Search results for ""The History Press""

The Solitary Spy is a unique account of the terrifying experience of incarceration and interrogation in an East German political prison, from which Boyd eventually escaped one step ahead of the KGB.

Read more less

Churchill's Grandmama

Read more less

Celebrating passenger ships in colour, large and small, from the 1940s onwards

Read more less

The Little Book of London

Read more less

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of St Pancras station, this absorbing new book brings together 150 facts, revealing many little-known details about the long history of this iconic building and its local surroundings. From its conception and build, and the opening of the largest single-span arch in the world as the London terminus of the Midland Railway, to the damage it suffered during wartime, this fascinating fact book reveals many facts about St Pancras station’s tumultuous history, including threatened demolition and glorious restoration. Did you know there was once a farm in the heart of the St Pancras parish area? Or that it was once home to one of the biggest markets in London? And why did Midland Railway built a special viaduct to travel over St Pancras station? This is the perfect gift for anyone with affection for this beautiful and important piece of London’s architectural and railway heritage and its surrounding area.

Read more less

Bristol has charmed visitors for centuries, and this collection of intricate illustrations is a celebration of the city’s unique appeal. Featuring a range of picturesque vistas, from the historic Floating Harbour and SS Great Britain to Avon Gorge and the city’s Georgian architecture, each stunning scene is full of intriguing detail sure to fire the imagination and make you reach for your colouring pencils. There are absolutely no rules – you can choose any combination of colours you like to bring these wonderful images to life. Suitable for children. If you love Bristol, then you will love colouring it in!

Read more less

In 1911, Larkhill, near Durrington Down on Salisbury Plain, became Britain's first military airfield. Along with similar flying training bases constructed at nearby Upavon and Netheravon, it was to occupy a cornerstone position in Wiltshire's early aviation history. It was these establishments, in addition to those at Gosport, Eastchurch, Farnborough and Montrose, that formed the only Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service aerodromes in the British Isles when war was declared in August 1914.During a century of powered flight (1903-2003), some forty airfields and landing grounds have provided a useful, indeed significant, service within the county boundaries. Several are still in operation today and one need look no further than Boscombe Down to find a site which, though first occupied in 1917, is currently home to a testing establishment (QinetiQ) which serves at the forefront of the aerospace industry.In Wiltshire's Skies throws a wide net over the locations, events and many colourful personalities which have shaped the county's aeronautical heritage. It now joins the author's previously published volumes on neighbouring counties, Dorset and Hampshire, to complete a personal trilogy in the History Press Images of Aviation series.

Read more less

Do ghosts exist, do supernatural beings walk the land and do creatures linger in the shadows. Are legends of blood-sucking creatures based on some truth found on the edges of reality? Within these pages Tony Locke will take you on a journey through the magical land of Erin. You will explore castles and graveyards, and be introduced to banshees, warlocks, spectres, poltergeists and the Undead. You will read about the spirit of a child that possesses a doll, the vengeful druid who guards a tomb and the ghost of a cannibal woman who enjoyed eating children. Based on the myths and legends of Ireland, these tales have been collected and retold by professional storyteller Tony Locke. So why not pull up a chair and sit awhile? You know you’re never too old for a story.

Read more less

1916 And All That is as an extremely funny and irreverent satirical history of Ireland. The central assumption behind ‘1916 And All That’ is that, despite all of the compulsory school lessons and exams taken, there are only a few muddled facts of our history that most people retain into adulthood. We recall snatches of events, names and dates, and few of us can piece together a coherent narrative or offer up any description of events in detail. We all know Robert Emmet’s name, but what did he do, why did he do it, and when? This book references the fuzzily remembered facts, but plays very fast and extremely loose with the details of our history.

Read more less

In 1789 Hannah Lightbody, a well-educated and intelligent young woman of means, married Samuel Greg and found herself at the centre of his cotton empire in the industrial heart of England. It was a man’s world, in which women like Hannah were barred from politics, had few rights and were expected to be little more than good, dutiful wives. Struggling to apply herself to household management, Hannah instead turned her attention to the well-being of the cotton mill workers under her husband’s control. Over the next four decades she fought to improve the education, health and welfare of cotton girls and pauper apprentices at the mill. Her legacy helped turn the north-west into the pioneering heart of reform in Britain. Here, the story of Hannah’s remarkable life is told for the first time.

Read more less

Cambrai 1917 was the battle that sowed the seeds of future combined-arms tank and infantry warfare, while remaining a battle of singular drama in its own right. If you truly want to understand what happened and why – read Battle Story. Detailed profiles explore the background of the generals of the two opposing forces, as well as what made up the average German and British soldier. First-person, contemporary sources bring the reader into the world of the Battle of Cambrai and show what it was like to be in the thick of battle. Detailed maps highlight key points in the battle and the surrounding area. Photographs place you on the front line of the unfolding action. Orders of battle reveal the composition of the two opposing forces’ army in detail. Packed with fact boxes, this short introduction is the perfect way to explore this important battle.

Read more less

On May 6, 1950, Viggo and Emil Højgaard from the small village of Tollund were cutting mud to find peat for their stove in the Bjældskovdal peat bog, 12km west of Silkeborg, Denmark. As they worked, one of their wives noticed in the peat layer a corpse so fresh that they believed they had discovered a recent murder victim, and after much deliberation they notified the police at Silkeborg. The police were baffled by the body, and in an attempt to identify the time of death, they brought in archaeology professor P.V. Glob. Upon initial examination, Glob suggested that the body was over two thousand years old and most likely the victim of a sacrifice. This book, written by the Director of the museum at which Tollund Man has resided since his discovery, presents the investigations into this enigmatic figure and tells the story of his life and death based upon the evidence of the archaeological record.

Read more less

J.R.R. Tolkien’s experiences of the Battle of the Somme forever imprinted on his mind, and became a dramatic source of inspiration for The Lord of the Rings. This absorbing book charts Tolkien’s life from 1914 to 1918, using old postcards, maps and photographs to paint a picture of the places and times that relate to one of the leading authors of the twentieth century. Tolkien joined the army in 1915 and trained in Bedford and Brocton Camp on Cannock Chase while his wife lived in the village of Great Haywood, close to the camp. A number of the places in and around Great Haywood were destined to appear in his later works. In 1916 Tolkien learnt of the death of two of his school friends in the bloody Battle of the Somme. He contracted Trench Fever in late October 1916 and returned to Birmingham, his hometown, by hospital ship and train. The final part of the book covers his time in England, an era in which he was blighted by illness. Richly illustrated, this fascinating volume is an essential purchase for Tolkien-lovers everywhere.

Read more less

A Grim Almanac of Lincolnshire is a day-by-day catalogue of 365 ghastly tales from around the county dating from the twelfth to the twentieth centuries. Full of dreadful deeds, macabre deaths, strange occurrences and heinous homicides, this almanac explores the darker side of Lincolnshire’s past. This compilation contains such diverse tales of highwaymen, smugglers, giants, hangmen, poachers, witches, rioters and rebels, as well as accounts of old lock-ups, prisons, bridewells and punishments. All these, plus tales of murder, suicide, mysterious deaths, accidents by land, sea and air, and much more, are here. If you have ever wondered about what nasty goings-on occurred in the Lincolnshire of yesteryear, then look no further — it’s all here, and if you have the stomach for it, then read on... if you dare!

Read more less

The story of the first European fighter jet.

Read more less

Published to celebrate the renovation of Boscome pier, this is the definitive social history of Bournemouth from the nineteenth century when it was little more than a remote and barren heathland, its subsequent popularity as a spa resort in the Edwardian period, and its present status as a leading destination for family holidays.

Read more less

Drawing on contemporary and historical sources, Haunted Derbyshire contains many creepy accounts of spirits, spectres and poltergeists - including the Mad Monk of North Wingfield, the crying angel of Etwell and the headless ghost of Wenley Hill. It also features some of Derbyshire's best-known characters, including Florence Nightingale and George Stephenson, the Railway King. If you have ever wondered why the Chesterfield Canal veered from its straight course, why horses shy at crossroads, empty theatre seats move or miners leave shoes in mines, Haunted Derbyshire will give you the chilling answers.

Read more less

Published for the first time, this illuminating and poignant correspondence offers a rare insight into the workings of the Cabinet War Rooms towards the end of the Second World War, and documents the rich wartime experiences of a woman with exclusive access to the closed world of Churchill's inner circle.

Read more less

Chelsea: Images of England This book is part of the Images of England series, which uses old photographs and archived images to show the history of various local areas in England, through their streets, shops, pubs, and people.

Read more less

Fjaka: the sublime state of aspiring to do absolutely nothing. Warmduscher: a ‘warm showerer’, meaning a bit of a wimp. Tener mano izquierda: literally ‘to have a left hand’; to be skilfully persuasive. For all the richness of the English language there are some nuances that other languages capture much better, whether it’s a phrase that beautifully articulates a feeling, a wonderfully understated insult that just hits the spot, or a curious idiom. From the melancholic to the funny to the downright peculiar, From Amourette to Żal takes us on a fascinating journey around Europe in twelve languages, celebrating our cultural similarities and differences along the way.

Read more less

When nine friends set out from England in 1969 to travel the world in a double-decker bus called ‘Hairy Pillock’, little did they know that they would become honorary citizens of Texas, hold the keys to New York, release a record in Australia, perform for the Shah and Empress of Iran, and appear on countless television and radio shows around the world. Their epic three-year journey, which began as a bet with the landlord of their local pub, took them across perilous roads through Europe to Iran and Afghanistan, through the Khyber Pass to Pakistan and India, then to Australia and, finally, the United States and Canada. Initially planning on getting work as export salesmen, they soon had to supplement their meagre funds by performing the folk songs they sang in the pubs back home, after which they achieved minor stardom as The Philanderers throughout Australia and the US. This light-hearted account follows the group on their trip across deserts and mountains, as they undertook an incredible expedition that would be impossible today.

Read more less

Let your imagination take flight! Balloons have held spectators spellbound since they were first trialled by the Montgolfier brothers in the eighteenth century. Gloriously coloured and often with intricate patterns, they present the perfect subject for a colouring book. From historical balloons to the magnificent busy skies of the modern balloon festival, and featuring an array of stunning landscapes and abstract and fantastical designs, this colouring book is sure to fire the imagination and captivate users for hours. Suitable for children.

Read more less

In this latest volume by Neil R. Storey we encounter some of the personalities, folklore, events, disasters, heroes and villains that have become interwoven into the rich tapestry of Norfolk's coastal past.

Read more less

Black Country Chronicles is a fascinating and multi-faceted narrative of twentieth-century life in the Black Country. Tom Larkin and other members of the Black Country Memories Club have long been determined that the way of life, sacrifices and hardships, and daily activities should not be allowed to be forgotten, and this book achieves their aim. Tom Larkin looks at the Black Country from the working-class point of view and records the significant contribution which these people made to the economic stability of the country as a whole. He neither romanticises nor exaggerates working-class life at this time, but faithfully brings to the fore the harsh living conditions, bad housing, polluted environment, low standards of hygiene and tough discipline which dominated people's lives. This will provide a fascinating insight into the Black Country of yesteryear and a valuable record of the reality of life for generations to come.

Read more less

Local history of Wallingford.

Read more less

Bideford, mentioned in the Doomsday book, has a fascinating and varied history. This book is a compilation of photographs and postcards of the town dating from the late nineteenth and up to the mid-twentieth century, which covers a particularly interesting period of Bideford's development. The book presents a pictorical history of the town as it developed in the late Victorian/ early Edwardian period and on to more modern days. A record of the past is important not only to local residents but also to tourists and visitors. Many of these photographs have not been published before and will be of interest to young and old alike.

Read more less

Florida's contribution to aviation history cannot be underestimated. Wings over Florida chronicles the story of flying in the "Sunshine State," from the early pioneers in gliders and balloons, to the recent developments in the space program. The story of Florida in flight is even older than its statehood, with Colonel John Sherburne planning to use balloons as early as 1840 in the Second Seminole War. Not only was the first scheduled passenger airline (the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line) begun in Florida, but it is also home to the world's oldest international airline. Many heroes and heroines of the air came from Florida. Even those who were not Floridians by birth spent time flying in the ideal conditions that Florida provided. Pioneers, such as Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Peter Sones, and Jacqueline Cochran, all took to the air over Florida.

Read more less

Armies led by John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough met and defeated general and army that King Louis XIV of France could put against them. This book brings soldierly understanding of the trials and tribulations of the fateful days of battle and victories of the Duke of Marlborough at the height of the War of Spanish Succession.

Read more less

The reader is taken from the peak of Nazi power in Europe to the utter destruction of the German war machine supported by a series of colour maps and black and white illustrations.

Read more less

This pictorial history of the Indian Air Force features some colour photographs of its plans and helicopters on active service and rescue operations and some rare black and white photographs from its earlier days.

Read more less

Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as Peterborough City Council, all lay claim to a part of the Fens. Since Roman times, man has increased the land mass in this area by one third of the size. It is the largest plain in the British Isles, covering an area of nearly three-quarters of a million acres and is unique to the UK. The fen people know the area as marsh (land reclaimed from the sea) and fen (land drained from flooding rivers running from the uplands). The Fens are unique in having more miles of navigable waterways than anywhere else in the UK. Mammoth drainage schemes in the seventeenth and eighteenth changed the landscape forever – leading slowly but surely to the area so loved today. Insightful, entertaining and full of rich incident, here is the fascinating story of the Fens.

Read more less

From the mid-16th century the rich and successful usually had a London house, and often a country estate; but more important in many ways was the suburban house within easy reach of London, where they could send their families for the summer and from which they could keep in contact with their business or the court. This book is the first to address the history of these houses, concentrating on those that still exist, while giving some indication of the major lost ones as well. Includes plans and images of most houses listed. Includes information on owners, architects, landscape design, building materials and styles. The area covered by this book extends from London to the M25, which sliced through the country round London in the late 20th century.

Read more less

Gwynedd - the north-west quadrant of Wales - is particularly rich in the archaeology of the industrial and modern periods. It was once the major producer of roofing slates worldwide, and for a while it dominated the international trade in copper ore. This is the first comprehensive study of the industrial archaeology of this fascinating region, and takes a wide-ranging view of its scope and nature. The mines, quarries and narrow-gauge railways for which the area is famous are covered in detail, as are well-known works of engineering such as the Menai and Britannia bridges. Also explored are lesser-known industries such as textile production, electricity generation and metal-processing, and other economic activities such as agriculture, which are not generally considered to be part of the industrial landscape.Using a wide range of fascinating evidence, the author tells the remarkable story of the society which evolved in Gwynedd, with its vigorous minority language and its radical politics. The legacies of industrial housing, churches and chapels, along with retailing and consumer goods, are all examined within the broader context of a globalising economy. This attractive volume will appeal to residents and local historians alike. In addition, anyone concerned with emerging issues in archaeology, such as the relationship between documentary, artefact and landscape evidence, the ways of reading the cultural landscape, the regional dimension to worldwide change, and the ways in which we approach the past through its material remains, will find this pioneering study of interest.

Read more less

Cannock Chase has had many changes in its boundaries over the years. This book deals mainly with the are which formed the ancient parish of Cannock; taking in Hednesford, Hatherton, Cannock Wood and Great Wyrley. Cheslyn Hay has been included, partly because its story is most closely linked with Great Wyrleym but also because it was always a sort of 'no-mans land,' coming under the jurisdiction of neither the lord of the manor nor the Church. It was regarded as a wild and lawless place!The Chase has a long and interesting history. Many are familiar with the popular local tales such as the deeds of 'The Wyrley Gang,' but there is much more to be told about the Chase in the past that is less well known. Why, for example, is there evidence of a major flint-working site near Castle Ring, when local flint deposits are few and far between? Who built the hill-fort at Castle Ring and why? Where are the remains of the first known bathroom, complete with hot and cold running water? What did the Norman forest laws mean to ordinary people? Why was the first blast furnace in the Midlands built near Hednesford? What had Cannock Chase miners to do with the first landmine ever detonated? Why should Cannock curate have his sermons burnt by the public hangman? Why, if some Victorian civil servant had made a different decision, might Hednesford Town F.C. have been Arsenal F.C. instead? Finally... How, when and why did the Chase emerge from its centuries-long isolation to become a major coalfield and industrial centre by the end of the 19th century?In this very lively and entertaining account of the history of the area, the author examines all these questions and many more. Well-researched and particularly well-illustrated, her book will appear to everyone with an interest in the past of the Chase as well as to those, from many miles away, recognise its significance in providing the first full history of an important, if previously neglected, part of old England!

Read more less

Uses archive evidence to look at what life was like both for men serving overseas and for those at home. Beginning with the experiences of Norfolk men in the Norfolk Regiment in France, Singapore and in the Far East, this illustrated book also examines those serving in the Navy, Merchant Navy and the Air Force.

Read more less

This is the entire story of Hoddesdon from the earliest times up to and including the formation of the borough of Broxbourne in 1974. From the arrival of the first people to the settlement recorded in Domesday Book, from feudal and medieval times to the growth into urban district and then borough, the changing ways of life are chronicled, as are the stories of many individuals who left their mark on the making of Hoddesdon. In researching her narrative the author has drawn on many sources, as well as the rich local records and the visual evidence of the past around us.

Read more less

In a significant contribution to the history of Chichester and of `Blue Coat’ schools in general, the author tells the entire story of an exceptional school. Oliver Whitby was born in 1664 the son of Chichester’s Archdeacon, and died in 1702, founding a boys’ school by the terms of his will. It opened its doors in 1712 and, sadly, closed in 1949, when the author of this account was in his fifth year at the school. In addition to a full chronological history of the school, he explains the events, ideals and prejudices of Whitby’s time and the school’s often turbulent existence.

Read more less

The Grosvenor Museum's silver has been described by Country Life as 'one of the country's finest collections'. Its greatest strength is Chester hallmarked, between c.1570 and 1992, spanning a wide range of uses. After the collection's growth is set in the historical context of the developing scholarship of the subject, each piece is illustrated, described in detail and with a full background of the design evolution, its maker and ownership. An essential work of reference for all collectors and a rich source for students of the decorative arts and history of silver.

Read more less

Hadleigh has watched over the River Thames since the early 13th century. Together with the Royal Park the castle brought much activity to the village. The little Norman church is more than a century older and there is evidence of Saxon, Roman and Iron-Age occupation. “... the narrative cruises along almost effortlessly ... very well presented with many interesting old pictures and maps.” Essex Courier

Read more less

Richard Crosbie (1756-1824) is rightly celebrated as Ireland’s first aeronaut. Inspired by balloon experiments in France, he constructed a hydrogen balloon with the aim of flying across the Irish Sea. A crowd of 20,000 people witnessed his first flight from Ranelagh Gardens, Dublin in January 1785. He organised two further flights in Dublin, from Royal Barracks and from Leinster Lawn, and made a final flight from Limerick in 1786. Crosbie’s adventures enthralled the public and won him the support of many influential figures, but he never achieved his goal of crossing the Irish Sea. That honour finally fell to Windham Sadler in 1817 in a flight from Portobello Barracks. This book tells the dramatic story of the intrepid scientist and showman, Richard Crosbie, and places his extraordinary achievements in the context of European ballooning. It reveals new information about Crosbie’s subsequent career as an actor in New York, where he also organised a balloon spectacle for public entertainment in 1800. It includes a poignant account of Crosbie’s final years when he was living in poverty in Baltimore, Maryland.

Read more less

Charlestown has long been a place of strategic importance to Mayo. It has provided many prominent and dedicated residents who have made their contribution not alone to their own area but to the county at large through involvement in public life, sport, community development and business. In The Charlestown Chronicles, Cathal Henry has immortalised the people, places and events that have shaped his native place. Painstaking historical research is presented alongside lively and affectionate personal recollections, resulting in a book to be treasured by Charlestown people across the globe.

Read more less

A History of Sport in Donegal examines the early history of association football and Gaelic games in County Donegal. Curran identifies the areas where competitive matches in these sports were first organised and discusses the development of soccer in Donegal in relation to the ‘sporting revolution’ in Britain. Also assessed are the reasons why Gaelic football and hurling struggled to gain a foothold in the county during this period. Also included in a social profile of patrons, administrators and players who were involved in the organising of the original clubs and cup competitions is offered, and an analysis of how these sports fitted into the social, economic and political conditions which existed in Donegal in the period from 1884 until 1914.

Read more less

The 31st International Eucharistic Congress, held in Dublin in 1932, is one of the most remarkable public events to have taken place in Ireland in the twentieth century. The congress left an indelible impression on all who witnessed it, a touchstone in the lives of those who participated. The sheer scale of the event bore striking testimony to the pride in identity, both national and religious, which guided the hundreds of thousands of people who participated in the congress. It has often been noted how the congress was an event in the early decades of Irish independence which made manifest the Catholic nature of the new state. In The 1932 Eucharistic Congress Rory O'Dwyer shares his knowledge and extensive research with the reader and includes a large number of photographs of the event.

Read more less

Looking back as far as the fifth century, and with a particular focus on the era of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, Silent Sentinels explores the significance of coastal forts in Ireland their histories, their defence strategies and their legacies. MacCarron takes us to Corks Forts Camden and Carlisle, which were so instrumental in the country's defence against France in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. He explores Berehaven and Lough Swilly, and discusses the intricate developments in coastal artillery that came about before the First World War.The Anglo-Irish Treaty stated that the British Government could, at times of strained foreign relations, take control of Ireland's most prominent forts. Silent Sentinels charts the bloody power struggle that ensued, not forgetting what life was like within the forts, and the restoration initiatives of the 1980s. The combination of MacCarron's exhaustive research and engaging tone combine to make a fascinating history of military coastal defences.

Read more less