STONYHURST College is set to reveal some of its rare historical artefacts.

The Ribble Valley College will display an Egyptian mummy, a lock of Mary Queen of Scots' hair and Arthur Conan Doyle’s school desk, among others.

The guided tours will start in August.

Visitors to this historic building can see many treasures held in the Stonyhurst Collections, some of which have not been on display for many years.

On show will be a prayer book, thought to have belonged to Mary Queen of Scots, which she is believed to have taken to her execution, the Book of Hours - an illuminated manuscript made in Paris in 1430, a 15th century Italian Liber Festivalis which is a book of religious feasts.

There will also be a 16th century illuminated Koran, a 17th century Persian astronomical calendar, vestments from the 15th to the 18th century, a hat belonging to St Thomas More, African, Indian and South American clothing, pottery and ornaments and much more.

The Egyptian mummy has recently returned to Stonyhurst from Manchester Museum, where it has undergone forensic tests to discover more about it.

Many of the items were displayed last year at the exhibition ‘Held in Trust’ at Saint Francis Xavier's Church, Liverpool.

During the tour of Stonyhurst visitors can see the desk on which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle carved his name, the table on which Oliver Cromwell slept before the Battle of Preston and Jacobite pistols found hidden in a priest hole.

Katherine Walker, marketing director at Stonyhurst College said: “Visitors are in for a real treat this year. It will be a rare opportunity to see artefacts that are both sacred and secular.

“Stonyhurst is a Grade I-Listed building and renowned for its magnificent towers and gardens. It is regarded as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of Lancashire’s beautiful Ribble Valley, so well worth a visit.”