Search results for ""The History Press Ltd""

Lincolnshire, a county with many variations in the dialect, once nurtured many folk tales and though these stories may no longer be told as often as they once were, they still resonate within the rural landscape. From the dark tales of the ‘Buried Moon’, ‘The Lincoln Imp’, and the ‘Werewolf of Langrick Fen’, to the humorous tales of ‘Ten-Pint Smith’, ‘The Lad that went to look for Fools’ and the ‘Farmer and the Boggart’, so many of these tales are rooted in the county and take us back to a time when the people would huddle around the fire in the mud and stud cottages to while away the long winter evenings. Such nights would also inspire the telling of tales of witches, fairies, ghosts, giants and dragons. All the stories in Lincolnshire Folk Tales have been thoroughly researched and will be of interest to modern readers (and storytellers), both within the county and elsewhere.

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These beautifully told folk tales, brought vividly to life by Marcel O’Leary’s graphic illustrations, have been collected by the author over his years of working as a greenkeeper, gardener, teacher and storyteller in Hampshire. Many are published here for the first time, and others have evolved through countless retellings in Hampshire schools, festivals, fêtes and events. Featuring dark tales of murderous kings and commoners, wild women, screaming skulls, galloping plague coaches, dragons dancing themselves to death, giants, and wandering corpses, combined with humorous stories and evocative tales of love, lust and passion, this book takes the reader beyond the written page and reveals the wonders that lie within the Hampshire landscape.

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Contains a selection of prose and poetry from 38 contemporary British, Australian and New Zealand writers who fought during the Battle of the Somme. This work tells the stories of different men from different backgrounds.

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Richard III has divided opinion for over 500 years. Traditionally, he has been perceived as a villain, a bloody tyrant and the monstrous murderer of his innocent nephews. To others he was and remains a wronged victim who did his best for kingdom and family; a noble prince and enlightened statesman tragically slain.Richard III and the Princes in the Tower explores the story of Richard III and the tales that have been woven around the historic events, and discusses his life and reign and the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. It also assesses the original sources upon which much of the history is based. A number of picture essays explore particular aspects of Richard III's life and reign: his birth sign of Scorpio, historical paintings, the symbolism of pigs and boars, Richard's saints, his books, the Princes, and cartoons and caricatures. This classic work is one that no enthusiast should be without.

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The Story of Leicester traces the evolution of this remarkable city. When the Romans arrived they developed an existing settlement into Ratae, an administrative capital. During the Tudor, Stuart and Georgian periods the town lost status, but remained an important market town. Industrialisation and population growth radically changed Leicester during Victorian times and it became prosperous, its economy underpinned by the hosiery, boot and shoe and engineering industries – the basis of modern Leicester. This popular history brings the story of the city up to date and provides new insights that will delight both residents and visitors.

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Voices of the Lake District is the unique and fascinating result of many conversations and interviews with local people in the Lakeland community, recalling life in the area over the past century. Compiled by Ambleside Oral History Group, vivid memories are recounted, including childhood and schooldays, work and play, sport and leisure, as well as the war years. Illustrated with over 50 archive pictures, many previously unpublished, this volume also demonstrates the humour, courage and indomitable spirit of the local population - from the farmers, shop-keepers, shepherds and quarrymen to those who lived above and below stairs in the grand houses - and paints a revealing picture of life in this uniquely beautiful setting. Anyone who knows the Lakes, as a resident or a visitor, will be amused and entertained, surprised and moved by these stories, which capture the changes that have taken place in the area through the eyes of its residents.

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In the seventeenth century Bristol was the second city of England. It was the main west coast port, an internationally important entrepot and rich trading centre. Industry flourished, too, with manufacturing and processing industries like soap making and gunpowder production responsible for Bristol's considerable wealth. In consequence, control of the town became one of the chief objectives of both armies during the civil war which raged in England in the 1640s. Beginning the war under Parliamentarian control, the city changed hands twice, with each transfer having a major effect of the war effort of both sides.This new study argues that when the Royalists captured Bristol in July 1643 they gained not only the city, but also the materials and facilities that literally allowed them to remain in the war. Under Royalist rule Bristol became a vital centre for military and government activities, as well as a centre for importing arms from Europe and becoming almost the alternative Royalist capital. The loss of Bristol in 1645 was therefore a huge blow to the Royalist cause. This book is surely one of the most important written on the civil wars in recent times. Its radical reinterpretation of the pivotal role of England's second city will ensure it a place on bookshelves of anyone interested in the most turbulent years of the seventeenth century.

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The ancient land of Cornwall is steeped in mysterious tradition, proud heritage and age-old folklore. Before books were widely available, wandering ‘droll tellers’ used to spread Cornish insight and humour to all parts of the Duchy – exchanging their tales for food and shelter. Anthony James was one such droll teller, and this collection follows him as he makes his way around Cornwall one glorious summer. Richly illustrated with hand-drawn images and woodcuts, Cornish Folk Tales will appeal to anyone captivated by this beautiful land and its resident kindly giants, mischievous piskeys, seductive mermaids, bold knights and barnacle-encrusted sea captains.

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The Cotswold Male Voice Choir, formed in 1949, has become a well-known part of the music scene in the Midlands and the South West. In addition to many local events including concerts at Tewkesbury Abbey and Gloucester Cathedral, in the past year the Choir has performed in the French Alps at Annecy, in Wales with three Welsh choirs, in York's Guildhall at the invitation of the Mayor of York, and twice at the Malvern Music Festivals. The choir sings a broad repertoire including male voice choir favourites, classic and operatic, big show numbers and popular music. The majority of Cotswold Male Voice Choir concerts support good causes. Over the years, this has accounted for many thousands of pounds raised for charities. This heart warming history follows the progress of hundreds of singers, their piano accompanists and guest artistes as well as the company's travels at home and abroad.

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The first deep-sea fishing boats of Cornwall are regarded as being influenced by the three-masted French luggers that sailed over to cause havoc amongst the locals. However, fishing had been practised by Cornishmen for many generations before that, with mackerel and pilchard fishing being prominent. Inshore, lobster and crab fishing had also been popular for generations. This book looks at the development of Cornish fishing boats, from the lugger to Pilchard seine-net boats, once as prolific as the luggers and usually built locally, as were traditional lobster and crab vessels. These are discussed alongside more unusual boats, such as the St Ives 'jumbo' and the Mevagissey 'tosher'. The book brings the story up to date, including modern photos of existing boats gathering for the bi-annual Looe lugger regatta. After motorisation, the shape of the boat changed forever and the adaptation of old boats to accommodate engines is examined, as are the famous yards and boatbuilders of Cornwall still operational today.

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Beautiful Georgian Truro has always been a bustling market town although since 1877 it has been graced with the title of 'City'. This second selection of photographs in the Archive Photographs Series gives fascinating insights into the changes that have taken place, not only in the streets and shops but also in the daily lives and work pf the people who live here. We peep into Solomon and Metz, the printers, see the telephone exchange decorated for Christmas and wonder if Mr Lampier managed to sell all his Vim. We attend victory parades, coronations and street parties on our nostaligic journey through these wonderful old photographs and visit schools that have been long since been demolished. Most of the pictures have come from the albums of the people of Truro and have never been published before. Carnicals, choirs, the circus and all manner of sporting events are featured as we take a journey back in time. The photographs now gathered together in this book give a wondeful glimpse into Truro's past.

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When war was declared in 1939, Britain was almost completely dependent on imported timber – but only had seven months of it stockpiled. Timber was critical to the war effort: it was needed for everything from aircraft and shipbuilding to communications and coal mining. The British timber trade was in trouble. Enter the Lumberjills. Lacking in both men and timber, the government made a choice. Reluctantly, they opened lumber work for women to apply – and apply they did. The Women’s Timber Corps had thousands of members who would prove themselves as strong and as smart as any man: they felled and crosscut trees by hand, operated sawmills, and ran whole forestry sites. They may not have been on the front line, but they fought their own battles on the home front for respect and equality. And in the midst of heavy labour and wartime, they lived a life, making firm friends and even finding soulmates. In Lumberjills, researcher Joanna Foat tells their story for the first time, and gives them the recognition they so truly deserve.

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Have you ever wondered about the people who lived and worked along the canals? Have you ever caught a glimpse of something they might have seen or an echo of something they might have heard? As the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames and Severn canal wind their way from Framilode to Inglesham, they hold the stories of all who lived and worked on them. From Jack spinning yarns as he legs barges through the Sapperton Tunnel to Elizabeth swimming for all she is worth in the Wallbridge gala, the stories in 'Tales from the Towpath' span 250 years of life on the Cotswold canals. Mixing fact and fiction, they bring the past to life and, like all the best tales, appeal to children and adults alike. These original tales by storyteller Fiona Eadie are complemented by the evocative illustrations of local artist Tracy Spiers.

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The Lady of Sudeley was Emma Brocklehurst who in 1847 married John Coucher Dent and spent nearly 50 years of her life as the chatelaine of Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire. A remarkable woman with wide-ranging interests and prodigious energy Emma Dent devoted herself to the restoration of the Castle and to the people of the nearby Cotsold town of Winchcombe, as well as finding time to amass an amazing collection of artefacts which are now on permanent display at the Castle. With ane eye to posterity she also left a valuable legacy of diaries, letters and papers which Jean Bray has skilfully woven into this story of her life and times from her childhood in Macclesfield to her life at Sudeley. This new edition of the book includes an unique collection of illustrations from the Sudeley Castle archives.

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From the Admore Banshee to the ghost in the Bog of Lettermuck, this collection of spine-chilling tales from across County Derry is guaranteed to make your blood run cold. This spooky selection features stories of unexplained phenomena, ghostly apparitions, death knocks and poltergeist activity and includes the tale of the phantom coach said to return to the White Horse Inn every seven years; the helpful ghost that inhabits Derry Opera House; the spirit children said to haunt Rosemount’s By-Wash and even a photograph of the Old Covent taken by a ghost. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources and including many first-hand experiences and previously unpublished tales, Haunted Derry will enthrall anyone interested in the unexplained.

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Harland and Wolff, once acknowledged as the greatest and best-known shipbuilding company in the world, for many years enjoyed a mighty eminence before a gradual descent into near obscurity. This illustrated book, told from the unique perspective of someone who was there at the time, chronicles the history of the organisation from its creation to the present day, from its halcyon days to its present incarnation. Today, the company is no longer involved in shipbuilding, maintaining only a small ship repair and engineering facility and occupying a fraction of its previously vast complex. At its peak Harland and Wolff directly employed over 45,000 people, with even more in its subsidiary companies. Well-known Harland and Wolff former employee Tom McCluskie, who was a technical consultant to James Cameron on the movie Titanic, sheds light on many little-known facts about the business, delves into the human interest stories, and recounts both the mighty zenith and ignominious demise of this great enterprise.

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The battle to keep the nation fed during the Second World War was waged by an army of workers on the land and the resourcefulness of the housewives on the Kitchen Front. The rationing of food, clothing and other substances played a big part in making sure that everyone had a fair share of whatever was available. In this fascinating book, Katherine Knight looks at how experiences of rationing varied between rich and poor, town and country, and how ingenuous cooks often made a meal from poor ingredients. Charting the developments of the rationing programme throughout the war and afterwards, Spuds, Spam and Eating for Victory documents the use of substitutions for luxury ingredients not available, resulting in delicacies such as carrot jam and oatmeal sausages. The introduction of Spam in America in the forties led to this canned spiced pork and ham becoming an iconic symbol of the worse period of shortage in the twentieth century. Seventy years after the outbreak of the Second World War, this book listens to some of the people who were young during the conflict share their memories, both sad and funny, of what it was like to eat for Victory.

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Provides an account of Ferenc Puskas: his growing up in Soviet-occupied Hungary, travelling the world with the national side and army team Honved, and his different achievements in the game of football.

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A companion volume to "Roman Chester: City of the Eagles", this work offers an account of Chester from the late Roman period to the Norman Conquest for over 30 years. It contains material from both archaeological excavations and historical research as well as theories about early Chester and its surroundings.

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The story of Liverpool is, in many ways, the story of its docks. Before the docks, trade was limited by the tides and at the mercy of the Mersey's currents. After dock construction began, the city became a hub of Britain's worldwide trading network. Cheshire Salt, Lancashire coal and textiles, Staffordshire pottery and Birmingham metal goods were all export staples and played an important part - until the 1807 abolition - in the infamous African slave trade. At the same time, sugar, rum, cotton and timber were exported in huge quantities. Through the expansion of the empire and the opportunities presented by steam power, the docks continued to grow and prosper. Even after the setbacks and bombing of the Second World War, trade rapidly recovered. However, the pace of change increased in the late 1950s and not to Liverpool's benefit. Passenger liners lost out to airliners (Cunard ships last called here in 1964) and changes in cargo handling led to the displacement of six traditional cargo liners for every new container vessel. There was competition from new container ports like Felixstowe as well as a range of local difficulties. With many contemporary illustrations of people, ships, buildings and machinery, Michael Stammers chronicles not just the rise and fall of Mersey shipping but also the way the docks have bounced back. Redevelopment, restoration and new modes of commerce have put Liverpool’s docks back in the black and the docks continue to be a significant part of the Liverpool of today, albeit a very different-looking docks to the port of over sixty years ago.

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The 1970s was creative, cool and, above all, colourful! This collection of funky illustrations is a celebration of this unique decade and the fashion, games, music and hairstyles of the period. From disco dancers to lava lamps, ABBA to sideburns, each picture is full of intriguing detail sure to fire the imagination and make you reach for your most vibrant colouring pencils. There are absolutely no rules – you can choose any combination of colours you like to bring these images to life. Suitable for children. If you love the ’70s, then you will love colouring this book!

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John Lennon is a giant of popular music and culture. As one-quarter of the Beatles, he was in the vanguard of music, art, fashion and popular culture during the sixties. His music, humour and outspoken calls for peace inspired a generation. He stands as an iconic figure for those who lived through the sixties and seventies, as well as for those who grew up long after his untimely death in 1980. Above all, Lennon was one of the twentieth century’s greatest and most important songwriters. Songs he wrote with Paul McCartney, such as ‘She Loves You’ and ‘A Day in the Life’, define an era. Others he wrote alone, such as ‘God’, ‘Help!’ and ‘Revolution’, betray an often complex, contradictory and troubled character. Lennon was never one to hide his love away, nor his anger, nor his convictions. In 2000 his anthem ‘Imagine’ was voted the song of the millennium.

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Chester has a long and fascinating history, dating from the arrival of the Roman army around AD 74. Their fortress was the stimulus for the growth of a prosperous town with such attributes of classical civilisation as bathhouses, central heating and an amphitheatre. The fifth-century collapse was followed by expansion under Saxon Mercia, and the threat of Viking attack was countered by the creation of a burh. Chester prospered as an administrative and trading settlement, ultimately benefiting from commercial contacts with the Viking world. After the Norman Conquest, it became the capital of a powerful earldom and later Edward I’s headquarters for his conquest of North Wales. A large abbey dominated the centre and swathes of land were enclosed in friary precincts. After the Middle Ages the city lost its harbour to silting and then endured a long and damaging siege during the Civil War. It escaped full-scale industrial expansion, although it did suffer from the accompanying problems of increasing population and poor housing. In the twentieth century the decision over whether to preserve or replace its historic core gave the city fathers one of their greatest challenges. Chester was for many centuries the major urban centre in north-west England. Despite its varying fortunes the city has never ceased to engage in the trade and commerce that have given the place its own special identity. This beautifully illustrated book explores the city through the ages and looks at the activities of the people who contributed to its intriguing story. Archaeologists and historians have attempted to throw light on those lives and the author has drawn widely from their work, as well as his own, besides using the surviving historic fabric of the city, to create a book that will appeal to both resident and visitor.

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From heart-stopping accounts of apparitions, manifestations and supernatural phenomena to first-hand encounters with phantoms, spirits and ghouls, this collection of spooky sightings from around Hartlepool and East Durham is guaranteed to make your blood run cold. The sweep of East Durham’s mining landscape is host to countless spectres, while in Hartlepool – where legends are a part of the town’s very fabric – ghostly goings-on have been reported at houses, clubs, schools, roads, ships and even a former airport. Pubs figure widely, and one local brewery is a veritable hive of paranormal activity. With tales of historical ghosts to modern hauntings, many investigated by the author himself whilst a journalist for the Hartlepool Mail, this book offers a unique glimpse into the ghostly legacy of the region’s past that is sure to appeal to anyone interested in a spot of ghost hunting. So draw the curtains, dim the lights, choose your favourite chair and immerse yourself in a journey into the realms of the unfathomable.

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The people of Zimbabwe are brutalised, disenfranchised, starved. This is the only book to tell the full story of the birth of a dictatorship, including the 2008 election travesty. Robert Gabriel Mugabe, a former teacher and guerrilla leader, swept to power in Zimbabwe on a tide of euphoria in 1980 with the promise of peace, prosperity and racial harmony. He proceeded to preside over the economic ruination of the country, which he himself once described as the 'Jewel of Africa'. In his desperate attempts to create and perpetuate a one-party state, he thwarted the democratic process, used torture against his own people and deliberately obstructed aid organisations when they offered assistance to the persecuted and starving. This is the first book to explain what goes on in Mugabe's mind and only by understanding this is it possible to understand why he has destroyed his country - and what is about to happen there now.

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Utilising eye-witness accounts of those who participated in them, Destroyer Actions focuses on the human side of naval operations during the first eight months of the Second World War. Harry Plevy draws upon primary sources of both naval and civilian provenance, many of which are previously unpublished and therefore have never been available to the general reader. Extensively researched through comparison of British and German operational logs, and including first-hand evidence from Polish, French and Norwegian sources which reveal the true impact of the conflict at sea upon the lives of the people of all nations caught up in it, this book gives a comprehensive picture of destroyer actions at the beginning of the Second World War.

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Taking a chronological approach, this work looks at key battles, such as the great encirclement engagements of 1941 - Minsk, Smolensk and Kiev - the sieges of Leningrad and Stalingrad, the Battle of Kursk, and Operation Bagration in June 1944. It also includes information on the central Soviet commanders who led the German and Soviet armies.

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This passionate and evocative book covers the major events that led up to the Great War between Russia and Great Britain and her unexpected ally — France. It features the famous and the infamous battles of Balaclava, the Alma and Inkerman and the extraordinary siege of Sevastopol and also includes a view of the Great Charge of the Light Brigade through the eyes of a Russian gunner, and captures the harrowing scenes of the field hospitals where Florence Nightingale established her reputation.

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This unique work of reference is a comprehensive record of campaigns, overs eas services, battles and engagements of the English and Welsh line regimen ts created following the British Army reorganisations.

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This text includes twenty seven poems of the Peninsular War, written in a robust traditional style, recreating not only the horrors of 19th century warfare but also the human stories.

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Military Memoirs of Four Brothers, first published in 1829 and reprinted for the first time since 1838, is an extremely rare record of the military service of one family during the Napoleonic Wars. The Fernyhoughs of Lichfield provided four officers to the British naval and military forces, two of whom died on service with the Royal Marines. The letters and journals pf two of the brothers provide a fascinating account of some of the more important, and some of the lesser-known campaigns and operations of the period, including the Trafalgar campaign, the expedition to South America, and the Peninsular War, Robert Fernyhough serving in the latter with that most elite and famous corps, the 95th Rifles, later the Rifle Brigade. Thomas Fernyhough, the brother who compiled this account, was a noted historian and researcher, and produced a book which is not only one of the rarest contemporary memoirs of the Napoleonic Wars, but one which illuminates the services and tribulations of a typical military family at this most crucial period of British history.

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Southend has a complex and surprisingly interesting history. From 18th-century origins as the ‘South End’ of Prittlewell Parish, it has grown over 300 years to swallow up six separate parishes: Prittlewell, Southchurch, Leigh, Eastwood, North Shoebury and South Shoebury. The town and wider borough are both now known as ‘Southend’. Starting in the Stone Age, it ends in the modern Information Age, covering all points in between. The story of its evolution as a seaside resort, a commuter town and a regional shopping ventre is unterwoven with a multitude of amusing, intriguing and impressive events, incidents and achievements in this very readable narrative. Southend has been unfairly maligned as ‘lacking much history’. This new book successfully demolishes that suggestion, revealing a wealth of interest in the town and its past – from Prittlewell’s Saxon origins to its important role in two world wars. It will be warmly welcomed throughout Essex.

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Ledbury is a small town in the lush Herefordshire countryside. How did it come to be here and who and what shaped its development? This volume explores a quiet corner of England from the earliest times until the middle of the 16th century. Hunters, herdsmen and the first farmers left but faint traces to mark their passing. Enigmatic structures like Wall Hills and British Camp stand as monuments to a time before writing. The woods and fields, streets and lanes bear the imprint of countless generations, to be deciphered by archaeologists.By the time it emerges in the written record, the site of Ledbury itself had become the main focus of the area, and in due course it developed into a small town with some remarkable buildings, among them a well-endowed hospital and a lavish church. Events, including the Black Death, conspired to ensure that its full potential was never realised, but it remains marked by its medieval past: to this day an exceptional – and most attractive – place. Using the evidence of the landscape itself, physical remains, artefacts and buildings, and tantalising glimpses from old documents it has been possible to chart the history of this little market town and the surrounding countryside for nearly five hundred years.The story ends in 1558, a Catholic queen on the throne, but religious changes already afoot in the nation at large and in Ledbury. There were new families, new ideas and the glimmerings of a new wealth which would flourish at the end of the century.

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The aim of this book is to explain the origins of street names in Cleethorpes. In doing so, it gives an insight into the history and development of the town and also reveals some fascinating stories about the locality and its personalities, which can add extra interest to our day-to-day surroundings as we pass a familiar street sign. The book begins with an outline description of the growth of Cleethorpes and some of the factors that influenced its growth, such as the coming of the railway and the role played by a major local landowner. The focus then switches to entries on local streets. These throw light on the origins of their names, when they were built, significant buildings and other relevant information or anecdotes. The entries include references to the resort’s early history; members of the royal family; the Civil War; local people and families; local geography; landowners and trades; and local churches and chapels.Here will be found tales of Cavaliers and Roundheads and the gruesome story of how Oliver Cromwell’s missing head found its final resting place. Accounts of pioneering flying aces mix with those of saints, churches and chapels. College benefactors are joined by an eccentric poet, a deranged doctor, a jovial academic and a one-eyed bishop. Links with fishing and farming are explained. The wanderings of the Pinfold are described; an Australian river nearly runs on to the Cleethorpes beach, and Mucky Lane is pinpointed while the dubious goings on at the Folly Hole are described with careful reticence!

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Ledbury lies in a quiet corner of Herefordshire, just about equidistant from the cities of Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester. Remote, but not isolated, the town is surrounded by ancient wooded hills, while the River Leadon, from which the town is thought to take its name, meanders slowly through the meadows to the west. Visitors and inhabitants alike can empathise with Ledbury-born Poet Laureate John Masefield, who 'felt the beauty of the place and the mystery of its past … through century after century'.Ledbury: a Market Town and its Tudor Heritage tells the story of this ancient town from 1558, when Elizabeth I confiscated the bishop's manor and estate, through a period of great prosperity in the 16th century to the present day. During the Tudor period the town's cloth trade flourished and the market which served the rural parishes surrounding the town thrived. The resulting physical transformation, including the wide market place and streets lined with timber-framed buildings, still attracts visitors today. The story extends from the reign of the first Elizabeth to the present day. It traces the ups and downs of a market town which has benefited from its location on the route between Hereford and Worcester but remains a small town.Ledbury has enjoyed its share of changes in trade, transport, social provision, architecture, industry and leisure, developments which have individually and collectively helped to shape the town today. But what strikes the visitor is its Tudor heritage, which continues to reflect the unexpected and untold riches generated, albeit for such a short time, in the later Tudor and early Jacobean decades.

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Situated on the Roman Akeman Street, in the heart of the Vale to which it gives its name, Aylesbury's claim to be the county town of Buckinghamshire derives from its centrality and its early status as a royal manor, which made it the obvious location for the county gaol and the venue for the assizes and other county gatherings. It was the site of an Anglo-Saxon monastic settlement, or minster, and the early town's topography evolved around the church and its environs and around Kingsbury, a large open space whose name recalls the royal 'hospice' mentioned in a grant of land made by Henry II to his otter hunter, Roger Foll.In 1554 Queen Mary granted the townsmen a royal charter of incorporation and, although the charter soon lapsed, the right which it conferred of election two MPs somehow survived and was later claimed on behalf of the householders. Aylesbury's experience as a Parliamentary garrison during the Civil War fostered the growth of religious dissent, and at the Restoration in 1660 it was branded a 'fanatic' place. Nowhere else were elections more fiercely contested, and the case of Ashby versus White, a lawsuit over a rejected vote in an Aylesbury election, became a cause celebre. Arrival of the canal and then railway, both funded by local capital, enabled the new industries of printing and milk processing to complement the existing lace-making and duck breeding after 1860, but the town retained its market town character until well into the 20th century.In 1959, when the population was nearing 29,000, the borough council entered into an agreement with the London County Council to become an 'overspill' town. Major redevelopment followed in the 1960s which, controversially, included parts of the historic town centre. Today Aylesbury has expanded beyond the limits of its ancient parish and is home to a variety of service and light engineering industries.This readable and informed new account tells the story of Aylesbury from its origins to the present and will be greatly enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the town.

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Early visitors to Dartmoor, that great granite mass dominating the centre of Devonshire, usually complained about its climate, agreeing that 'this one thinge is to be observed that all the yere through out commonly it rayneth or it is fowle wether in that more or desert'. This book is a major addition to the literature of Dartmoor.

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Well-heeled

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Anne Clifford died in 1676, full of years and honours. This is the impressive portrait of a powerful personality. She lives on, in Martin Holmes' remarkable biography, in Craven, where she was born; in Kent, where she was mistress of Knole; in Wiltshire, where M498she saw the rebuilding of Wilton under Inigo Jones; and, most of all, in Westmorland where, in her several ancestral castles, she spent her indomitable old age.

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The author is a journalist descendant of three generations of eminent lawyers, who made the surname famous-perhaps especially Sir Henry Curtis-Bennett, KC. She could get no further than the early 18th century so turned her attention to the distaff side with rewarding results. "A wealth of illustrations, photographs and family trees and a bibliography add interest to the lively and entertaining text." Family Tree Magazine

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Haunted Bray is a series of supernatural accounts of happenings in Bray and the surrounding areas. The stories have been collected by the author over a number of years from local residents, through a series of interviews and investigations. The author has produced a clear series of accounts for each event and happening, in an engaging and tantalising style, appealing to the market for the supernatural and the unusual.

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A biography of Edward Hay

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The Ballinderry River rises north-west of Pomeroy in Co. Tyrone, and for nearly all its course it runs on the boundary between the counties of Tyrone and Derry, till it falls into Lough Neagh. It was the backbone of Cookstown's vibrant linen industry and the inspiration for authors and poets such as Jonathon Swift, but its history, and the impact that it has on the communities through which it flows, runs much deeper. Beginning at the Ice Age, and leading us through the coming of Christianity, the Tudors, and Plantation, Kevin Johnston's book brings us right through to the Ballinderry River of modern times, where it is going through a rejuvenation project with the help of the WWF and the community. Fully illustrated with striking photographs, "O'Neill's Own Country - A History of the Ballinderry Valley" also includes a gazetteer, which follows the course of the Ballinderry, and explains the rich archeological, ecological and cultural elements of one of Ulster's richest rivers.

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Boss Cat.

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Woodlawn, an area rich in archaeology, history, architecture and politics, is both unique in its character and yet emblematic of the story of many rural communities across Ireland. In this new work, which is the result of a decade of research by Woodlawn Heritage Group, this history is explored in a beautifully illustrated volume. Aspects of this story include the landed estate of Woodlawn House, the railway and postal services, education, emigration and a selection of personal stories of its people. This collection is accompanied by poignant and revealing illustrations to create an invaluable record for all with a connection to Woodlawn’s past and present.

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The walls of The Gleneagle Hotel don’t talk they sing. These walls have witnessed millions of memorable moments, first glances, first dances and many first romances. From modest beginnings as a small country-house, The Gleneagle has flourished into one of Ireland’s largest and best known holiday destinations and this is the illustrated history of that journey.

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Rathgar may well be the most fascinating area of Dublin. Its red-brick Georgian and Victorian terraces, the fruits of the architectural experimentation of the nineteenth century, are home to some of the most impressive houses, churches and schools in Ireland. Rathgar’s residents have also proved to be some of the most influential in Irish political, social and cultural life, with at least four Nobel Prizewinners boasting strong ties with the area. A unique district with a rich and august history, this book serves as a timely record of an area that has had a profound influence on so many people.

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The early twentieth century saw the transformation of the southern Irish Protestants from a once strong people into an isolated, pacified community. Their influence, status and numbers had all but disappeared by the end of the civil war in 1923 and they were to form a quiescent minority up to modern times. This book tells the tale of this transformation and their forced adaptation, exploring the lasting effect that it had on both the Protestant community and the wider Irish society and investigating how Protestants in southern Ireland view their place in the Republic today.

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