Search results for ""The History Press""
The History Press Ltd Necessary Women: The Untold Story of Parliament’s Working Women
When suffragette Emily Wilding Davison hid overnight in the Houses of Parliament in 1911 to have her name recorded in the census there, she may not have known that there were sixty-seven other women also resident in Parliament that night: housekeepers, kitchen maids, domestic servants, and wives and daughters living in households. This book is their story.Women have touched just about every aspect of life in Parliament. From ‘Jane’, dispenser of beer, pies and chops in Bellamy’s legendary refreshment rooms; to Eliza Arscot, who went from reigning as Principal Housemaid at the House of Lords to Hanwell Asylum; to May Ashworth, Official Typist to Parliament for thirty years through marriage, war and divorce; and Jean Winder, the first female Hansard reporter, who fought for years to be paid the same as her male counterparts; the lives of these women have been largely unacknowledged – until now.Drawing on new research from the Parliamentary Archives, government records and family history sources, historians and parliamentary insiders Mari Takayanagi and Elizabeth Hallam Smith bring these unsung heroes to life. They chart the changing context for working women within and beyond the Palace of Westminster, uncovering women left out of the history books – including Mary Jane Anderson, a previously unknown suffragette.
£19.80
The History Press Ltd Reflections of Alan Turing: A Relative Story
Everyone knows the story of the codebreaker and computer science pioneer Alan Turing.Except …When Dermot Turing is asked about his famous uncle, people want to know more than the bullet points of his life. They want to know everything – was Alan Turing actually a codebreaker? What did he make of artificial intelligence? What is the significance of Alan Turing’s trial, his suicide, the Royal Pardon, the £50 note and the film The Imitation Game?In Reflections of Alan Turing, Dermot strips off the layers to uncover the real story. It’s time to discover a fresh legacy of Alan Turing for the twenty-first century.
£9.99
The History Press Ltd Essex Witches
Medieval folk had long suspected that the Devil was carrying out his work on earth with the help of his minions. In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII declared this to be true, which resulted in witch-hunts across Europe that lasted for nearly 200 years. In 1645, England – and Essex in particular – was in the grip of witch fever. Between 1560 and 1680, 317 women and 23 men were tried for witchcraft in Essex alone, and over 100 were hanged. Essex Witches includes biographies of many of the local common folk who were tried in the courts for their beliefs and practice in herbal remedies and potions, and for causing the deaths of neighbours and even family members. These unfortunate citizens suffered the harshest penalties for their alleged sorcery and demonic ways, and those punishments are recorded here.
£13.07
The History Press Ltd Southampton Docks: Looking Back at Britain's Premier Port
Southampton is one of the most important maritime centres in the UK – ‘the Gateway to the World’, as it is often described. The docks is the cornerstone of the city, both past and present. Here Andrew Britton explores this rich history. From four-funnelled liners and flying boats to power stations and refineries, this volume depicts all that happened in the docks, the living heartbeat of the city. Rare old photographs, previously unpublished behind-the-scenes shots of the dock at work, of captain’s logbooks and tickets – even some ships’ menus –all evoke the authentic flavour of dock life. Southampton Docks is a real treat for anyone interested in the city and its maritime heritage.
£22.50
The History Press Ltd Liverpool in the 1950s: Britain in Old Photographs
The 1950s was a time of great change in Britain – especially after the immediate post-war austerity years. In Liverpool, massive slum clearance programmes started to change the face of the city, television began to infiltrate people’s lives, and the consumer society was born, along with the teenager, Teddy Boys and rock ‘n’ roll. In the city centre, war-damaged buildings were being repaired and new developments were springing up. Richly illustrated with 200 archive photographs, Liverpool in the 1950s recalls the unique fashions of the decade, the changing modes of transport, the shops and businesses that were around at this time, as well as the developments that took place in the city during this exciting decade, when anything seemed possible.Accompanied by detailed captions, this book is sure to awaken memories for all who remember Liverpool in the 1950s.
£15.17
The History Press Ltd A Grim Almanac of Shropshire
A Grim Almanac of Shropshire is a day-by-day catalogue of 366 macabre moments from the county’s past. Featured here are such diverse tales as mining disasters, suicides, miscarriages of justice, axe murders, executions and tragic accidents, including the Meadow Pit Mining Tragedy of 1810, when four men suffocated from sulphur fumes after the pit caught fire, and the mysterious disappearance of a Lancaster bomber - and its crew - over Shropshire more than sixty years ago. Generously illustrated, this chronicle is an entertaining and readable record of Shropshire’s grim past. Read on... if you dare!
£14.99
The History Press Ltd The Glory of the Empires 1880-1914: The Illustrated History of the Uniforms and Traditions of Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States
During the period 1880–1914, the soldiers of the great empires of Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States were bedecked in elaborate helmets, with ornate weapons and finery. Their colourful uniforms represented centuries of regimental history and tradition, and often bore reminders of famous victories and heroic last stands. In Glory of the Empires, Wendell Schollander presents the definitive study of every regimental uniform across the five empires, including those of the colonies of India, the Philippines and North Africa. He explains the history behind sartorial peculiarities – such as why the Russian 15th Hussars wore a mermaid pink uniform, or why the Wiltshire Regiment had dents on their buttons – and reveals the experiences of the men who served. Complemented by over 800 rare, black-and-white and colour illustrations, this book fulfils a need not only as a one-stop reference work but also as a narrative history of the period.
£45.00
The History Press Ltd The Sins of the Father: A Mediaeval Mystery (Book 1)
1217: England has been invaded. Much of the country is in the iron grip of Louis of France and his collaborators, and civil war rages as the forces of the boy king try to fight off the French. Most of this means nothing to Edwin Weaver, son of the bailiff at Conisbrough Castle in Yorkshire, until he is suddenly thrust into the noble world of politics and treachery: he is ordered by his lord the earl to solve a murder which might have repercussions not just for him but for the future of the realm. Edwin is terrified but he must obey; he takes on the challenge and learns more until he uncovers a horrific secret which has been dead and buried for fifteen years, a secret which might kill them all – and realises there are some questions to which he might not wish to know the answers. The first book in C.B. Hanley’s popular Mediaeval Mystery series.
£9.99
The History Press Ltd RMS Queen Elizabeth: Classic Liners
This history book tells the story of RMS Queen Elizabeth, the ship which, along with her running mate Queen Mary, successfully worked Cunard's transatlantic service for much of the twentieth century. She was launched in September 1938, the largest passenger liner built at the time and for many years after. Entering service as a troopship in the Second World War, she had a successful career before retiring in 1968, after which she was sold to a Hong Kong businessman with plans to convert her into a floating university. But it was not to be and she was capsized in a mysterious fire in the harbour in 1972, a bizarre and unbecoming end for one of Cunard's most faithful servants. Andrew Britton delves into his comprehensive maritime collection to present a wealth of unpublished photography and ephemera, aerial photography and even Queen Elizabeth's original purchase receipt, to cover every detail of this historic liner.
£22.50
The History Press Ltd In Titanic's Shadow: The World's Worst Merchant Ship Disasters
While the near 1,500 victims of Titanic accounted for a huge loss of life, each of the ships here had a greater number of casualties, in some cases more than five times as many. In total, these 27 merchant ship sinkings resulted in a staggering loss of life at sea – more than 96,000 in total, 3,840 per ship. While the circumstances were different to Titanic, the outcome in each case was no less tragic. Yet, despite the fact that Titanic ranks behind so many other losses, so powerful has her name become that it was the inevitable choice to describe some of these other events, ‘Germany’s Titanic’ and ‘The Titanic of Japan’ being two examples. Ships include the Lancastria, Britain’s worst maritime disaster with 3,000 lost; the Ryusei Maru, a Japanese ‘Hellship’ loaded with 6,000 Allied POWs, torpedoed by a US submarine; and the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German liner packed with 7,800 civilians, sunk by a Russian submarine. There were no survivors and this tragedy was the worst maritime disaster of all time.
£15.99
The History Press Ltd Bloody British History: Chelmsford
Witches, martyrs, bodysnatchers, Zulus and rioting peasants! The Black Death in Chelmsford! The horrible true stories of the Moat Farm Murder and the death of Jael Denny! The terrible tragedy of the Great Flood of 1880! The incredible histories of Hylands House and Beaulieu! Nazi bombers over Chelmsford! Chelmsford has one of the darkest histories on record. From the skeletons lying underneath the city – which include a woolly mammoth – to the executions of thieves, witches, martyrs and murderers at Chelmsford’s gaol, this book will change the way you see the town forever. Robert the Bruce was most likely born here; Bloody Mary Tudor lived here; infamous murderers Samuel Dougal and Thomas Drory died here. Including more than sixty rare illustrations, plus an eight-page colour section, read it if you dare!
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Yeomen of England: Tales of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry 1794-1966
Yeomen of England were called to bring their own horses to form England’s first Home Guard when a dictator assembled his army across the Channel in 1794. They went on to become one of the most famous mounted regiments of the British Army. During the First World War they served on the frontline in the battles of Ypres, Neuve Chapelle and Artois. In the Second World War they found fame as one of the great tank regiments to be found on the frontline during the Normandy Landings, Battle of the Bulge and the Rhine Crossings. This book weaves together military history and personal anecdotes to follow the regiment from its horsed days, parading under the Earl Spencer who promoted Nelson to fleet command, through moments of repressing civil rioters, on to the bloodiest of cavalry charges in World War 1 and exceptional achievement with tanks in World War 2, only eventually to suffer what Napoleon, Kruger, the Kaiser and Hitler could not do – be wiped out by government cuts in the 1960s. Ken Tout, who proudly served with the regiment during the Normandy landings pays tribute to a much-loved part of the British Army.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Arnhem Lift: A German Jew in the Glider Pilot Regiment
Of the 10,000 men who landed at Arnhem, over nine days 1,400 were killed and more than 6,000 – about a third of them wounded – were captured. It was a bloody disaster. The remarkable Louis Hagen, an ‘enemy alien’ who had escaped to England having been imprisoned and tortured in a Nazi concentration camp as a boy just a few years earlier, was one of the minority who made it back. What makes this book so unforgettable is not only the breathtaking drama of the story itself, it is the unmistakable talent of the writer. The narrative was first published anonymously in 1945.45 years later at a dinner party in Germany, Louis Hagen met Major Winrich Behr, Adjutant to Field Marshal Model at Arnhem. Louis added his side of the story to add even more insight to the original work.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Prehistoric Rock Art in the North York Moors
This revised edition is an accumulation of two decades of research and fieldwork by the authors, and presents a comprehensive account of the little known prehistoric rock art within the North York Moors area. It covers Northern England’s last major area of rock art and describes the geographical and moorland setting of sites including those associated with other archaeological monuments. Its main focus remains the rock art on Fylingdales Moor near Ravenscar where, following a devastating moorland fire in 2003, over 200 sites were recorded including the stunning ‘Linear Marked Stone’. Included is a new section on recording techniques using laser, photogrammetry and other methods, an updated gazetteer of recently discovered rock art sites in the North York Moors area, and appendices providing details of recent major discoveries within the area. The book offers a rational, clearcut and invaluable source of information to all those with an interest in or intention to study rock art. Paul Brown, independent archaeologist, has discovered many of the finest examples of prehistoric rock art in the UK, and has researched the rock art of regions such as Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland and Scotland.
£24.75
The History Press Ltd Essex Villains: Rogues, Rascals and Reprobates
Essex has certainly had its fair share of bad guys during its history. From highwaymen to smugglers, thieves to murderers, it can boast some of the country’s most notorious figures. The legendary Dick Turpin was Essex born and bred, wreaking havoc in Epping Forest. At the other end of the county, in Manningtree, the ruthless Matthew Hopkins scoured the area in search of ‘witches’ — putting to death anyone who had as much as a wart on the end of their nose. Visitors to the region have also left their mark through their acts of villainy. Even royalty — including Richard II and Henry VIII — have carried out dastardly deeds within the county’s borders, from murder to adultery. Drawing on a wide variety of historical sources, Essex Villains is a veritable who's who of the county's most notorious villains.
£9.99
The History Press Ltd A Companion and Guide to the Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses (1455-85) saw the end of Plantagenet rule in England and Wales, and the accession of the Tudor dynasty to the throne. It is sometimes seen as the end of the Middle Ages in England, and the start of the modern era, and it paved the way for the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. A surprising number of historic sites from this turbulent period survive: battlefields, castles, churches, monasteries. Peter Bramley's beautifully illustrated field guide and companion to the Wars of the Roses gives full details of both the events and the personalities associated with each of these sites, together with the historical background and the reasons for the struggle between the houses of York and Lancaster. Arranged by region, it covers the whole of England and Wales, and provides invaluable information for anyone visiting or planning to visit any of the sites connected with the conflict, as well as anyone interested in the history of this period in general.
£24.75
The History Press Ltd Execution: A History of Capital Punishment in Britain
Judicial hanging is regarded by many as being the quintessentially British execution. However, many other methods of capital punishment have been used in this country; ranging from burning, beheading and shooting to crushing and boiling to death. Execution: A History of Capital Punishment in Britain explores these types of execution in detail. Readers may be surprised to learn that a means of mechanical decapitation, the Halifax Gibbet, was being used in England five hundred years before the guillotine was invented. Boiling to death was a prescribed means of execution in this country during the Tudor period. From the public death by starvation of those gibbeted alive, to the burning of women for petit treason, this book examines some of the most gruesome passages of British history. This carefully researched, well-illustrated and enthralling text will appeal to those interested in the history of British executions.
£16.99
The History Press Ltd Titanic Captain: The Life of Edward John Smith
Commander Edward John Smith's career had been a remarkable example of how a man from a humble background could get far in the world. Born to a working-class family in the landlocked Staffordshire Potteries, he went to sea at the age of 17 and rose rapidly through the ranks of the merchant navy, serving first in sailing vessels and later in the new steamships of the White Star Line. By 1912, he as White Star's senior commander and regarded by many in the shipping world as the 'millionaire's captain'. In 1912, Smith was given command of the new RMS Titanic for her maiden voyage, but what should have been among the crowning moments of his long career at sea turned rapidly into a nightmare following Titanic's collision with an iceberg. In a matter of hours the supposedly unsinkable ship sank, taking over 1,500 people with her, including Captain Smith.
£15.99
The History Press Ltd Operation Barbarossa: Hitler's Invasion of Russia 1941
On 22 June 1941 Hitler unleashed his forces on the Soviet Union. Spearheaded by four powerful Panzer groups and protected by an impenetrable curtain of air support, the seemingly invincible Wehrmacht advanced from the Soviet Union’s western borders to the immediate outskirts of Leningrad, Moscow and Rostov in the shockingly brief period of less than six months. The sudden, deep, relentless German advance virtually destroyed the entire peacetime Red Army and captured almost 40 percent of European Russia before expiring inexplicably at the gates of Moscow and Leningrad. An invasion designed to achieve victory in three to six weeks failed and, four years later, resulted in unprecedented and total German defeat. David Glantz challenges the time-honoured explanation that poor weather, bad terrain and Hitler’s faulty strategic judgement produced German defeat, and reveals how the Red Army thwarted the German Army’s dramatic and apparently inexorable invasion before it achieved its ambitious goals.
£11.25
The History Press Ltd The Cardiff Book of Days
Taking you through the year day by day, The Cardiff Book of Days contains a quirky, eccentric, amusing or important event or fact from different periods of history, many of which had a major impact on the religious and political history of Britain as a whole. Ideal for dipping into, this addictive little book will keep you entertained and informed. Featuring hundreds of snippets of information gleaned from the vaults of Cardiff’s archives, it will delight residents and visitors alike.
£9.99
The History Press Ltd Breadcrumbs and Banana Skins: The Birth of Thrift
In the early twentieth century many housewives had no choice but to make every penny count. Stringent meal-planning, thrifty shopping and careful cooking were second nature in families where money was tight, and vigilant use and re-use of every resource from coal to hot-water bottles ensured that nothing was wasted. Cookery books of the period offered cheap recipes, menu plans and meals made by means of little or no fuel in hay boxes and jam jars. This book surveys the range of thrifty-living advice offered to housewives in the years before the Second World War, from strict budgeting to penny capitalism. Containing hundreds of ideas, from making a cradle from a beer barrel to a tea cosy from a trilby, it is an informative history resulting from extensive research into the literature of the day. As well as demonstrating that the practice of thrift was entrenched in the national consciousness before the war years, it also offers practical advice that can still be followed in today’s households.
£8.23
The History Press Ltd Honour Restored: The Battle of Britain, Dowding and the Fight for Freedom
The Battle of Britain was won in 1940 by the squadrons of Fighter Command under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Dowding who was given no public honour or recognition for this great achievement in saving Britain from Nazi invasion and occupation - here now is a searching and advanced review which justifies Dowding's place of honour in British history.This book is written by a Spitfire pilot who served at readiness and in combat throughout the Battle of Britain in day fighter squadrons. His personal observations of the war during 1939 and 1940 combined with many years of research has produced a penetrating review of the Battle with many of the old myths dispelled.The author tells of the sacrifices of the people of Britain, the great courage and tenacity of our young fighter pilots, always outnumbered by the Liftwaffe bombers and fighters. He courageously exposes and shames the appalling behaviour of the Air Ministry cabal of senior officers who attacked and dishonoured Dowding at this time of great crisis in our history.Questions such as: who controlled the Battle? was it Reichsmarschall Goering or the weather? was there really a Big Wing Philosophy or was it just a Big Wing myth? why were WWI night fighting tactics for slow flying biplanes introduced by the Air Ministry in 1940 as a defence over London against fast flying modern Luftwaffe bombers? why was there a cabal and who were the members, plus many more, are discussed?This is a book telling of honour restored to the people of Britain, our fighter pilots, and Air Chief Marshal Dowding - sadly it also tells of dishonour.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Culloden and the '45
There is little doubt that the ’45 rebellion was the greatest challenge to the eighteenth-century British state. The battle of Culloden in which it culminated was certainly one of the most dramatic of the century. This study, based on extensive archival research, examines the political and military context of the uprising and highlights the seriousness of the challenge posed by the Jacobites. The result is an illuminating account of an episode often obscured by the perspectives of Stuart romance.
£9.99
The History Press Ltd Murder and Crime Boston
The town of Boston lies alongside the peaceful River Witham and has the appearance of a tranquil place where nothing much has ever happened. This first impression is misleading. In terms of murder and mayhem, Boston has tales to rival anywhere else in Lincolnshire. And what of the numerous little villages that cluster around the town? As Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote, ‘there is more evil in the country than you ever find in the towns’. Stabbings, shootings, poisonings, stranglings and suicides have all made it into the pages of the area’s history. Young and old, husbands and wives, parents and children, and even complete strangers fell victim to murderous attacks. The motives for such atrocious crimes ranged from overwhelming jealousy and blinding rage to calculated greed and petty disputes.These fourteen tales of true murder from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, compiled by renowned local author Douglas Wynn, will fascinate anyone wanting to know more about Boston’s dark history.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Dudley and Netherton Remembered: Britain in Old Photographs
This new book by Ned Williams takes a fresh look at the town of Dudley, often known as the Capital of the Black Country. Dudley occupies a special position in the Black Country — right in the centre of the ridge that bisects the region. It became industrialised in the same way as its neighbours, but the presence of its castle and zoo, as well as its fine town centre and its attractive residential districts made it seem more than just another Black Country town. In truth, Dudley had to face all the grim implications of nineteenth-century rapid industrialisation, and it spent the first half of the twentieth century overcoming all its problems. Then came local government reorganisation (in 1966 and 1974) and the proud borough that had been created in 1865 suddenly took on a new form. This book looks back to the pre-1966 version of Dudley and studies the life and times of a rather special town: a town of which Dudley people were very proud.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Chadwell Heath and the Road to Romford Market: Britain in Old Photographs
This superb collection of historic photographs takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the recent history of Chadwell Heath, Goodmayes, Seven Kings and West Romford. The book gives an impression of familiar streets as they developed and offers an evocative insight into the daily lives and living conditions of the local people in the last years of Queen Victoria's reign and the early years of the twentieth century. The text recalls famous personages who travelled from London along the great Essex road, and the illustrations show how distinct village communities grew to become the residential districts we know so well today.The book also provides a lasting record of houses and public buildings, shops, businesses and pubs that have vanished or been altered beyond recognition. Many of the photographs date from the turn of the century, and most of them have not been published before. They create a memorable picture of local life in the recent past, and chronicle famous events and changing forms of transport and fashion which older residents may well remember.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Darwin's Notebook: The Life, Times and Discoveries of Charles Robert Darwin
Many people have written biographies of Charles Darwin, but the story of his family and roots in Shrewsbury is little known. This book, containing original research, fills that gap. The key player is Charles' father, Dr Robert Darwin, a larger-than-life character whose financial acumen enabled Charles to spend his whole life on research unencumbered by money worries. Through Susannah, Charles' mother, we are introduced to the Wedgwood family, whose history was so closely interwoven with the Darwins. The stories of Charles' five siblings are detailed, and there is a wealth of local material, such as information on Shrewsbury School and its illustrious headmaster, Samuel Butler. The book is fully illustrated with contemporary and modern pictures, and will be of interest to anyone wanting to discover more about the development of Shrewsbury's most famous son.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Hitler's Gauls: The History of the 33rd Waffen-SS Division Charlemagne
The divisions of the Waffen-SS were among the elite of Hitler’s armies in the Second World War. But alongside the Germans in the Waffen-SS fought an astonishingly high number of volunteers from other countries. By the end of the Second World War these foreign volunteers comprised half of all Hitler’s Waffen-SS, and filled the ranks of over twenty-four of the nominal thirty-eight Waffen-SS divisions. So during the most brutal war that mankind has ever known, hundreds of thousands of men flocked to fight for a country that was not theirs, and for a cause that was one of the most monstrous and barbaric in history. Who were these men, and why did they fight? Hitler’s Gauls is an in-depth examination of one of these legions of foreign volunteers, the Charlemagne division, who were recruited entirely from conquered France. The men in Charlemagne, often motivated by an extreme anti-communist zeal, fought hard on the Eastern Front including battles of near annihilation in the snows of Pomerania and the final stand in the ruins of Berlin. This definitive history, illustrated with rare photographs, explores the background, training, key figures and full combat record of one of Hitler’s lesser known foreign units of the Second World War.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Building the Biggest: From Ironships to Cruise Liners
In 1843 Brunel's ironship Great Britain was launched, becoming the forerunner of the great steel-hulled ships of today. Yet she was tiny compared with the transatlantic liners of the early 1900s as ship-owners vied for the top spot in terms of speed, elegance and size. Liners such as Mauritania and Titanic were later followed by two giant Queens and France's liner Normandie. If the innovative engineers of the Victorian age guided the shipping industry from sail to steam, wood to iron and later to steel, then the twentieth-century invention of the computer took ship construction to entirely new concepts. Massive passenger vessels, equipped with remarkable facilities, efficient machinery and capable of meeting the highest standard of safety, can now be built from keel to funnel in no more than two years.Construction techniques have changed beyond recognition, as have methods of ship design and, indeed, the very roles that these floating resorts are asked to play. Today Royal Caribbean's sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are the first passenger ships in history to exceed 200,000 gros tons and are promoted as offering a third more space than any other cruise vessel afloat and measuring seventy times the size of the first Victorian passenger-carrying ironship. For the foreseeable future, at least, these two giant floating cities will hold the accolade of being the biggest passenger ships of all time.
£22.50
The History Press Ltd What Brass Bands Did For Me
A collection of memories and archive photographs that will delight brass-band fans everywhere.
£13.07
The History Press Ltd The Parisi: Britains and Romans in Eastern Yorkshire
According to the ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy, the Parisi tribe occupied the area of the present-day East Riding of Yorkshire during the Roman period. Over the last few decades our understanding of this region and its inhabitants has been transformed through the work of research projects, archaeological investigation, and even chance finds. Discoveries including the Hasholme logboat, chariot burials, hoards of Iron Age gold coins and Roman settlements and villas have all helped to develop our knowledge of this area and provide a fascinating insight into the lives of a local tribe and the impact of Rome on their development. Peter Halkon tells this captivating story of the history of the archaeology of the Parisi, from the initial investigations in the sixteenth century right through to modern-day investigations.
£20.25
The History Press Ltd Warlords: The Struggle for Power in Post-Roman Britain
The centuries after the end of Roman control of Britain in AD 410 are some of the most vital in Britain's history - yet some of the least understood. "Warlords" brings to life a world of ambition, brutality and violence in a politically fragmented land, and provides a compelling new history of an age that would transform Britain. By comparing the archaeology against the available historical sources for the period, "Warlords" presents a coherent picture of the political and military machinations of the fifth and sixth centuries that laid the foundations of English and Welsh history. Included are the warring personalities of the local leaders and a look at the enigma of King Arthur. Some warlords sought power within the old Roman framework; some used an alternative British approach; and, others exploited the emerging Anglo-Saxon system - but for all warlords, the struggle was for power.
£22.50
The History Press Ltd The Rise and Fall of the North American Indians: From Prehistory to Geronimo
This is the definitive account of 10,000 years of North American Indian history. It has been described by American History Illustrated, America's leading popular history magazine, as ‘An eloquent and exhaustive chronicle of the history of North America’s peoples’.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Loos 1915
The battle of Loos was one of the most hard-fought battles that the British Expeditionary Force waged during the First World War. This work presents an interpretation of Loos, placing it not only within its political and strategic context, but also discussing command and control and the tactical realities of war on the Western Front during 1915.
£15.99
The History Press Ltd We All Wore Blue: Experiences in the WAAF
Muriel Gane was just eighteen when war was declared. This book tells the story of Muriel's experiences with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, her journey from the new recruit whose primary obsession was how well the blue of the uniform suited her, to a resolute and hard-working young woman with a wide social life and successful air-force career.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Herefordshire Pubs: Britain in Old Photographs
Illustrated with over 200 old photographs, postcards and promotional advertisements, this absorbing collection offers the reader an insight into the life of many Herefordshire pubs past and present, and highlights some of the changes and events that have taken place during the last century. The selection relates the history of Herefordshire's many pubs, from the days when they were filled with agricultural workers and gentlemen drinkers (and the occasional dentist or doctor plying his trade) to the pool tables and cigarette machines of today's establishments. The book provides a fascinating and comprehensive history of brewing in the county, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Herefordshire or pubs in general.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd A Willingness to Die: Memories from Fighter Command
In 1938 Brian Kingcome joined the RAF with a permanent commission and was posted to No 65 Fighter Squadron at Hornchurch, soon to be equipped with the Spitfire, and so it came about that Brian flew the Spitfire throughout the war. He became acting CO for No 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill and led over sixty operations, achieving the highest success rate of any squadron in the Battle of Britain. In May 1943 Brian joined Desert Air Force in Malta and took command of 244 Wing. At this time he was confirmed Flight Lieutenant, acting Squadron Leader, acting Wing Commander and at twenty-five was one of the youngest Group Captains in the Royal Air Force. Brian Kingcome may have been the last Battle of Britain pilot of repute to put his extraordinary story into print; looked upon by other members of his squadron as possibly their finest pilot, his nonetheless unassuming memoirs are related with a subtle and compassionate regard for a generation who were, as he felt, born to a specific task. Brian's memoirs have been edited and introduced by Peter Ford, ex-National Serviceman in Malaya.
£11.99
The History Press Ltd Ancient Trees, Living Landscapes
Over the last 25 years, archaeologists and historians have been increasingly aware of the importance of woodland in the developing British landscape – in particular, how trees have been a vital component of the living cultural landscape. Ancient Trees, Living Landscapes begins by questioning the myth that in prehistoric times Britain was swathed in a virtually impenetrable wildwood. In fact, from the earliest times woodland has been manipulated and transformed. The author then looks at Britain’s great ‘landmark trees’, before examining the function of ancient trees and hedgerows in the landscape. The Middle Ages saw the multiplication of deer parks, with the special management needed to feed and shelter deer and to give cover to stalkers. These, with their lawns, groves and pollard-studded pastures, greatly influenced the great landscape parks of the eighteenth century, developed by Repton and Lancelot Brown. There are, too, important chapters on the life and work of the Men of the Forest, and on Woodlands of the Mind – the all-important symbolism of trees as well as their utilitarian function in Britain’s landscape. Throughout the book Richard Muir, who describes himself as ‘a Dalesman by birth, a Scot by inclination’, gives equal weight to the evidence from the north of Britain, whereas earlier writers have concentrated on the south. In an age when institutional interests are increasingly pervasive, he stresses the importance of the work of the individual researcher and amateur enthusiast.
£22.50
The History Press Ltd Workhouses of the North: Images of England
Friday nights were bath nights. Immediately after tea we were given a good scrub with the brushes the girls used on the floor. No fancy smelling soaps, just carbolic and should this get into your eyes it really was painful. Then we were given a flannel nightshirt each. Some only just covered our knees because they had already been cut down to repair other nightshirts.Then we were lined up in front of the Matron who gave us a dose of brimstone and treacle then off to bed. Such was the fear and dread of 'ending one's days in the workhouse' that even in recent years older people could recall the feelings of horror that such a threat conjured up.That a system introduced to help the poor and a destitute could become such a reviled and feared institution is a mystery to most of us today but a study of it can repay with a better understanding of a broader social, political, economic and eve architectural history of Britain. Increasingly today little remains of these great and gloomy edifices, although some found new uses and survive. People are often surprised to discover that a former workhouse building still exists in the locality.This book takes a look at both surviving and lost examples of workhouse buildings in the North of England, covering the old counties of Cumberland, Northumberland, Durham, Westmorland, Lancashire and Yorkshire. Family, local and social historians will all find it a source of useful reference and for the general reader it will provide an interesting account of an institution that few were sorry to see the end of.
£13.07
The History Press Ltd Greek Passenger Liners
In the early 1950s it seemed as if Greek shipping companies were springing up everywhere. For a country almost unknown as a passenger ship-owning state, the likes of the Greek Line, Chandris and Epirotiki burst onto the scene, often using second hand tonnage and ships acquired from the Western European fleets that were being updated. The lines soon took advantage of the mass emigration from Europe to Australia and New Zealand as well as cruising, which was then in its infancy. Although many of the Greek lines such as Royal Olympic Cruises are now gone, the likes of Chandris still survives today as Celebrity Cruises. Bill Miller, the noted maritime historian, brings together a collection of images of his favourite Greek liners and tells of the history of the Greek fleets that made the world of cruising so exciting in the last half century.
£17.99
The History Press Ltd Viking Clothing
Describing the different garments worn by women and men, this book looks at the aspects of cloth production - raw materials, production tools and techniques for woven and non-woven textiles, decorative textiles and embroidery. It also shows how much can be reconstructed from the discoveries of archaeological excavation.
£19.80
The History Press Ltd Horse Transport in London
From the waterways to the motor car, London's transport has undergone a huge evolution. This collection of archive images examines the vehicles that helped change the face of transport in London in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. From the horse cabs in 1823 to the last tram ride to London's streets in 1952, this book includes such inventions as George Shillibeer's horse omnibus, the history of the hackney coach service, and the effects of petrol and electricity on the industry.Accompanied by informative commentary, the book contains over 200 photographs to chart this very important aspect of London life. Samantha Ratcliffe is a curator at London's Transport Museum. This selection of photographs and ephemera has been chosen from the archives of the museum, providing an important record of the days of horse-drawn transport in London.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Yeavering: People, Power & Place
A history of Yeavering.
£20.25
The History Press Ltd Mining in Cornwall Vol 7: South Crofty Mine, The East Pool & Agar Mine
Continuing the Mining in Cornwall series, L.J. Bullen depicts three mines from the Central Mining District. Most of the scenes date from around 1900 to the early twenty-first century. This was the period that saw the decline of the industry, but renews hope was generated in the 1960s with the much improved world price for tin. Some of the leading mining corporations of the world became involved.A great deal of exploratory work, including diamond drilling, took place and a number of mines were reopened. One entirely new mine was commenced. The sudden and dramatic collapse of the tin price on the London Metal exchange in October 1985 hit the world's tin industry severely and was a particular blow to the deep underground mines of Cornwall. Since that time the price has been depressed and never in its long history has the price for that metal remained at such a low level for so many years.South Crofty Mine finally succumbed in 1998 and was the last tin mine to operate in the Duchy. In this, his seventh volume, the author provides a remarkable portrayal of an ancient industry which is now consigned to history. However, the mineral resources of Cornwall are still considerable and perhaps at some time in the future a combination of different economic and political circumstances will bring about a renaissance.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Campbell College
A history of Campbell College.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd The Welsh Kings: Warriors, Warlords and Princes
When Edward I's troops forced the destruction of Dafydd ap Gruffudd in 1283 they brought to an end the line of truly independent native rulers in Wales that had endured throughout recorded history. In the early middle ages Wales was composed of a variety of independent kingdoms with varying degrees of power, influence and stability, each ruled by proud and obdurate lineages. In this period a 'Kingdom of Wales' never existed, but the more powerful leaders, like Rhodri Mawr (the Great), Gruffudd ap Llywelyn and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, sought to extend their rule over the entire country. The author produces revealing pictures of the leading Welsh kings and princes of the day and explores both their contribution to Welsh history and their impact on the wider world. They were, of necessity, warriors, living in a violent political world and requiring ruthless skills to even begin to rule in Wales. Yet they showed wider vision, political acumen and statesmanship, and were patrons of the arts and the church. The history of their contact with their neighbours, allies and rivals is examined - Anglo-Saxons, Irish, Vikings, and Anglo-Normans - thereby setting Welsh institutions within their wider historical context. This work revives the memory of the native leaders of the country from a time before the title 'Prince of Wales' became an honorary trinket in the gift of a foreign ruler. These men are restored to their rightful place amongst the past rulers of the island of Britain.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd The Black Death in London
The Black Death of 1348–49 may have killed more than 50% of the European population. This book examines the impact of this appalling disaster on England's most populous city, London. Using previously untapped documentary sources alongside archaeological evidence, a remarkably detailed picture emerges of the arrival, duration and public response to this epidemic and subsequent fourteenth-century outbreaks. Wills and civic and royal administration documents provide clear evidence of the speed and severity of the plague, of how victims, many named, made preparations for their heirs and families, and of the immediate social changes that the aftermath brought. The traditional story of the timing and arrival of the plague is challenged and the mortality rate is revised up to 50%–60% in the first outbreak, with a population decline of 40–45% across Edward III’s reign. Overall, The Black Death in London provides as detailed a story as it is possible to tell of the impact of the plague on a major mediaeval English city.
£15.17
The History Press Ltd Cwm Rhondda Fach: Trehafod to Maerdy
A history of Cwm Rhondda Fach
£12.99