Search results for ""the history press""
The History Press Ltd By Tram From Dudley
Dudley was connected by tram to various parts of the Black Country, first by steam trams and then by electric ones. This book takes a route-by-route look at the development, operation and run-down of the tramway system which once linked Dudley to Brierley Hill, Stourbridge, Netherton, Cradley Heath, Pensnett, Kingswinford, Wordsley, Kinver, Lye, Wollaston, Old Hill and Blackheath. After charting each line’s history, the book recreates a ride along them using a plethora of historic photographs, many of which have not been published before, highlighting the many features and objects from the tramway that survive along the way.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Armies of the Seven Years War: Commanders, Equipment, Uniforms and Strategies of the 'First World War'
Drawn from many international sources, many not employed before in English-language publications, Armies of the Seven Years War is the finest reference work on this most complex of conflicts. It details the senior commanders, uniforms, weapons, equipment, artillery, strategy and tactics (military and naval) of the forces that fought – in effect – for world supremacy from 1756 to 1763. States involved included Austria, Bavaria, Britain, Brunswick, Hanover, Hessen-Darmstadt, Hessen-Kassel, France, the Palatinate, Portugal, Prussia, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Württemberg and the minor states of the Holy Roman Empire. The colonial struggle in North America is not neglected. Coverage of the uniforms and colours is in depth. The tactics of the ‘horse and musket’ era are examined, as are Frederick the Great’s abilities as a war leader who led his armies against the rest of continental Europe. With over 280 illustrations and specially commissioned battle maps, Armies of the Seven Years War is an invaluable resource for the modeller and wargamer, as well as a clear analysis of an extraordinary period of international conflict for all those with an interest in the history of empire. William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, Britain’s war leader, stated that ‘America was won in Germany.’ How could Prussian successes on the continent of Europe have sounded the death knell for New France and Spanish ambitions in North America? Armies of the Seven Years War explains the connection and the outcomes of all the complex alliances that led to the ‘first world war’.
£45.00
The History Press Ltd More Than Football in the Blood
Diagnosed with leukaemia in November 2008, Chris Todd tells the story of this period of his life in diary form. It is a personal, honest and often humorous account of a leukaemia sufferer’s battle with this life-threatening disease, and also of Chris’s career as a whole. As the weeks and months go by, Toddy relates what can only be described as an epic journey: being told his football career would have to be put on hold; his failure to regain a place in the Torquay United team on his return to action; his loan spell to Salisbury and subsequent return to Torquay; getting back to the first team and then topping-off a truly remarkable few months by gaining promotion to League Two with the Gulls with their victory over Cambridge at Wembley. This book, though, is about more than football. Todd explains, in great detail, the effects the disease had not only on his football career, but other aspects of his life, especially in terms of his immediate family and friends – not least his wife Gemma. He never looks for sympathy – instead he aims to inspire. They say football is a game of two halves: well so is life.
£9.99
The History Press Ltd The Ford Capri Story
Before the Ford Capri arrived in 1969, GT cars had tended to be expensive, temperamental, impractical and rarefied. Ford decided there was no reason why a four-seater coupe couldn’t look stunning and go like a rocket (with the right engine) yet be as easy and cheap to run as a Ford Escort. Little wonder that the slogan they used in 1969 to launch it, ‘The car you always promised yourself’, made an immediate impact. The Capri was a hit from day one, and continued to be a British favourite until 1986, at which time it had been somewhat overshadowed by the emergence of the Hot Hatchback. Over its lifetime, the Capri was available in a vast array of guises over three distinct ‘Marks’, but all of them had at their heart affordable fun and a surprising degree of everyday practicality. Nothing has ever quite replaced it, but it lives on in the fond imagination of everyone who loved it.
£9.99
The History Press Ltd The VW Beetle Story
The KdF car, a German acronym for Strength Through Joy, was conceived by Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich as a true German ‘people’s car’. There is precious little in the legacy of 1930s Nazi Germany that is positive, but after the Second World war – and with a little help from the British – the Volks Wagen really did help put the average man on the road in a car, designed by the great Ferdinand Porsche, that was reliable and well-built. First it set benchmarks for customer satisfaction across Europe, and sales soared. Then it arrived in North America and the slope-backed, rear-engined economy car became a cult hit. By the time the very last original Beetle was built in 2003, over 21m had been built, making it by a long chalk the best-selling single car model of all time. Although its concept is dated by modern standards, the Beetle magic is undimmed, which is why Volkswagen introduced an all-new, modern Beetle in 1998. It has carved out a niche as a distinctive and eye-catching car in a world of automotive clones.
£11.24
The History Press Ltd Kill Them All: Cathars and Carnage in the Albigensian Crusade
The bloody Albigensian Crusade launched against the Cathar heretics of southern France in the early thirteenth century is infamous for its brutality and savagery, even by the standards of the Middle Ages. It was marked by massacres and acts of appalling cruelty, deeds commonly ascribed to the role of religious fanaticism. Here, in the first military history of the whole conflict, Sean McGlynn tells the story of the crusade through its epic sieges of seemingly impregnable fortresses, desperate battles and destructive campaigns, and offers expert analysis of the warfare involved, revealing the crusade in a different light – as a bloody territorial conquest in which acts of terror were perpetrated to secure military aims rather than religious ones. The dramatic events of the crusade and its colourful leading characters – Simon de Montfort, Louis the Lion, Innocent III, Peter of Aragon, Count Raymond of Toulouse – are brought to life through the voices of contemporary writers who fought and experienced it.
£18.00
The History Press Ltd RMS Mauretania: Classic Liners
This long-awaited book tells the remarkable story of the second Mauretania (1938–65): her construction, her naming, her maiden voyage and her distinguished Second World War service, told through extracts from a rare diary of a soldier. Also recalled are two exciting escapes from torpedoing by German U-boats, and the tale of how this great liner was almost lost in a high-speed collision with the SS Île de France, which could have resulted in catastrophic loss of life. Interviews with those who served on board, peppered with fascinating anecdotes, describe daily life on the ship, as well as the more unusual events such as royal visits. Recollections of the crew, from bell boy to captain, cover the famous Sunshine Caribbean cruises and an encounter with a hurricane in the North Atlantic, as well as her final voyage to the scrapyard. Andrew Britton’s unique access to original artefacts from the Mauretania, including captains’ logbooks, publicity material, menus, deck plans and much more, makes this a collection like no other. Coupled with lavish photography, including a wealth of previously unpublished colour images, the result is an evocative book that preserves the memory of this great Cunard liner for future generations.
£17.99
The History Press Ltd Treasures of the Great Silk Road
Turkestan – the great landmass of Central Asia and Western China – is an intriguing meeting point of civilizations. Four major invasions – Greek, Arab, Mongol and Russian – together with Persian, Turkic and Chinese cultural influences, have made their mark on this vast and sometime forbidding region. The Great Silk Road ran to the West through it, while nomad and urban peoples combined over the centuries to produce a cultural flowering under Timur and his successors in the late medieval and early modern periods, through a rich profusion of artistic and architectural styles and ornament. In this comprehensive account of the culture and history of Central Asia, Edgar Knobloch describes the main centres of our human civilization. He spices the text with quotations from the works of contemporary travellers, while providing an expert’s commentary on the archaeological, architectural and decorative features of the sites he describes. The stunning and evocative photographs are supplemented by numerous maps, incorporating the recent developments in the region’s borders and frontiers. With up-to-date information on borders, check points and visas, Treasures of the Great Silk Road should appeal not only to scholars and those interested in the great cultural heritage of this region, but also to travellers to the region.
£22.50
The History Press Ltd Steel and Tartan: The 4th Cameron Highlanders in the Great War
In the summer of 1914 Scotland prepared for war.Steel and Tartan charts the adventures of the 4th Battalion, Queens Own Cameron Highlanders – from their training in Bedford with the Highland Division through to five major engagements in France, including the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and the Battle of Loos, to eventual break-up in March 1916 at the hands of the British Army administrators. Of the 1,500 men who fought with the Battalion, over 250 were killed and either buried in one of the many British war cemeteries in France or else left where they fell, their names etched on one of the memorials to the missing.Using previously unpublished diaries, letters and memoirs together with original photographs and newspaper accounts, Patrick Watt tells the story of the gallant officers and men of the 4th Camerons: those ‘Saturday night soldiers’ who went so eagerly to war in August 1914.
£16.99
The History Press Ltd Understanding Documents for Genealogy and Local History
Genealogists and local historians have probably seen every birth, marriage, death and census record available, and are adept at using the internet for research. However, once they have learnt everything they can from them, the next step is reading and understanding older documents. These can be hard to find (not many are online), are often written in challenging handwriting and use legal and other unfamiliar terms. Some will be in Latin, antiquated English or Scots. Readers need to be able to understand the nature and intent of a range of documents as well as the palaeography (the handwriting) and orthography (the ‘shape’ of the contents). In Understanding Documents for Genealogy and Local History, Dr Bruce Durie, the celebrated author of Scottish Genealogy, details how to find and comprehend documents from 1560 to the 1860s – wills, testaments, contracts, indentures and charters, land records (retours, sasines and manorial custumals), personal letters, official records, Church papers, trust dispositions, deeds and others. Also covered are the complexities of dates, numbers, calendars, measurements and money, abbreviations, transcription conventions, letter-forms and glossaries. A Latin primer completes the tool kit the genealogist and family historian will need to further their research.
£27.00
The History Press Ltd Running the Roman Home
Running of the Roman Home explores the real 'every-day' life of the Romans and the effort required to run a Roman household. It considers the three elements of housework - supply, maintenance and disposal.It is divided into sections on how the Romans collected water and fuel, milled flour and produced thread; how they cleaned the house, illuminated it, did the washing up, cleaned their clothes, got rid of waste water and sewage, and threw out their rubbish.The evidence is taken from literary, archaeological and artistic sources, and often compared to historical or modern parallels from communities using the same methods.
£20.00
The History Press Ltd Bloody British History: Bury St Edmunds
This is the history of the ancient town of Bury St Edmunds as you’ve never read it before. Starting with the Saxons and moving swiftly on to the vicious murder of King Edmund by a Viking horde (though he quickly got his revenge on his killer when he returned as a weapon-wielding spectre), the attack on Abbot Lofestan (whose hands were withered in an act of holy retribution) and a whole host of battles, riots, plagues and scandals, this is a shortened history of the town with all the boring bits snipped out. With more than 70 illustrations (plus a grim and gruesome colour section), you’ll never look at local history in the same way again!
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Along the Mersey: Britain in Old Photographs
The Mersey’s 70-mile journey to the Irish Sea starts with the merging of the rivers Goyt and Tame at Stockport in Greater Manchester. At Irlam the course of the Mersey is briefly diverted into the Manchester Ship Canal, where its waters combine with another captive river, the Irwell. Soon released from this manmade constraint the Mersey continues to flow unimpeded for the remainder of its journey – flowing past Warrington and through the Runcorn Gap – into the throat of Liverpool Bay. For centuries the Mersey has served as the natural boundary between Cheshire and Lancashire, its tidal flow washing through the developing conurbation of Merseyside which comprises the port of Liverpool, Birkenhead and the former coastal resort of New Brighton at the mouth of the estuary. This book takes the reader on a journey in words and pictures along the lower reaches of the river, its navigable companion the Manchester Ship Canal and the coast of Liverpool Bay, using more than 200 old photographs. It is a record of a major waterway with its ports, docks, warehouses, cargo ships and ocean liners immortalised by past generations of photographers for the benefit of visitors and travellers from around the world.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Titanic or Olympic: Which Ship Sank?: The Truth Behind the Conspiracy
The Titanic is one of the most famous maritime disasters of all time, but did the Titanic really sink on the morning of 15 April 1912? Titanic’s older sister, the nearly identical Olympic, was involved in a serious accident in September 1911 – an accident that may have made her a liability to her owners the White Star Line. Since 1912 rumours of a conspiracy to switch the two sisters in an elaborate insurance scam has always loomed behind the tragic story of the Titanic. Could the White Star Line have really switched the Olympic with her near identical sister in a ruse to intentionally sink their mortally damaged flagship in April 1912, in order to cash in on the insurance policy? Laying bare the famous conspiracy theory, world-respected Titanic researchers investigate claims that the sister ships were switched in an insurance scam and provide definitive proof for whether it could - or could not - have happened.
£22.50
The History Press Ltd Yorkshire Villains: Rogues, Rascals and Reprobates
Discover the darker side of Yorkshire with this remarkable collection of true-life crimes from across the county. Featuring tales of highwaymen, cut throats, poachers, poisoners, thieves and murderers, all factions of the criminal underworld are included in this macabre selection of tales. Drawing on a wide variety of historical sources and containing many cases which have never before been published, Yorkshire Villains will fascinate everyone interested in true crime and the history of Yorkshire.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Butlin's: 75 Years of Fun!
After successfully developing a series of funfairs, Billy Butlin progressed to opening holiday centres and hotels across the UK to provide families with an inexpensive but entertaining holiday. Over the years these centres first expanded and then declined in number due to changes in our preferences for types of holiday. Now boasting spa hotels, the resorts are very different from the chalets of yesteryear. However, the original slogan ‘Our True Intent is all for Your Delight’ is fondly remembered by all of the original holidaymakers, whether they enjoyed one trip to a holiday centre or still make an annual pilgrimage with their families. This nostalgic selection of images, many published here for the first time, illustrates the history of the various camps and hotels, including all of the things we associate with this most British of establishments. From Redcoats to water worlds, and from the Glamorous Grandmothers competitions to National Talent contests, this book provides an enjoyable and nostalgic trip down memory lane for all who know and love Butlin’s, allowing us a glimpse into the social history of this quintessential British holiday.
£17.99
The History Press Ltd Old Wives' Tales: The History of Remedies, Charms and Spells
A compendium of remedies and cures handed down from mother to daughter from the beginning of time, this work presents a challenge to orthodox medicine and a history of female wisdom which goes back to the earliest times. What are old wives' tales? Where do they come from? It answers these questions, and more.
£11.25
The History Press Ltd The Battle of Quatre Bras 1815
Major Richard Llewellyn, who fought at Quatre Bras, wrote in 1837 that, 'Had it not been so closely followed by the... victory of Waterloo, perhaps the gallant exploits and unexampled bravery that marked that day would... have excited even more admiration than was actually associated with it.'This book stands out from the wealth of Napoleonic literature in that it is the first English-language account to focus solely on the battle of Quatre Bras. It is based upon extensive research and in many cases unpublished personal accounts from all participating countries, as well as a detailed topographic, aerial survey of the battlefield. These combine to provide a highly personal, balanced and authoritative work. The author unravels the controversies of a battle where commanders made errors of omission and commission and where cowardice rubbed shoulders with heroism. This is the story of a battle that turned a campaign; of triumph and disaster. It is a story of two great generals, but more importantly, of the intense human experience of those that they led. It is a book that will appeal to both the scholar and the generalist.
£31.50
The History Press Ltd Richard III and the Murder in the Tower
Richard III is accused of murdering his nephews (the 'Princes in the Tower') in order to usurp the throne of England. Since Tudor times he has been painted as the 'black legend,' the murderous uncle. However, the truth is much more complicated and interesting. Rather than looking at all the killings Richard III did not commit, this book focuses on the one execution for which we know that he was responsible. On Friday 13 June 1483, William, Lord Hastings was hustled from a meeting of the Royal Council and summarily executed on Tower Green within the confines of the Tower of London. Peter A. Hancock sheds light on the mystery of this precipitate and unadvised action by the then Duke of Gloucester and reveals the key role of William Catesby in Richard's ascent to the throne of England. It explains his curious actions during that tumultuous summer of three kings and provides an explanation for the fate of the 'Princes in the Tower.'
£9.99
The History Press Ltd Great Passenger Ships 1910-1920
It was an age of evolution, when size and speed were almost the ultimate considerations. ‘Bigger was said to be better’ and ship owners were not exempted from the prevailing mood. While the German four-stackers of 1897-06 and then Cunard's brilliant Mauretania & Lusitania of 1907 led the way to larger and grander liners. White Star Line countered by 1911 with the Olympic, her sister Titanic and a near-sister, the Britannic. The French added the France while Cunard took delivery of the beloved Aquitania. But the Germans won out -- they produced the 52,000-ton Imperator and a near-sister, the Vaterland, the last word in shipbuilding and engineering prior to the First World War. They and their sister, the Bismarck, remained the biggest ships in the world until 1935. But other passenger ships appear in this decade - other Atlantic liners, but also ships serving on more diverse routes: Union Castle to Africa, P&O to India and beyond, the Empress liners on the trans-Pacific run. We look at a grand age of maritime creation, ocean-going superlative, but also sad destruction in the dark days of the First War. It was, in all ways, a fascinating period.
£17.99
The History Press Ltd Reliant Sports Cars
The Reliant Scimitar is one of the most successful and distinctive British sports cars. In almost 20 years, from 1968 to 1986, over 15,000 of these elegant machines were produced, and today the car is still highly regarded for its timeless looks and effective design. Don Pither’s pictorial history of the Scimitar and its predecessor, the Sabre, shows in detail their conception, development and career, and it celebrates their enduring qualities. This book is essential reading for Scimitar owners and enthusiasts, and provides a keen insight for readers who are fascinated by the history of British sports cars.The author recalls how, after 25 years of producing three-wheeled vehicles, Reliant experimented with the production of a four-wheeled sports car, the Sabre, in 1961. The company was so encouraged by the sales potential of this nimble Ford-engined two-seater, which they went on to produce the more ambitious Scimitar coupe of 1964. This innovative car, which carried a stylish Ogle-designed body, was developed into the most famous and most powerful Scimitar of all, the 3-litre GTE sporting estate of 1968. This car sold consistently well throughout the 1970s because of its good looks, practicality and rapid performance. It also gained for the company a valuable royal endorsement as Scimitars were owned by the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne. The car was seen as a classic of its time.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Banbury: Britain in Old Photographs
The nursery rhyme 'Ride a Cock Horse' has made Banbury one of the best-known towns in England. It is also famed for Banbury cakes and its Cross. Once an important wool trading centre, in 1628 the town was ravaged by fire, which destroyed many buildings, though some have survived to the present day. This superb selection of 200 photographs provides a nostalgic insight into the changing history of the town over the last century. Each image is accompanied by a detailed caption, bringing the past to life and describing many aspects of life in the town, including chapters on work, industry, schools, markets and local events – including the annual carnival, College Rag, and funfair – and providing a vital record of vanished vistas and past practices. This book will appeal to everyone with an interest in the history of Banbury, and will also awaken memories of a bygone time for all who know this part of Oxfordshire.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd St Neots and the Great War
This book weaves together many personal accounts to tell the full story of St Neots and the First World War – not just the experience of the trenches and further afield, but also the impact the war had at home. Letters from those at the front feature throughout, illustrating the remarkable resilience of the men, their wit, humour and concern for those they had left behind. Research, war diaries, local newspapers, and the author’s own extensive knowledge are used to bring together local, national and international components of what was the terrible conflict. St Neots and the outlying villages saw 208 of its men killed, whilst hundreds of others were wounded. This book aims to ensure that these men made will not be forgotten, and serves as a valuable tool for those seeking to read their stories and research their own family histories.
£15.99
The History Press Ltd West Yorkshire Folk Tales
Whether hailing from the open Pennine hills or the close-knit neighbourhoods of industrial towns, West Yorkshire folk have always been fond of a good tale. This collection of stories from around the county is a tribute to their narrative vitality, and commemorates places and people who have left their mark on their communities. Here you will find legendary rocks, Robin Hood, tragic love affairs, thwarted villainy, witches, fairies, hidden treasure and much more. The intriguing stories, brought to life with illustrations from a local artist, will be enjoyed by readers time and again.
£11.25
The History Press Ltd Southend at War
Dee Gordon’s new book is the unique and fascinating result of many conversations with people about the lives of their families in Southend during the First and Second World War. Vivid memories are recounted, including interviews with former Land Army girls, evacuees, and members of the Home Guard. As well as recollections of life on the Home Front, archive reports and letters touch upon the horror of the conflict at the Front. Illustrated with over 90 archive photographs and documents, Southend at War draws on the first-hand accounts of those who were present during those dangerous years and is sure to appeal to everyone interested in the history of Southend.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Red for Danger: The Classic History of British Railway Disasters
Railway disasters are almost always the result of human fallibility – a single mistake by an engine-driver, guard or signalman, or some lack of communication between them – and it is in the short distance between the trivial error and its terrible consequence that the drama of the railway accident lies. First published in 1955, and the result of Rolt’s careful investigation and study of the verbatim reports and findings by H. M. Inspectorate of Railways, this book was the first work to record the history of railway disasters, and it remains the classic account. It covers every major accident on British railways between 1840 and 1957 which resulted in a change in railway working practice, and reveals the evolution of safety devices and methods which came to make the British railway carriage one of the safest modes of transport in the world.
£15.99
The History Press Ltd Oxford: Britain in Old Photographs
This fascinating selection of 180 archive postcards and maps takes the reader on a nostalgic journey around historic Oxford, showcasing some of the finest buildings and streets in this English university city. The collection conjures a forgotten world of trams, horse-drawn buses, colleges, museums, churches, parks, waterways, monuments and the people connected with them though time. Arranged geographically, starting in the historic Broad Street, the reader journeys through the streets of north Oxford to the University Parks, Mesopotamia and the River Cherwell and its famous punt ramp between the upper and lower Cherwell, before returning by the once ladies only colleges of Lady Margaret Hall and Somerville College to St Giles' and the Martyrs' Memorial. The book will stir nostalgic memories for some, and presents a unique view of the past for others, offering a glimpse of the city before the age of mass motor car ownership.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd SS France / Norway: Classic Liners
The spectacular French flagship France, the longest liner ever built, was the latest transatlantic supership when completed in the 1960s, and, according to most early reports, the most luxurious liner then afloat. The last of the great French Line passenger ships, on the celebrated run to and from New York she was not only the national flagship, but went on to have a most fortunate life with two noted careers and two highly recognisable names. She was one of the greatest of all twentieth-century liners.Maiden voyage passengers goggled at the luxuries aboard the $80 million floating masterpiece with her fantastic interiors, superb service and most exquisite food, yet despite her success she eventually lost out to the unsurpassable speed of jet aircraft. Laid-up, she lingered for five years before being bought by the Norwegians in 1979 and was dramatically transformed from the indoor, transatlantic France into the outdoor, tropical Norway. By May 1980, she began sailing in Caribbean waters and, for years afterward, ranked as the largest cruise ship in the world: an innovator and a great prelude to today's mega-liners. A tribute to one of the grandest and most beloved of all twentieth-century ocean liners, in this richly illustrated book by acknowledged liner expert William Miller we salute the France/Norway!
£22.50
The History Press Ltd Scotland's Malt Whisky Distilleries
The author, responsible for marketing of the Famous Grouse for fifteen years, has been in a unique position to record the decline of the malt distillery and also to look at the remaining distilleries and explain why they survive today. The story is one of politics, taxation, social history, location, supply and demand and sheer perseverance on the part of some. Illustrated with around 175 colour illustrations of distilleries old and new, and of the processes involved in the manufacture of Scotland's biggest single export.
£18.00
The History Press Ltd Middlesbrough: Britain in Old Photographs
The history of modern Middlesbrough, which only began with the laying out of the 'new' town in 1830, is a history of people coming from all parts of the British Isles to an industrial boom town. However, the Middlesbrough of the last years of the twentieth century is almost unrecognisable from the town of fifty and more years ago. That Middlesbrough with its iron and steel works, its docks and shipyards and its tightly packed terraces of Victorian houses is a Middlesbrough now gone, a Middlesbrough that was and a Middlesbrough of memories past. In this book, Araf Chohan offers the reader the opportunity to travel back to see the Middlesbrough that existed before the changes of recent years took their toll and altered the urban townscape forever.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd The New Forest
Featuring a mixture of history, folklore and stories of interest, this book explores the culture and wildlife of the New Forest. From it deer, which for centuries were hunted exclusively by the Kings of England, to the thousands of trees that were the cornerstone of the English Navy, this fascinating volume illustrates how flora and fauna are interwoven with the forest's heritage, and pays special attention to its wildlife. As well as providing a backdrop of history, this affectionate look at the forest will inspire readers to explore the area themselves.Each story illustrates the diversity of treasures that the national park has to offer, from its ancient history through to current events and attractions. The author, a semi-professional photographer, also reveals tips on how to spot and photograph the forest's abundant wildlife. Richly illustrated with over seventy striking photographs, this exploration of the spirit of the New Forest will appeal to all those who visit, work or live in this cherished part of southern England.
£20.25
The History Press Ltd Gloucestershire Between the Wars: A Memoir
One of the most eventful periods in history - the first half of the twentieth century - is vividly and astutely described by Arthur Stanley Bullock in this entertaining memoir. His unique insight comes from having not been in any sense part of the establishment but instead an ordinary intelligent citizen with a strong sense of moral purpose and an inquisitive mind. Arthur grew up in Longhope in the Forest of Dean. After his service in the Great War and his struggle to find employment in Birmingham and south Wales, he worked at Lister's in Dursley. From there he moved to Stroud and set up a business at Port Mills, Brimscombe, just before the onset of the Second World War. He died in 1988.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Balloons, Bleriots and Barnstormers: 200 Years of Flying For Fun
Since time immemorial ordinary people have flocked to gaze upon daring feats in the hope of witnessing some death-defying or even death-inducing act. Aeronautics was turned into a public spectacle and exploited financially from its very beginning and thus it has remained ever since. The book sets out to elaborate upon those concepts in the East Midlands, and demonstrates that the region is truly representative of the progress of general aviation in this country as a whole over two centuries. The history covers balloons for shows and sports, the pre-First World War period, women aviators, Sir Alan Cobham, through to private and small air taxi flying operations, Amy Johnson, and continuing up to the present day. Balloons, Bleriots and Barnstormers enables the reader to feel the euphoria and frustrations of the flyers, and experience the same excitement as the people who actually witnessed their efforts.
£18.00
The History Press Ltd Royal Bastards: Illegitimate Children of the British Royal Family
Since 1066 when William the Conqueror (alias William the Bastard) took the throne, English and Scottish kings have sired at least 150 children out of wedlock. Many were acknowledged at court and founded dynasties of their own - several of today's dukedoms are descended from them. Others were only acknowledged grudgingly or not at all. In the twentieth century this trend for royals to father illegitimate children continued, but the parentage, while highly probable, has not been officially recognised. This book - split into four sections: Tudor, Stuart, Hanoverian and, perhaps most fascinating, Royal Loose Ends - is a genuinely fresh approach to British kings and queens, examining their lives and times through the unfamiliar perspective of their illegitimate children.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd The Deadly Tablet: The Abermule Railway Disaster of 1921
The Abermule railway disaster is still the worst single line rail disaster the UK has ever known. It occurred on the Cambrian railway in 1921, killing thirty-four and injuring sixty-five people. The railway operational ramifications of this terrible accident were felt as far away as India. This detailed book focuses on the Abermule disaster, telling the story using reports and testimonies, photographs and diagrams. The book covers the accident itself, the people involved, passengers, workers, the railway company, the wreckage, the witnesses, the casualties, the press, the inquest, the verdict, and presents original theories on how the incident happened, backed up by information from the son of one of the principal players.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Sutton Park
This fascinating collection of over 200 archive images provides a nostalgic insight into the changing history of Sutton Park over the last 100 years.Each image is accompanied by a detailed caption, bringing the past to life and describing many aspects of life in the area, including chapters on work, schools, transport, streets, industry and local events, providing a vital record of vanished vistas and past practices.This book will appeal to anyone with an interest in the history of the area, and also awaken memories of a bygone time for those who worked or lived among this thriving community.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd New Light on the Black Death: The Cosmic Connection
Over the years doubts have been expressed about the accepted view that the Black Death was caused by bubonic plague. By looking at the evidence of tree-rings and ice cores, the author has identified a series of natural catastrophes at the beginning of the fourteenth century, caused by meteor strikes.
£17.99
The History Press Ltd Elizabeth: England's Slandered Queen
Elizabeth Wydeville, Queen consort to Edward IV, has traditionally been portrayed as a scheming opportunist. But was she a cunning vixen or a tragic wife and mother? As this extraordinary biography shows, the first queen to bear the name Elizabeth lived a tragedy, love, and loss that no other queen has since endured. This shocking revelation about the survival of one woman through vilification and adversity shows Elizabeth as a beautiful and adored wife, distraught mother of the two lost Princes in the Tower, and an innocent queen slandered by politicians.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Around Shrewsbury
This collection of over 200 archive pictures, many never seen before published, highlight some of the changes and developments that have taken place in and around the county town of Shrewsbury during the last century. Important events are recalled, including a visit by King George V in 1914, alongside aspects of everyday life, from schools and churches, historic buildings and pubs - to changing modes of transportation, shops and local industry.Life in some of the surrounding villages is also remembered, including Acton Burnell, Dorrington, Longnor, Baschurch and Shawbury. The county town stands at the centre of an area of fertile farmland but its agricultural importance has greatly diminished over the years as the town has developed as an administrative centre and a magnet for shoppers. Accompanied by supporting text, this book is a valuable pictorial history which will reawaken nostalgic memories for some, while offering a unique glimpse of the past for others.
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Football Oddities: Curious Facts, Coincidences and Stranger-than-Fiction Stories from the World of Football
The entire Ecuador team - all eleven players - were sent off in an international match in 1978! Because of a colour clash, Blackburn Rovers' players wore white evening dress shirts for their 1890 FA Cup final encounter with The Wednesday! In May 1950 Blackpool signed Billy Wright from a local junior club for a set of tangerine jerseys! These are just a few of the many hundreds of startling, unusual and improbable stories thrown up by the beautiful game over the years.In one of the most individual and irreverent collections of footballing facts ever produced, Tony Matthews has unearthed tales of the unexpected that will delight footy fans everywhere. Did you hear the one about the Argentine full-back who scored a hat-trick of own goals in less than an hour? Remember the England goalkeeper who was sent off after just twenty-seven seconds of a Premiership game in 1995? Read about them - and many, many others - here.
£9.67
The History Press Ltd BOAC: An Illustrated History
The British Overseas Airways Corporation came into being in 1939 as the successor to the pre-war British Airways and the legendary Imperial Airways, and through the dark days of the Second World War it used flying-boats to maintain air links between Britain, Africa, Australia and the USA. Post-war, flying-boats and converted bombers soon gave way to Lockheed Constellations, Bristol Britannia's, de Havilland Comets, Boeing 707s and Vickers VC-10s, which carried BOAC's name to all points of the globe and established the airline as a supported of the latest in aviation technology.This culminated in an order for the Concorde supersonic airliner, but before BOAC could take delivery of this revolutionary design it was amalgamated with its short-haul counterpart BEA to form British Airways However, in the memories of its passengers and staff, BOAC will remain the airline that lived up to its slogan, 'BOAC takes good care of you'.
£20.01
The History Press Ltd Mumbles
The famous Mumbles area of Swansea is no a thriving and popular suburb, with pretty villages and attractive bays. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the need for a railway to transport coal and iron ore to Swansea meant that the once-distant fishing communities became more accessible. With the creation in 1804 of the first railway in the world to carry fare-paying passengers, Mumbles soon became a popular tourist destination. Illustrated with over 200 old photographs and postcards, all aspects of life are explored here. Images of working life, shops and trades, schools, religion, recreation and tourism all combine to create a vivid picture of times past. Sure to delight older residents of Mumbles, this volume will also fascinate newcomers and those who have holidayed there.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd A Season to Remember: Burnley 1959/60
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Scottish Medieval Churches: Architecture and Furnishings
A major difficulty for those who wish to understand and enjoy Scottish medieval churches is the ecclesiological groundwork was not carried out in the nineteenth century in the way that was done for England and other parts of Europe. In an effort to interpret what they see when visiting Scottish churches, many people attempt to apply techniques of analysis they have learned from English publications but that way madness lies. Even in the twelfth and eleventh centuries, when architectural relationships between Lowland Scotland and England were close, Scotland followed its own course in many respects, while in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries Scottish architecture followed an almost completely different course from that of England. The present ground-breaking work makes good this deficit and analyses the planning and detailing of Scottish churches from 1120 to 1560 with hundreds of illustrated examples that can be firmly dated. The result is a book that will be welcomed by scholars but, equally importantly, will also be treasured by the hundreds of thousands of ordinary church-crawlers who value this aspect of Scotland's medieval heritage. For them this book, overdue by more than 100 years is a must.
£22.50
The History Press Ltd Harrogate: History and Guide
This is the first comprehensive history of Harrogate to encompass both its pre-Conquest origins and the most recent development. The community began as an Anglo-Norse settlement and later became part of the Royal Forest of Knaresborough. However, in 1571 William Slingsby discovered the Tewit Well and it was not long before the growing town became known as Spadacrene Anglica - the English Spa. For the last 400 years the development of Harrogate has been inextricably linked to its wells and the changing fashions of 'taking the waters'. From the seventeenth century until after the First World War, the spa business prospered. Countless new public baths, wells and associated halls and accommodation were constructed, often by bodies which ensured that the waters would remain a public amenity in the future. Every week the local newspapers published lists of prominent visitors and it was not uncommon to see the Prime Minister or members of the royal family relaxing at the resort. As well as relating the decline of the spa business during the twentieth century this invauable account also chronicles and developments of recent decades, including the revival in the town's fortunes brought by the conference trade. It also related the often unique relationship between the town and the Duchy of Lancaster, to whom the book is dedicated.
£20.00
The History Press Ltd Mycenae: Agamemnon's Capital
Famous from ancient Greek literature as King Agamemnon's capital, Mycenae was the site of almost unbroken excavation during the 20th century, and this continues today. In presenting a full up-to-date account of the site and placing it in its geographical and historical setting, the author concentrates on the great buildings of the citadel--the Lion Gate, the Cult Centre, and the Palace Complex--which flourished during the palatial Period in the 14th and 13th centuries BC. But she also investigates the legends associated with Mycenae and examines the evidence for the pre-palatial and post-palatial periods. Additionally, she is able to incorporate new information on the town and tombs outside the citadel.
£22.50
The History Press Ltd Towers in the North: The Brochs of Scotland
The brochs are among the best-known ancient monuments in Scotland. However, despite a long and colourful history of research, it is only in the last 20 years that the results of field survey, excavation and radiocarbon dating have begun to flesh out a picture of their evolution and development from around 600 BC to AD 100. This well-illustrated book describes the current state of our knowledge, probes the long-running controversies over their origins and function, and provides an annotated list of the most accessible and best-preserved broch sites. Individual chapters cover: Beginnings; Anatomy of a broch tower; Broch landscapes, broch people; Lords of the north; Lords of the south; Beyond the brochs.
£25.00
The History Press Ltd Voices of Rochdale
Personal memories of ordinary people give us a unique and powerful view of life in the past. These reminiscences of Rochdale people were collected by Helen Caffrey in the closing months of the twentieth century. She interviewed a group of Rochdale residents about their childhood, schooldays and working life – the good times and the not so good. Extracts from these interviews have been transcribed onto the page so that the memories can be read as they were told, in the subjects’ own words. The resulting book forms a timely record of everyday life in the town as seen through the eyes of the people who grew up there.There are fond memoriesof street games, church and chapel events, carnivals and shopping but people also recall the hardships of war and trying to live on a low income before the advent of the Welfare State. Rochdale Voices is a unique record for the historian but it will also appeal to anyone who has ever lived in Rochdale. For older readers it will be a nostalgic journey but for the younger ones it will be an insight into a world that might have been familiar to their parents and grandparents but will seem remote from their own experiences of the town today.
£14.99