Search results for ""Carnegie Publishing Ltd""

A brilliant new book especially for the gardeners of the North West! Full of Grow Your Own (GYO) information and tips for growers across the old county of Lancashire, covering everything, including ...soil & sun plants & pests tubs & trenches fertilisers & failures weeds & watering seasons & sogginess equipment & ecology triumphs & tastiness ...and much more! The first Grow Your Own book to help North West gardeners grow successfully in the specific soils & climate What grows well in the gardens of the south and middle of England will not necessarily grow well up here Aimed at all ages and abilities Suggests ways of growing organically, & how to include children & grandchildren For growing spaces of all shapes & sizes, including, yards, pots and window sills. Includes some newly rediscovered old Lancashire varieties of fruits & veg Also includes recipes & ideas to maximise usefulness & enjoyment

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Lancaster has always had a vibrant pub culture. In Georgian times, with sailors landing in the port hell bent on drunken oblivion and revelry, lawyers, traders and even royalty wishing to find a good meal and a bed for the night, the city had to provide a range of establishments to satisfy demand. While some of the inns that were born as the town flourished have disappeared, many do still exist, though sometimes with a change of name, and even location. Well-known local historian (and lover of good beer) Andrew White has dug deep into the archives to trace the records of inns and pubs that have served the town over the centuries. In this wonderful new book, he paints a vivid picture of inn life, touching on all aspects, including brewing, publicans, food, prostitution, famous visitors and inn names, and also provides a unique and fascinating gazetteer of Lancaster inns, past and present.

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Around twenty-five miles north-east of the county town of Lancaster, nearly 550 metres above sea level, a tiny spring arises under the shadow of the famous Three Peaks. This is the source of the river Ribble. Along with tributaries of immense variety and interest - the Hodder, the Calder and the Douglas - the Ribble flows through some of the most beautiful and historically important landscapes in the country, finally to meet the sea twenty miles west of Preston. Anciently the Ribble formed a political boundary between north and south, as well as an important routeway from east to west; and today it still marks a stark contrast between rural countryside to the north and industrial landscapes to the south.In this unique and important new book, Malcolm Greenhalgh combines local history - Iron Age hillforts, Roman camps, monastic farms, ancient crosses in churchyards, farming practices and land use - with a comprehensive and authoritative account of the area's wildlife and how it has changed over time. The result is a book which explains, with rare clarity and insight, how the countryside we know and love came to be as it is today, as well as how human intervention has moulded many disparate landscapes in different ways over the centuries, right up to the present day.

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Rivers and streams occupy a fundamental place within the British landscape. They are central and focal features of the natural landscape, helping to shape the very landforms of the country, as well as providing a range of habitats for flora and fauna. Few places in Britain are far from running water, and human society interacts with rivers in a wide range of ways. Most towns and cities grew up on riverbanks, and rivers play a vital role in economic, social and cultural life. They have provided power for industry; water for industrial use and human consumption; rivers have often been used for communication and the transport of goods; and they are sites of leisure and recreation. Most people are attracted to water; and rivers have featured prominently in literature and art over the centuries. Rivers can also pose threats, from flooding or pollution, and therefore have to be managed and regulated. Whereas there are many books which deal with specific aspects of rivers, "Rivers and the British Landscape" provides the first fully integrated analysis of British rivers exploring the physical formation of rivers; the characteristics of environments; analysis of the social, economic and cultural uses and associations of rivers; and examination of the problems of river management. These themes are explored through historical and contemporary examples, with case studies drawn from all parts of Britain. The book is lavishly illustrated and includes an appendix of key facts about British rivers. Written by experts on each aspect of British rivers, "Rivers and the British Landscape" is aimed at anyone with a general interest in rivers and the British landscape. The authors aim to highlight the holistic nature of river environments, and to explore the ways in which physical, economic, cultural and management characteristics interact to create the distinctive personalities of British rivers. It is hoped that material in this volume may help you to view your local river in a new light.

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Since the foundation of the town by King John, Liverpool has had a church by the river. Over the following centuries dozens more churches came and went, but the imprint of the activity of the Parish of Liverpool on the city and people was profound. Particularly until the mid-nineteenth century (and at times afterwards) the history of the town was inseparable from her church, and their unusually strong relationship is not replicated in other cities. Control of the church sat with the corporation (down to the council’s instruction to the incumbent in 1612 to get his hair cut!), and the town claimed ownership of the church and its contents. Between the seventeenth and the nineteenth centuries the health and social care for the town was run from the church under the Elizabethan Poor Law. A beautiful book that makes essential and fascinating reading for anyone who loves Liverpool and its rich history.

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On a perfect summer’s day in August – as a faint breeze cooled the heat of the noonday sun and gently lifted the flags to display their mottoes and emblems – a huge crowd, mainly of working people, gathered on St Peter’s Field in Manchester to discuss the universal right to vote that we now all take for granted. Conspicuously present at the meeting were women, the breeze dishevelling their long hair as they enthusiastically doffed their hats to cheer. Suddenly, before the proceedings could begin, the peaceful crowd was savagely dispersed, the work of charging cavalrymen wielding recently sharpened sabres, backed up by the truncheons of the constabulary and the bayonets of the infantry. When the screams had subsided and the dust had settled on the blood-stained ground, the true horror of the attack started to become clear. Over 650 were injured and more than 17 died, many women and children among them Drawing on eight surviving casualty lists, full of information about the victims and their attackers, Professor Michael Bush gives us the first truly objective assessment of the day’s events. He shows that this was no mere act of dispersal. It was an act of terror and humiliation worthy of the epithet `massacre’, and unequalled in the history of Britain.

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This lavishly produced book brings together an impressive amount of new historical research which seeks to answer this question, providing fresh interpretations of Leicester's history since 1800. The chapters analyse the events, changes and characteristics that have shaped the city and given it its distinctive identity. The sights, sounds and smells of the city in the twenty-first century are products of cumulative layers of history, layers which are peeled back by a specially assembled team of historians, all of whom have lived and worked in Leicester for many years. The result is an important book which helps us to understand the city's past, so that we may better understand the present and know how to approach the future. Above all, this fascinating volume demonstrates that Leicester is a quietly confident city built on firm historical foundations of which Leicester citizens of today can feel very proud.

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Just like Robert Tanitch's critically acclaimed book on the London stage in the twentieth century, this wonderful new book is 'fascinating - absolutely wonderful for finding what you aren't looking for'. Presented chronologically, the concise and well-crafted entries describe all of the major new plays and revivals, great actors, famous performances and spectacular productions, with a wicked sprinkling of acerbic reviews and spicy criticism. Over 250 contemporary illustrations of theatres, actors, playbills and productions help evoke the dramatic atmosphere of a period in which the lavish was expected - including erupting volcanoes, one performance with a cast of 650, and a reconstruction of Henley Regatta, complete with real boats and 200 tons of water. This is a joyous celebration of 100 years of all things theatrical. A total pleasure to dip into - and a real feast for the eye - this book is a must for theatre-lovers the world over.

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Haworth parsonage and village will forever be linked inextricably with one nineteenth-century literary family. For it was here, in 1821, that Patrick Bront, an Irish Anglican clergyman, came from Thornton to be curate. He brought his three young daughters and son to Haworth, and it was here that the sisters grew up to become quite the most remarkable literary phenomenon of the century. As children, they knew the streets and the houses, the moors and the people. And, as Michael Baumber shows, many of the characters in the Bront novels were based upon real Haworth folk - some of whom recognised themselves in the women's novels and were not at all happy with how they had been portrayed - while the moors above the village figure prominently and famously as the haunt of the brooding Heathcliff in Emily's greatest work "Wuthering Heights". Patrick Bront the curate was himself a notable character in the history of the village, and his role in the social, public and religious life of the village is explored at several points. Surprisingly, the Bront novels mention little about the textile industry which by that time had become such a dominant force in the district's economy. Indeed, the industrial development of the region was such an important and all-consuming fact of life in early Victorian Haworth that it forms a major subject of this new book. The Bront's did, however, describe life in the district's rural homes, schools and communities at a time of particularly harsh living conditions and appalling death rates in the new industrial community of Haworth. The village's public health record was poor well into the twentieth century, and Patrick Bront endured the deaths from tuberculosis (or other illnesses aggravated by it) of all four of his children between 1848 and 1855. Yet, as Michael Baumber's highly readable new book shows, the history of Haworth actually stretches back millennia: his book tells the whole story of the Haworth district from the early Mesolithic right up to the popular tourist magnet that the village now becomes during the summer months. The book also features the hamlets of Near and Far Oxenhope and Stanbury, providing a clear and illuminating account of how Haworth developed in the particular way that it did. Fully illustrated, with many rare old photographs, this book offers many new insights into the village and also its occasionally ambivalent relationship with its most famous literary residents.

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From Furness to Liverpool, and from the Wyre estuary to Manchester and Warrington - civil war actions, battles, sieges and skirmishes took place in virtually every corner of Lancashire. Presenting the history of the Lancashire civil wars, this work explains the events which our ancestors witnessed in the cause either of king or parliament.

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Chief Superintendant Ian Hunter of the CID, retired, is a good old fashioned copper. He has been at the heart of the investigations into some of the Lancashire's most notorious murders, including the 'Handless Corpse' Case, the 'Black Panther', and the 'Mad Dog of Pudsey'. In this revealing book, Detective Hunter tells us how, in these and other hideous murders across the counrty, the perpetrators were finally brought to justice. Modern science can certainly help to convict a criminal, but as these accounts show all too clearly, without instinct, observation and sheer bloody hard work at the start, no case would ever be solved.

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The Sandhole was Preston’s place of debauchery and shame. But Victorian morality ensured that it never appeared on any town maps, and despite regular reports in the newspapers of the time, it doesn’t even survive in folk memory. It is a part of Preston’s history that has been completely lost. Until now. Local author and historian John Garlington came to the Sandhole, metaphorically speaking, by accident, while researching his family history. After some hesitation, he decided to explore further, uncovering a world of poverty, desperation and barbarism, inhabited by those who never really had any chances in life. This carefully researched book is revealing, readable and important. Not to be missed.

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The thirty-three cases in this excellent book give a unique and fascinating insight into life in the Victorian period, in Liverpool and beyond. Although murder can never be condoned, it is clear from the accounts of the lives of the accused and their victims that the world they inhabited was a harsh one, where people were pushed to the very end of their tethers on a daily basis. It seems little wonder sometimes that people snapped under the strain, and this is clearly what happened in some of the cases described here. Others, however, are much more brutal and premeditated and still have the ability to shock 150 years on.

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Interest in local history just continues to grow. For the professional and amateur alike, in the context of the local experience the past becomes real and immediate, as the stories of individuals, families and communities emerge from our research. And now more than ever, a wealth of primary and secondary source material is within everyone's reach. This invaluable book, written by one of our most eminent and experienced local historians, and now completely updated, provides clear, wise and always practical advice about the process of research and writing. It gives essential guidance on a wide range of key topics, including finding sources; transcribing, analysing and interpreting evidence; writing; historical perspectives and methods; and ways to present and publish the finished product. Using examples and exercises the author guides the reader through the whole process. Written with humour and understanding, and attractively illustrated, this book is an enjoyable and fascinating introduction to the subject, especially useful to those who enjoy local history but wish to write and possibly publish, and to students on local history courses who want authoritative guidance on the preparation of dissertations and theses.

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On 10 October 1810, 27 men came together to form the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity. This book portrays the life of the Oddfellows since its birth. It is also suitable for historians, those connected with the study of friendly societies, and those interested in British social history.

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Oxfordshire is full of the weird, wonderful & mysterious. From Faringdon to Banbury, Henley to the edge of the Cotswolds, and not forgetting Oxford itself, local author Mike White shines a light into the darkness to chill, amuse, surprise and, above all, entertain. Standing stones that do more than stand, odd & out-of-place animals, highwaymen & other ne’er-do-wells, eerie lights in the skies, riotous behaviour of various sorts, witches & cunning folk, both cursing & curing, and, of course, a plethora of ghost stories. 'Sometimes I wonder whether it is possible to step outside the door in Oxfordshire without running into something slightly supernatural.'

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This informative and entertaining book, written by well-known Canterbury historian, Doreen Rosman, explores 500 often overlooked years in the life of the city. In these readable and well-illustrated pages can be found accounts of the destruction of Becket’s famous shrine and Canterbury’s great monasteries; tales of hundreds of Protestant refugees who brought new weaving skills to Kent; the story of disgruntled citizens who rioted against a parliamentary ban on Christmas festivities; and insights into the lives of the Georgian social élite. The author traces the development of the city, its industries, military connexions, and leisure activities. She tells of its devastation by German bombers, but also charts its renaissance with the construction of new shops, housing estates, schools, and universities. Throughout it all, the cathedral’s great Bell Harry Tower, which was completed around 1500, has continued to soar over the rooftops, a welcoming landmark for pilgrims long ago and for the thousands of students and tourists who come to Canterbury today.

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RECIPE FOR A GRAND DAY OUT Ingredients: This brilliant book Walking boots Sense of fun & curiosity An empty stomach Instructions: 1. Choose one of the easy circular walks 2. Walk through gorgeous countryside 3. Enjoy snippets of history & folklore 4. Partake of food and drink at some of the great pubs and cafés suggested 5. Go home happy and refreshed! From Fleetwood to Walney Island, make the best of one of the most beautiful bays in Britain using this entertaining guide.

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This fascinating book, by a leading historian of the city, tells Manchester’s story from the Romans to the first steam-powered factories, showing how the centuries before the Industrial Revolution formed the foundation for the city’s later greatness. The Origins of Manchester is highly readable, scholarly, well illustrated and wide-ranging. It is certain to appeal to anyone with an interest in this great city.

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Primrose Hill exercises a hold upon the imagination of everyone who climbs it. The site of William Blake's vision of the sun, and the subject of one of W.H. Auden's earliest poems, it is a green sanctuary offering superb and ever-changing views over London. Long before it became a public park in 1842, Primrose Hill attracted duellists, poets, revolutionaries, soldiers and sportsmen, as well as prospective developers and large numbers of ordinary Londoners. Martin Sheppard's scintillating history of Primrose Hill, one of London's great landmarks, recounts the many remarkable events on the hill over the centuries. He also conveys the everyday experience of visitors to it since it first became a popular place of excursion in the eighteenth century.

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This lavishly produced book brings together an impressive amount of new historical research which seeks to answer this question, providing fresh interpretations of Leicester's history since 1800. The chapters analyse the events, changes and characteristics that have shaped the city and given it its distinctive identity. The sights, sounds and smells of the city in the twenty-first century are products of cumulative layers of history, layers which are peeled back by a specially assembled team of historians, all of whom have lived and worked in Leicester for many years. The result is an important book which helps us to understand the city's past, so that we may better understand the present and know how to approach the future. Above all, this fascinating volume demonstrates that Leicester is a quietly confident city built on firm historical foundations of which Leicester citizens of today can feel very proud.

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An authoritative and complete guide, by a range of expert contributors, to exploring the natural history of Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. Lavishly illustrated in full colour throughout. `Wow! This is a real classic. Every sort of living thing is here, whether it swims, slithers, walks, creeps, crawls, flies or stands resolutely rooted to its appointed spot, safe in the county of the red rose. This is your personal guide to a wonderland overflowing with fascinating, really wild life, there for you and your family to discover.' (From the foreword by David Bellamy.) Take a walk on the wild side in the old county of Lancashire and you will be rewarded with a cornucopia of living things. From the dizzy heights of Leck Fell to deep under the sea in Morecambe Bay, you are in for lots of surprises, big and small. You never really know what you are going to see next, but whatever it is this book will give you all the fascinating facts you could want. Red squirrels in Formby, sealife in Morecambe, birds in Bowland and otters on the Hodder and Ribble; read this book and wherever you wander, a walk in town or countryside will never be the same again. `Wildlife of Lancashire' is aimed at anyone who enjoys exploring the natural wonders of our region, and is packed full of superb images of treasures both common and rare. Intended to stimulate the general reader rather than inform the expert, the book is written in a clear and readable style, making it a real joy to use. The Wildlife Trust has been working for the past forty years to try to ensure that the wildlife of both town and countryside will be cherished by future generations.

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The County of Lancashire - and the City of Lancaster in particular - have a richer archaeological heritage than is often appreciated. This was most dramatically demonstrated in November 2005 with the discovery of a massive stone bearing the image of a triumphant horseman and his fallen foe. This was without doubt one of the most significant finds of recent years. But who was the horseman, could the many fragments ever be satisfactorily be reassembled, and what did this stunning object mean for our history? To hope to answer these questions, and to put this artefact where it might be enjoyed by Lancastrians and visitors alike, would take the co-operative efforts of numerous museums, four universities, and the enthusiastic support of local people. This richly illustrated volume represents a first attempt - by archaeologists, classical historians, conservators and curators - to tell the stone's story, and in doing so to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding Insus, son of Vodullus.

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This is a full biography of the first Dean of Liverpool, Frederick William Dwelly, detailing his personal and religious significance within the city - the first Dean since medieval times to be in office during construction of his cathedral.

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For 15 years, from 1970 until 1985, Lancaster was one of the great centres for live rock music in the world. This superb book tells the full story of this unbelievable period, giving details of the performers and the shows, and revealing what went on backstage.

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Malcolm Neesam is an institution. He is a much-loved local historian and Freeman of the Borough of Harrogate, and there can be no one who knows more about the history of his native Harrogate. In this monumental work, Malcolm has left no archive unresearched, excluded nothing from the epic story of Yorkshire’s famous spa. Rich with detail, lavishly illustrated, and astonishingly comprehensive, Wells and Swells: the Golden Age of Harrogate Spa, 1842–1923, is an invaluable resource bound in a beautiful, limited edition, two-volume set. It is an immediate classic, and is certain be highly collectable in years to come.

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Six years in the making, this superbly crafted book is a ‘must read’ for anyone interested in Victorian country mansions with regard to social life, architecture, layout of rooms and grounds, décor and furniture, twentieth-century developments in electric lighting and vacuum cleaning systems. The author, with much thoroughness, presents a detailed historical account of one of Lancashire’s well-loved country mansions; an account enriched by a large and impressive selection of illustrations.

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Risking harsh retribution, including beatings, further privations, and at the very least confiscation, Far East prisoners of war (FEPOW) were still determined to provide the world with visual accounts of their brutal existence. Doing so was strictly forbidden, so their art had to be done on whatever scraps of paper or other materials they could beg, steal or borrow, and their paints and tools were ingeniously acquired or home made. Captive Artists brings together for the first time this secret art, created by over 65 previously unrecognised artists, all British servicemen, who documented survival during Far East captivity. In colour, pencil, pen and ink, even needle and thread and clay, this uncompromising and at times challenging collection illustrates both the importance of art as therapy, and the resilience of the human spirit. Humorous cartoons, caricatures and portraits bring the men to life. Glorious watercolours of landscapes, local flora and fauna, camp life and medical ingenuity poignantly reveal how the men lived and survived in the face of such deprivation and despair. Survival, and the artists' need to record it in myriad ways, underpins this unique collection of unseen Second World War art. Not only is the art often of an astonishingly high standard, it is also a sobering but vital portrayal of man's inhumanity to man. * Published to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day (Victory in Japan) in 2020 * The only book that really conveys in both a visual and verbal way just what it was like living through the nightmare of captivity in the Far East * Exhibition in Philip Mould Gallery in Pall Mall in February 2020

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THE YORKSHIRE DALES, so beloved of visitors today, was once remote, wild and undiscovered, invaded by settlers who left their stories in scars on the land and hints of their origins in the place names that remain. As the written word developed, a gradual trickle of explorers came to view the uncanny and the awesome, from natural wonder to ransacked abbey. They reported back on their travels and as word spread, the trickle became a constant stream. This unusual and beautifully illustrated book gives us a unique window on 600 years of Dales history. Looking through the eyes of contemporary writers, we can see how perceptions, attitudes and even the landscape itself have changed over time. What has remained the same is the grandeur, variety and sheer beauty of this stunning National Park. Part history, part guide and part joyous celebration, this unique book will enchant residents and visitors alike.

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Liverpool in the 40s and 50s: a city of safe, cosy little streets – except when Hitler’s Luftwaffe couldn’t find the docks. A city of two-up, two-downs, where two or three generations lived within a few doors of each other, and often behind one door. It was a time when many of the men were away in the armed forces, strangers to their children, and when the women’s lives seemed to be filled with washing, shopping, cooking and cleaning. They were always at work, except for when they gathered on doorsteps to gossip, to talk about anyone who wasn’t with them; about who was getting more from the butcher than their ration book allowed. All of them talking, and none of them listening. Families struggled in desperately poor times, but for a child, life was an endless round of playing out. A paradise of sixpenny matinees at the Tunnel Road Picturedrome. Of `penny returns’ on the 5W tram to the countryside of Woolton, or much rarer tu’penny return ferry trips across the river, to the seaside and fairground at New Brighton. Not that you needed money. There were always the weekend adventures in Sefton and Prince’s parks, the inventive games on the streets, and on the bombed sites that littered the city. Ken Hayter’s warm, funny, poignant tales of growing up in Toxteth will strike a chord with anyone interested in the social history of Liverpool, whether they are old enough to remember how it was, or would like to have a fascinating peek into the past.

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Sometimes getting lost on a walk is the best thing you can do. In this beautiful corner of the world there are hidden corners to explore, long forgotten paths to discover, and spectacular views where you can pause, catch your breath, and lose yourself in the landscape. Arnside, Silverdale and Leighton Moss are often overlooked by people seeking high adventure in the neighbouring fells, but the walks in this book prove that the best views don't always come after the hardest climb - sometimes they come after a pleasant pub lunch or before a well-earned slice of cake. This collection of walks enables you to travel through time and uncover the hidden history of the area - a history that includes giant flying worms, fairy folklore and an American President. Each route is accompanied by stunning photographs and a lively commentary pointing out all the 'must see' spots plus a few local secrets. There's also an 'escape route' for most walks, for those who fancy something a bit shorter. Trails with Tales is the perfect book for anyone wanting to pull on their boots, explore the area and get up close to a little local history.

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The county of Lancashire has at its heart a real gem. Boasting fells, marshes, moorland, rivers, rich woodlands and ancient picturesque settlements, the Forest of Bowland provides a wonderful variety of habitats for an amazing array of birds, some of them rare. Little wonder, then, that local authors David Hindle and John Wilson developed such a passion for exploring the area, and decided to write a book. Birdwatching Walks in Bowland, now in its third edition, reveals the many treasures on offer that can be enjoyed by all. Readers can choose from over 30 lovely routes, all with straightforward directions, easy-to-follow maps and useful birding tips.

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This beautiful book celebrates the history and beauty of the amazing countryside around Preston. Seasoned historian and naturalist David Hindle takes the reader on gentle forays into specially selected parts of our county, all easily reached from the city itself. Along the way are opportunities to see an array of interesting sights, from picturesque villages and landscapes, to birds, mammals and other wildlife. So rich and interesting is the information about the heritage and natural history of the area that this book can even be read without leaving the comfort of your home!

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Fran Randle, Bill Shankly, Violet Carson, Les Dawson, Gracie Fields, as well as tacklers, overlookers, weavers and other mill workers, were interviewed for this gem of a book. A tackler comes to Oldham, in the pouring rain, and knocks on a door. Landlady opens the door and says, `Yes?' `Can I stay here for t'week?' `Aye,' says the landlady, `you can, but you'll get dam'd wet!' This is a classic example of a tackler's tale a story of gormlessness, delivered with a straight face. All of old Lancashire is covered, including Manchester and Liverpool, and former Daily Express columnist Geoffrey Mather reveals a great talent for amusing observation and wry comment. The result is an un-put-downable, rib-tickling collection of stories, recollections and commentary by the author on what it means to be a Lancastrian, then and now.

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The attractive Lakeland town of Kendal has achieved fame well beyond its modest size. Who hasn't heard of Kendal Mint Cake, K Shoes or 'The Gateway to the Lakes'? Although these are indeed all facets of Kendal and its past, they are but a small part of its long and varied history. Written by renowned local historian Andrew White, The History of Kendal is a wonderfully readable, comprehensive account, beautifully illlustrated with a wide range of images. From Roman times right up to date, the book reveals and assesses the events, industries, people and influences that have shaped the place we see today. This lovely book epitomises exactly what local history should be: informative, accessible and attractive. As such, it is certain to have universal appeal, and to be a classic for years to come.

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Cheltenham is well known as the most complete Regency town in Britain. It boasts a wonderful ensemble of broad streets, handsome terraces and sweeping crescents, as well as a remarkable number of generously proportioned squares and gardens. Grand stuccoed houses of the period are adorned with fine wrought-iron balconies, and the town has an air of openness, lightness and genteel early nineteenth-century affluence. This period was certainly important in Cheltenham's development, a time when the town became firmly established as a fashionable place of residence for the better-off, all the more attractive for being less expensive than nearby Bath. Yet there is much more to Cheltenham than this. For hundreds of years it was a significant market town and trading centre for the surrounding agricultural area. This gave the town a major economic role within its region and also influenced its physical development over the centuries. Then in the eighteenth century Cheltenham's pleasant location began to entice a number of affluent people to settle here, even before Henry Skillicorne inaugurated the Cheltenham spa on his land. Cheltenham's waters were taken by many distinguished visitors including, most famously, King George III in the summer of 1788. Drinking the waters, it was hoped, might alleviate or cure the king's periodic bouts of 'madness'. The king spent several weeks in the town. He enjoyed his stay, and Cheltenham spa's fame was secured. The transformation was profound. Cheltenham's population increased tenfold in the first half of the nineteenth century, and the nature of the town changed radically, from market town to large, residential spa with a unique appeal. In the twentieth century, Cheltenham changed yet again, as the council successfully spearheaded a campaign to bring business and industry to the area. Several organisations established their headquarters here, while the establishment of GCHQ was of considerable significance. Tourism and leisure, too, are crucially important. In March each year almost 250,000 come to watch the races, while festivals and the town's other attractions draw in almost 2 million visitors each year. Cheltenham: A New History sets the town in its wider context. It describes the town's physical development, its changing social mix and character over the centuries. It is illustrated with over 280 photographs and maps, most in colour. It also covers the outlying areas of Charlton Kings, Leckhampton, Prestbury and Swindon.

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Lord Derby, Lancashire's highest-ranked nobleman and its principal royalist, once offered the opinion that the English civil wars had been a 'general plague of madness'. Complex and bedevilling, the earl defied anyone to tell the complete story of 'so foolish, so wicked, so lasting a war'. Yet attempting to chronicle and to explain the events is both fascinating and hugely important. Nationally and at the county level the impact and significance of the wars can hardly be over-stated: the conflict involved our ancestors fighting one another, on and off, for a period of nine years; almost every part of Lancashire witnessed warfare of some kind at one time or another, and several towns in particular saw bloody sieges and at least one episode characterised as a massacre.Nationally the wars resulted in the execution of the king; in 1651 the Earl of Derby himself was executed in Bolton in large measure because he had taken a leading part in the so-called massacre in that town in 1644. In the early months of the civil wars many could barely distinguish what it was that divided people in 'this war without an enemy', as the royalist William Waller famously wrote; yet by the end of it parliament had abolished monarchy itself and created the only republic in over a millennium of England's history. Over the ensuing centuries this period has been described variously as a rebellion, as a series of civil wars, even as a revolution.Lancashire's role in these momentous events was quite distinctive, and relative to the size of its population particularly important. Lancashire lay right at the centre of the wars, for the conflict did not just encompass England but Ireland and Scotland too, and Lancashire's position on the coast facing Catholic, Royalist Ireland was seen as critical from the very first months. And being on the main route south from Scotland meant that the county witnessed a good deal of marching and marauding armies from the north. In this, the first full history of the Lancashire civil wars for almost a century, Stephen Bull makes extensive use of new discoveries to narrate and explain the exciting, terrible events which our ancestors witnessed in the cause either of king or parliament. From Furness to Liverpool, and from the Wyre estuary to Manchester and Warrington...civil war actions, battles, sieges and skirmishes took place in virtually every corner of Lancashire.

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