Search results for ""history press""

Churchill's Grandmama

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The Little Book of London

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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South Belfast was at the end of a natural route along which people from the heart of Ulster passed in search of work in the city. Their homes were very different from the middle class housing on Malone Road. But everyone, rich and poor, could enjoy the amenities in the public parks. This title covers many aspects of the area and of everyday life.

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Gone the Way of Truth is a journey through Galway’s rich and varied past illustrated by graves of note. The gravestones themselves are monuments to people who once walked the streets and bohreens of Galway. They formed the very fabric of what it meant to be a part of this historic county. The author has travelled the city and county extensively in the course of his research, discovering the resting places of, amongst others, musicians, poets, the last secretary-general of the League of Nations, saints and those who have shaped the course of Irish history. What emerges is a valuable exploration of an underexplored part of our heritage.

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In this seminal work, publisher and author Tony Farmar places the development of Irish publishing in its social and economic context, exploring how the mechanics of the industry, alongside the changing structure of Irish bookselling, have underpinned developments in the trade.

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Bohernabreena is one of the most fascinating and historic areas in all of Ireland. Including the settlements of the Glenasmole Valley, the legend of Tír na nÓg, and the megalithic burial chamber on Seefin Mountain, this book takes the reader on a journey through the past of Ireland itself. Alongside being a window into our national identity, Bohernabreena is also a beautiful and historic area in its own right, and in this illustrated history Peter Quinn has created a vibrant and valuable record for all those with an interest in its development.

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Dark Rosaleen is a story of love, murder and betrayal, of a failed rebellion and a national scandal. Sir William McCauley was appointed Director of the Famine Relief Programme at a time when hunger raged across Ireland and antipathy towards the plight of the Irish infused the politics of Britain. Kathryn, William’s daughter, was forced to join her father, and felt no sympathy until the very scale of the tragedy became all too obvious. Joining the underground, she preached insurrection, stole food for the starving and became the lover of the leader of the rebellion. Known as Dark Rosaleen, the heroine of banned nationalist poem, she was branded both traitor and cause celebré. This is her story.

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The Little Book of Ballsbridge is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about this leafy suburb of Dublin. Here you will find out about Ballsbridge’s famous (and occasionally infamous) residents, its proud sporting heritage, its churches and great houses and its natural history. Down wide streets and past elegant houses, this book takes the reader on a journey through Ballsbridge and its vibrant past. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of Dublin’s ‘embassy belt’.

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Meath, the ‘Royal County’, has a rich heritage of myths and legends which is uniquely captured in this collection of traditional tales from across the county. Here you will find tales of the first occupation of Ireland and the exploits of St Patrick and Colmcille along with stories of witches, hags, ghosts and fairies. As well as the legends of the Hill of Tara, the ancient political capital and enduring spiritual heartland of Ireland. In a vivid journey through Meath’s varied landscape, local storyteller Richard Marsh takes the reader to places where legend and landscape are inseparably linked.

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Wicklow is full of stories, from the farmer returned from market to find he was dead and buried, to the mysterious bird who turned into a beautiful wife long missing from the glens. In this rich collection of tales from the county, you may find the cure for baldness, or learn if it is wise to leave a sleeping army lie in Rathdrum. You will find smugglers in Bray, and a maiden who set her cap at a saint in the making in Glendalough. Wicklow has as many stories as there are people travelling its roads, and a wealth of them are gathered together here in this unique volume.

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Just under 200,000 Irishmen took part in the American Civil War, making it one of the most significant conflicts in Irish history. Hundreds of thousands more were affected away from the battlefield, both in the US and in Ireland itself. The Irish contribution, however, is often only viewed through the lens of famous units such as the Irish Brigade, but the real story is much more complex and fascinating. From the Tipperary man who was the first man to die in the war, to the Corkman who was the last General mortally wounded in action; from the flag bearer who saved his regimental colours at the cost of his arms, to the Roscommon man who led the hunt for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, what emerges in this book is a catalogue of gallantry, sacrifice and bravery.

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Do you know what lurks in the waters of Cullaun Lake? Or why a Clare woman should never, ever, be disturbed while she is knitting? These questions and more will be answered in this unique collection of traditional tales from across the county, which explores Clare’s rich heritage of myths and legends. We will hear the tales of well-known figures, including Cúchulainn, Brian Boru and Clare wise-woman Biddy Early, as well as lesser-known characters such as Grian, Daughter of the Sun, and the Hag of Bealaha. Also featured are fantastic stories of mythical creatures and underwater worlds, including the Newhall mermaid, the fairies of Glandree, and the sunken city of Kilstiofeen. Clare’s varied and vivid landscape, from its ancient oak woodlands and soft drumlin country in the east, to its rugged and windswept Atlantic coastline in the west, is reflected in this tantalising selection of tales collected and retold by local storyteller Ruth Marshall.

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From the first proposal that Cork Harbour was more suitable as a naval base than Kinsale, development began which would continue for almost 200 years. This book outlines that history, from the development of Haulbowline Island, and covering its many incarnations during that time. During WW1, it became a front line base and the headquarters of the admiral directing the war against the U-boats. The first US flotillas were based here, and, after armistice, the British navy were based here during the Irish Civil War. Now, the naval base is a modern, thriving organisation, but one with a fascinating history which is fully explored within this book.

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Set against the backdrop of Paris in 1883, The Memory of Scent is the story of two French women, Fleur and Babette, and of how their lives diverge when the artist they both model for is found dead. For Fleur, hers is a life lived on the fringes of the Impressionist movement in a world of colour and music; Babette is not so lucky, and following the death of the artist, her life begins to quickly unravel on the streets of France. This is a novel of the senses, in which memory, love and loss are explored and examined, and where it appears the ties which hold us together can also pull us apart.

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Over five hundred men from Meath died in the Great War. One hundred of those men were from Navan. Twenty Meath families lost more than one member in this war. The poet, Francis Ledwidge, would be the most famous of these, but many personal tragedies play out in the details of the book: fathers who never saw their children, teenagers who never had the opportunity to grow to adulthood, young men traumatised by the horrific conditions of the trenches. Their lives and those of their families are recorded in what is the first major project to commemorate the war dead of Meath. These men were not just statistics; each was an individual human being. Not only are the dates and places of deaths of each man recorded but the author attempts to give some background details including parents, dates of baptisms, occupations of their parents and their own occupations. The Meath war dead are a part of our identity, a shared heritage which has been hidden and disregarded for too long.

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Harold’s Cross got its name from a cross which marked the boundary of the lands owned by the Archbishop of Dublin, and the lands of the Harold clan in the 1500s. Today Harold’s Cross is a bustling thoroughfare, and although it is now a suburb on the south side of Dublin, it was once akin to the best little town in Ireland, being completely self-sufficient, with schools, churches, shops, pubs, hospital, orphanage, convents, monastery, cinema, a major cemetery, mills and factories, park, canal, large and small houses, dog track, barracks, and many farms and orchards. For its residents, it has a rich and varied history, which is beautifully captured in this book of archive photographs.

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