitts, of ‘Bournemouth in 50 buildings’.

Both spent months researching old and modern structures in the town to feature in the book.

They discovered that, despite being a comparatively young town, Bournemouth is rich in diverse types of architecture and history.

By their own admission, though, choosing just 50 was difficult and they’re aware that some couldn’t be included despite their popularity.

Liz, who has lived in the Bournemouth area all her life, said she had fallen back in love with the resort.

She said: “Researching the book has really opened my eyes to the history of the town.

Southbourne water tower.

“I’ve loved finding out about some of the buildings that have been so familiar to me from my childhood.”

Popular tourist destinations such as the BIC, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum and Bournemouth Pier are included.

But less well-known landmarks are also featured.

They include the gentlemen’s public convenience in Holdenhurst Road which is a Grade II listed building; Springbourne, Westbourne and Bournemouth Libraries; Kinson Community Centre in Pelhams Park and the water towers in Boscombe and Southbourne.

Paul said: “I wasn’t really familiar with the town and have been blown away by the sheer beauty of some of the buildings we finally selected.

Springbourne Library, a gift to the town from Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

“The aim of the 50 Buildings series is to give the story behind some of the iconic and also not so obvious landmarks in a town.

“It really is a fantastic mix of traditional and contemporary architecture.”

‘Bournemouth in 50 Buildings’ is published by Amberley Publishing.

It is available from independent bookshops, Amberley Publishing and online retailers.