Search results for ""Amberley Publishing""

Explore the ground-breaking multi-role aircraft that became Europeâs first line of defence and attack.

Read more less

A fascinating, revealing examination of divorce in Victorian Britain - and what it meant for society as a whole. It is a story of high drama, humour, pathos and tragedy, brimming with moral comment that throws a light on the preoccupations of the age.

Read more less

An accessible history of Preston from prehistory to the present day highlighting the cityâs significant events and people.

Read more less

This comprehensive and readable book covers the Rover models built on the R8 platform, including the Rover 200 and 400. The book begins with the transitional period after the demise of BL and the advent of first Austin Rover and then Rover as well as the early collaboration with Honda to develop a new series of cars. The author also examines the development of the successful K Series engine as well as the collaboration with Peugeot to develop diesel engines from 1992. The book goes on to explore the various models in detail, including the five-door and three-door Rover 200s, the Rover 200 Cabriolet, the Rover 400 saloons, the Rover 400 Tourer and the Rover 200 Tomcat coupé. Written by an acknowledged authority on Rover cars, this book provides the reader with everything they need to know about the development of this important series of cars at a critical moment in British motor manufacturing history.

Read more less

Few English monarchs had to fight harder for the right to rule than King Edward IV – Shakespeare’s glorious son of York. Cast in the Plantagenet mould, over six feet tall, he was a naturally charismatic leader. Edward had the knack of seizing the initiative and winning battles and is free from the unflattering characterisations that plagued his brother, Richard III, having been portrayed as a good-looking and formidable military tactician. Described sometimes as reckless and profligate, all sources remark on his personal bravery. In the eleven years between 1460 and 1471 he fought five major battles in the Wars of the Roses. Three of them – Towton, Barnet and Tewkesbury – rank among the most decisive of the medieval period. This book covers Edward’s family background, the Yorkist takeover and the drift to war. It charts the tensions created by the controversial Woodville marriage and Edward’s deposition by the Earl of Warwick and subsequent exile. The return of the king brought with it more battles and Edward’s decisive campaigns against Warwick and Margaret of Anjou. Finally, Edward’s sudden death heralded the demise of the House of York and the eventual triumph of the Tudors. This is the history of Edward IV’s struggle to gain –and regain – the crown during a period of sustained dynastic turmoil.

Read more less

Stretching 73 miles from coast to coast and reaching a height of about 13 feet, Hadrian's Wall should have been counted as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Today, a World Heritage site, it stands as the most imposing monument north of the Alps and attracts millions of visitors a year. Yet, despite all the excavation and research that has been carried out, this is the first detailed guide to be written for many years. Having first dealt with the practical questions of transport, clothing and maps, Guy de la Bedoyere explains why and how the Wall was constructed. With the help of almost 100 sketch maps, drawings and photographs, he then conducts the visitor, stage by stage, along the full length of the Wall, providing map locations, route and parking instructions, details of access and opening times, and a full account of everything that can be seen. He also covers the outpost forts, the forts and settlements to the rear (South Shields, Corbridge and Vindolanda) and the local museums which house so many of the artefacts discovered along the Wall. This indispensable guide-book concludes with a list of dates, a glossary and a summary of all the key sources.

Read more less

Hemel Hempstead's history goes back a long way and is mentioned in the Domesday Book survey. St Mary's Parish Church is one of the oldest buildings and dates from 1150. Henry VIII came to Hemel Hempstead and granted a Charter in 1539 which also put the town on the map. In more recent times Hemel Hempstead was designated to be a New Town in 1946 which caused it to grow from being a market town of 22,000 to one of the largest in the county. This book shows how the town has changed - many people consider it to be improved while others wish time could hark back to the days when small shops were the norm and areas such as Apsley, Boxmoor and Leverstock Green were individual villages where everyone knew each other. The photographs will help those who have forgotten what Hemel was like years ago and shows the places and buildings that have replaced them.

Read more less

The photographs in this fascinating collection enable the reader to explore the differences that passing time has wrought on the urban landscape of Portsmouth and Southsea, and place unrecognisable scenes in context in place and time. Archive images, including Victorian scenes, Edwardian postcards, and unique colour photographs from the 1960s and '70s, are compared and contrasted with a similar view today. These absorbing images, from professional and amateur photographers, include many street scenes alongside subjects ranging from a military band at Clarence Barracks in the 1910s, commercial shipping at the Camber in the 1930s, Billy Smart's circus in the 1950s and Dockyard pickets in the 1970s. Portsmouth Through Time is sure to evoke a wealth of personal memories and interest to anyone who knows and loves the city and would enjoy a trip into its recent past.

Read more less

The ancient walled city of Chester has an illustrious military history dating back to Roman times when a fort, four times the size of anything else in Britannia, was built here. In this book, local authors Adrian and Dawn L. Bridge chronicle the city’s military history across the centuries. Beginning with the impact of the XXth Legion - Legio Vigesima Valeria Victrix - the authors go on to explore the Dark Ages, Viking, Saxon and medieval eras right through to the twentieth century, with both world wars, and beyond. Chapters focus on themes including local, national and foreign conflicts; military personalities, honours and awards; military units; and buildings and memorials. Both lesser and well-known aspects of the city’s military heritage are featured to present a balanced perspective. In addition, the authors highlight women, as well as men, on the front line and the home front. Famous Chester military heroes such as Bomber Command’s Leonard Cheshire VC and the Korean War’s Kenneth Muir VC feature with lesser-known but equally distinguished local people such as John Dolphin (Head of SOE’s Section IX during the Second World War). The Cheshire Regiment looms large in any discussion of Chester’s military units. Its origins immediately after the 1688 Glorious Revolution are discussed together with the regiment’s history up to its modern merger with the Mercian Regiment. Chester’s Military Heritage presents a broad and insightful account of this important aspect of the city’s history.

Read more less

Prestwich and Whitefield are closely linked townships that have been separated by the construction of the M60. With a combined population of around 55,000, they are considered to be prestigious suburbs of north Manchester. They are now part of Bury Metropolitan Borough Council. In this book, authors Paul Hindle and Harry Wilkinson offer a nostalgic visual chronicle of Prestwich and Whitefield through the decades. Prestwich is the older of the townships and its parish church, St Mary’s, dates back to Norman times, though the present church was begun in the fifteenth century. Much of Whitefield was part of the medieval Pilkington Park, and Clive of India attended Stand Grammar School there. Whitefield became a separate local government area in 1886, but it boasts one of the churches funded after the Napoleonic Wars. Between the two areas is the famous Besses o’ th’ Barn, named after a former local innkeeper. To the west is the Irwell Valley and Philips Park, while to the east is Heaton Park, once the seat of the Earls of Wilton. Prestwich & Whitefield Through Time will be of interest to local people and anyone with links to the area.

Read more less

The 1950s and 1960s was a time of profound cultural and technological transformation. With images and vivid recollections, we journey back to post-war East Anglia and the East Coast Main Line with many locations changed beyond recognition. Trackside, at busy stations, and in and around depots, an evolving mood is revealed in pictures. In the 1950s, railway pride and optimism overcame staff shortages; returning locomotives to pre-war performance and introducing modern BR standard classes. By the 1960s, fiscal efficiency and the dawning diesel era turned pride to neglect of steam. Sparkling steel, brass and tallow gave way to dust, rust and flaking paint. Heroic workhorses were lost to scrap. As the mood turned to melancholy, just a few of these great workhorses became pets – polished, loved, and cared for by dedicated railway workers and a growing band of enthusiastic volunteers. People, machines and landscapes are crystalized on film for future generations; reawakening memories for those who lived through this time of change and offering a fascinating insight for those who are too young to have been trackside during this intriguing period of railway history.

Read more less

Chiswick is considered to be one of West London’s most appealing suburbs, renowned for its leafy appearance, riverside pubs and fine houses. Its four original villages – Strand on the Green, Turnham Green, Little Sutton and Old Chiswick – have remained a cohesive body despite the construction of a major road in the 1950s. The area has always been known for its good air, fishing and riverside trades. In the late nineteenth century Thornycroft & Co. shipbuilders launched their vessels and built the first torpedo boat for the Royal Navy. The yard was close to another of the area’s main industries – brewing – and Fuller’s Griffin Brewery is still a major business here operating from its 350-year-old site beside the Thames. In Chiswick in 50 Buildings author Lucy McMurdo presents an engaging and accessible perspective of the area’s rich architectural heritage. Walk around Chiswick’s streets and you will see buildings from the 1500s onwards in every architectural style. Until the mid-nineteenth century it was renowned for its market gardens and parkland as well as its grand Palladian villa, Chiswick House, designed in the early eighteenth century by the 3rd Earl of Burlington. This remains one of Chiswick’s treasures. With the arrival of the railway in the 1860s the area became rapidly urbanised, the population increased and fields made way for housing. Unsurprisingly, many famous people have made Chiswick their home including artists Hogarth and Whistler and poet W. B. Yeats. Illustrated throughout, this book guides you on a fascinating architectural tour of this leafy and attractive London suburb.

Read more less

On 7 November 1938, an impoverished seventeen-year-old Polish Jew living in Paris, obsessed with Nazi persecution of his family in Germany, brooding on revenge - and his own insignificance - bought a handgun, carried it on the Metro to the German Embassy in Paris and, never before having fired a weapon, shot down the first German diplomat he saw. When the official died two days later, Hitler and Goebbels used the event as their pretext for the state-sponsored wave of anti-Semitic violence and terror known as Kristallnacht, the pogrom that was the initiating event of the Holocaust. Overnight this obscure young man, Herschel Grynszpan, found himself world-famous, his face on front pages everywhere, and a pawn in the machinations of power. Instead of being executed, he found himself a privileged prisoner of the Gestapo while Hitler and Goebbels prepared a show-trial. The trial, planned to the last detail, was intended to prove that the Jews had started the Second World War. Alone in his cell, Herschel soon grasped how the Nazis planned to use him, and set out to wage a battle of wits against Hitler and Goebbels, knowing perfectly well that if he succeeded in stopping the trial, he would certainly be murdered. Until very recently, what really happened has remained hazy. Hitler’s Scapegoat, based on the most recent research - including access to a heretofore untapped archive compiled by a Nuremberg rapporteur - tells Herschel’s extraordinary story in full for the first time.

Read more less

The Chilterns consist of a band of chalk hills to the north-west of London stretching from Oxfordshire to Hertfordshire. It so happened that these hills were directly on the routes of five major companies’ routes to the North and Midlands. These were: the Great Northern, the Midland, the London & North Western, the Great Central and the Great Western. As well as the main lines there was a large number of branches, now nearly all closed. To complete the picture, to the north of the Chilterns was the Oxford to Cambridge transversal route, part of which remains open, and part of which is being actively restored. This book relates the story of these lines and their branches, through their construction and operation, the closures of the 1960s, to the situation today. Illustrated throughout with historic and modern photographs, maps, diagrams and timetables.

Read more less

The seaside town of Bournemouth was founded as a watering place in the early nineteenth century in an area of barren land on the south coast known for smuggling. After developing as a health resort, the railways arrived and the town grew rapidly, becoming a popular destination for visitors. Today, Bournemouth welcomes millions of visitors every year to its beaches and festivals, its two piers – one at Bournemouth and one at Boscombe – and long promenade, and is a cultural and commercial centre of the area. Many of its outstanding Victorian buildings have been preserved and stand alongside art deco and more recent landmark buildings. In A–Z of Bournemouth, author Bill Hoodless delves into the history of the town, from evidence of the earliest settlers in the area to the present day. He highlights well-known historic landmarks such as the Winter Gardens, former home of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, forgotten stories from yesteryear such as a tram tragedy, and the air crash that killed Charles Rolls, co-founder of Rolls-Royce Ltd. He also writes about famous residents and visitors such as Robert Louis Stevenson and digs beneath the surface to uncover some of Bournemouth’s lesser-known facts and its hidden places of interest.

Read more less

The final decade of the Cold War saw unprecedented peacetime expansion of the US Navy, including Naval Aviation. President Reagan’s plan for a 600-ship Navy resulted in stepped-up construction of Nimitz class supercarriers and the aircraft to operate from them, including new types like the F/A-18 Hornet. Naval aviation was highly diverse, from carrier-borne F-14 Tomcats to P-3 Orions keeping vigil over the world’s oceans, SH-2 Seasprites operating from tiny landing pads on warships in heaving seas, and land-based adversaries playing the opposing force ‘bad guys’ during training. Tensions were high in the 1980s. While US carrier battle groups prepared for confrontation with the Soviets, should the Cold War turn ‘hot’, they also engaged in combat operations in the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf. Take a step inside the day-to-day operations of Naval Aviation in the 1980s.

Read more less

Eight kings of England were the named Henry, but only two of them were born as heirs to the throne and these – the third and sixth – proved to be the weakest. Two seized the crown by force of arms, one by craft and opportunistic speed, and one by skilful diplomacy and an early flowering of that great British virtue, compromise. Among their number are saints and monsters, the best known and the least known of English kings. One was a storybook hero, leading an army to triumph against overwhelming odds. Another sat out a battle, singing to himself and playing with his fingers while the arrows flew. Half of them have been accused of murder, though in general the actual killings were carried out by others. When we look at the contributions made by the eight kings of that name, we find they underpin almost every aspect of our nation and its institutions. To the first two we owe our legal system and department of finance, to the third, intentionally or otherwise, the origins of our parliament. The fifth decreed the widespread use of English in official documents, leading to dramatic developments in that language. The seventh transformed the tax system and introduced legal reforms that curbed the power of the nobility. The eighth, again arguably unintentionally, brought into being the Church of England. Between them, these English monarchs represent every possible shade of kingship, and each in his own time was ‘Harry of England’.

Read more less

The seventeenth-century man of letters John Aubrey is remembered, above all, for his great biographical work, Brief Lives. He also wrote pioneering works dealing with education, geology, languages, archaeology, history, place-name study and folklore. Aubrey was a Fellow of the Royal Society. Other early members of the Royal Society included Robert Boyle, the greatest scientist of his generation and Henry More, one of England’s leading philosophers. Aubrey, Boyle and More promoted new thinking about the natural world and championed the use of experimental science. They also believed in demons and angels and the authenticity of witchcraft. Aubrey recommended ways of countering witchcraft through horseshoe magic and suggested that gifted schoolboys should be taught to communicate with good spirits through the use of crystal balls. Boyle publicly endorsed the reality of witchcraft based on a case study from France. Henry More attempted to explain scientifically how witches could leave their bodies behind them when attending sabbat meetings. The Last Witch Craze tells the story of these men and others who attempted to reconcile science and sorcery. Their ideas were taken very seriously by others and provided an intellectual justification for the last lethal witch craze in Britain and America. Two fellows of the Royal Society – Joseph Glanvill and James Long – actively participated in witch hunts. In New England, those who persecuted the witches of Salem were fully aware that several distinguished members of the Royal Society of London were believers in the reality of witchcraft. The book also reveals that John Aubrey had a dark secret. His magical notebook survives in the archives of Oxford University. It makes clear that Aubrey personally practised a form of black magic and used charms to conjure up demons.

Read more less

Manchester and Salford boast an extraordinary historical legacy. In particular, nowhere has a better claim to be regarded as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The area played a pioneering role in transport history, with the Bridgewater Canal and one terminus of the world’s first fully fledged passenger railway. It saw the collaboration of Marx and Engels, the birth of what became the Suffragette movement and the groundwork for the computer revolution. More recently Manchester saw the discovery of graphene – a form of carbon. All this and much more is reflected in the two cities’ rich heritage of great architecture and urban landscapes. Much of this heritage and many of the important buildings are from the nineteenth century onwards, but there are remains dating back to Roman times. This book of exceptional photographs reflects the area through the lens of award-winning photographer Jon Sparks. Here are the contrasting scenes and buildings, old and new, that define the essence, identity and vibrant spirit of Manchester and Salford. From industry to sport, leisure to worship, culture to transport and listed buildings to modern skyscrapers, this is a stunning portrait of two eternally fascinating cities.

Read more less

Often regarded as a quiet holiday county, in fact Dorset has many aviation connections. As early as 1908 Bleriots were being built by Bournemouth businessmen, the Royal Navy undertook first landing on a warship at Weymouth in 1910, the Schneider Race was held at Bournemouth in 1913, Dorset was at the front line of the early days of the Battle of Britain with attacks on Portland Naval Base, the Dam Busters bouncing bomb was tested on Dorset ranges in 1943, and aircraft production factories at Christchurch and Bournemouth existed in the 1940 and 1950s. With a wealth of previously unpublished images, Mike Phipp tells this remarkable story.

Read more less

George and Robert Stephenson are well known names in the canon of railway history. Henry Booth (who designed Rocket’s boiler) was the world’s first railway manager and was instrumental in the adoption of Greenwich Mean Time. Timothy Hackworth, the Methodist engine-wright from Shildon, established his own engineering firm, which built one of the first locomotives to run in Russia. Although his locomotive Novelty was a failure, John Ericsson found fame as the designer of the USS Monitor. This book seeks to explore the social history of the Rainhill Trials, who these engineers were and the times they lived and worked in.

Read more less

Hilary Green takes the reader on a journey through the complex developing trade of the Middle Ages, which is the foundation of trade today. Taking the production of wool in the abbeys of the north of England as a starting point, she follows its journey to Flanders where it was woven into a variety of textiles in the growing international marketplace of Bruges. The journey continues to Bordeaux where the wool was traded for wine, which found its way back to London where some of it was traded for more wool. She describes the trade fairs of the Champagne region of France where wool and leather goods along with salt, iron and other commodities were traded and where banking developed - and she explains why. The merchants of Genoa developed the various trade routes, whether by land over the Alps or by water via rivers or the Mediterranean. By these routes, silks and spices came from the repositories in Alexandria and before that via camel trains from Arabia. The author investigates the mysteries and intrigue of trade where silkworms were smuggled into Constantinople and precious gems and ivory were shipped from unknown locations. Arab and Indian merchants brought exotic spices - cumin, ginger, pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon - and aromatics such a myrrh and frankincense to Egypt via the Red Sea. As trade expanded and became more valuable, international relations became more sophisticated as governments moved to protect the valuable income it brought.

Read more less

Throughout England there are thousands of lost or deserted villages. Most were abandoned after the Black Death or other plague epidemics, but some were lost to coastal erosion or the encroaching sea, while others were resettled elsewhere when the livelihood upon which the village relied disappeared and some were even deliberately moved in later centuries on the whim of country house owners. In this book author Alex Vincent surveys the lost villages of Sussex. By examining old records and maps, the history of excavations in the area, local archaeological archives and records and the evidence of remaining buildings, ruins and old earthworks, he has recorded over 140 deserted, shrunken and shifted villages in East and West Sussex. He explores what remains on these sites currently, including their churches, which often stand alone today; now isolated farmhouses; ruins; fragments in later buildings and the sites of old houses and streets that are often just bumps in a field; pest houses and mass graves of plague victims; the importance of place names as a record of previous inhabitation; lost industries; and many more markers of a vanished world. This fascinating picture of an important but often forgotten part of the history of Sussex over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in this corner of south-east England or have known it well.

Read more less

From its heyday in the nineteenth century as a major centre of wire making, textiles, chemical production and brewing through to its Second World War role as the largest US Army Air Force base in Europe and subsequent reinvention as a new town in the late 1960s, Warrington is now the largest town in Cheshire, with a proud heritage and distinctive identity. Celebrating Warrington highlights some of the significant aspects of the town’s history including its important moments, worthy individuals, notable achievements and newsworthy events. Local heritage curator and author Janice Hayes brings together a superb collection of images and stories from Warrington Museum and Archives. There are a number of firsts the town is famous for from within its industries, entertainments, sporting successes, seasonal, national and local events and celebrations. Discover Warrington’s unique Walking Day parades and explore how this unique local celebration has evolved. Remember travelling fairs and when the circus and other travelling entertainers came to town. Join the crowds at Warrington sporting events and be part of the welcome home parades for the town’s successful rugby league team. Readers can witness the excitement around the unveiling of new enterprises and heritage sites, or the launch of locally built ships and the opening of the Thelwall Viaduct. Then there are the reflective acts of remembrance for national and local events from major conflicts to local tragedies. Open the family album to discover how Warrington has recorded key milestones in people’s lives or marked royal events from coronations and jubilees to when Warrington turned out to welcome its royal visitors. Illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to local residents, visitors and all those with connections to the town.

Read more less

The large town of Stockport is situated 7 miles from Manchester city centre and lies at the confluence of the Tame, Goyt and Mersey rivers. The first building of any identity to be officially documented in the town was its castle, a motte-and-bailey construction from around 1173. The site is still identifiable today, but Stockport’s architectural identity relates to more modern times. From the seventeenth century, Stockport became a centre for the hatting trade and later the silk industry. The town expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution, fuelled by the growth of cotton manufacturing, which became one of its major employers. In Stockport in 50 Buildings local author Phil Page highlights some of the town’s significant architectural landmarks and notable structures from across the centuries. Through a fascinating and diverse selection of buildings he tells the story of Stockport’s development, its people and their way of life. During the nineteenth century, spinning, weaving, bleaching, printing and dyeing became the staple industries of Stockport and many of its surviving buildings reflect its industrial heritage. The old mills, churches and market buildings still play an essential part in the life of the town today. The existing breweries, cinemas, libraries, art galleries and railway stations are a reflection of the needs of a growing Victorian and Edwardian society. The grand constructions of their engineers can still be seen, with St Mary’s Parish Church, the imposing Town Hall and the famous railway viaduct being among the most impressive examples of a great industrial age. Illustrated throughout, this book takes the reader on an engaging journey visiting many of Stockport’s older buildings and those newer constructions that have come to represent the town today.

Read more less

Across the country at numerous locations the government operated another railway, hidden from the public, behind high wire fences. These were the railways serving the Ministry of Defence. A fascinating collection of sites, with differing gauges, origins and functions. At its peak in the 1950 and 1960s the nation was covered with rail-served military locations, varying from a siding right up to huge storage locations, with self-contained internal networks. Each military service had its individual rail command, operating independently, with different locos types and even gauges. Recent history has seen these brought together, amalgamated as the Defence Rail Organisation. Unlike many industrial rail systems, a feature of military rail sites was the high standard of maintenance, not only of the rolling stock, but of the surrounding environment, well kept track formations were a usual order. Part of the fascination of these railways was the mystery that naturally surrounded their operation, use and stock. Some locations remain in use, but the large majority have been taken out of use, mainly as units have closed down, but in some case the abandonment of rail in favour of internal road transport. This book looks at rolling stock used at a number of locations, both standard and narrow gauge, and where appropriate the locations served by these largely unknown systems.

Read more less

Historically part of Lancashire, Bury grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution as a mill town producing textiles alongside many other expanding towns in the area and now lies within Greater Manchester. The town is well known for its large traditional open-air market, one of the best in the country, which draws large numbers of visitors. The industrial legacy of Bury is still visible, with the Manchester, Bury & Bolton Canal, the remaining factories and mills and areas of terraced housing, but following decline in the textile industry and other manufacturing in recent decades, the shopping centre was rebuilt in the 1960s and 1970s and has been subsequently rebuilt again, with housing areas extended outwards, linked to Manchester by the Metrolink tram service. In spite of the many changes that have occurred in Bury the town has retained its identity and most of its historical buildings. This fascinating selection of old and new images of Bury will be essential reading for all those who know the town and the area.

Read more less

Gloucestershire is a county of great variety with three distinct areas: the Cotswold Hills, the Forest of Dean and the Severn Vale. The gently rolling hills of the Cotswolds are dotted with picturesque towns and villages of honey-coloured limestone, while the Forest of Dean, which overlooks the Wye Valley and Welsh mountains beyond, has a dark and mysterious beauty quite distinct from the rest of the county. These two areas are separated by the mighty River Severn, which over countless centuries has carved a course through the land to create the Severn Vale. Builders commonly used timber frames in the construction of dwellings in this low-lying land, notably in Tewkesbury, although some of Gloucestershire’s most impressive stone buildings – Gloucester Cathedral, Tewkesbury Abbey and Berkeley Castle – are found in the Vale area. At the heart of the county lie its two major settlements: the historic city of Gloucester and the spa town of Cheltenham, famous for its festivals and Regency architecture. In 50 Gems of Gloucestershire author Mark Turner explores the history of these places and more, showing why this part of the west of England is so special.

Read more less

In February 1996, two games were unleashed in Japan: Pocket Monsters Red and Pocket Monsters Green. A few years later, the UK received their own versions - Pokémon Redand Pokémon Blue. Very few could predict how far these games would go, and just how many hearts they would capture. Now, more than twenty years later, the franchise continues to delight and entertain a brand new generation, while still keeping older fans hooked. Over these years, a huge amount of collectibles has been created, encompassing all 800+ Pokémon in some way or form. Catch ‘em all as you join us on a journey across the various regions of the Pokémon world and take a look at the vast array of Pokémon merchandise from the UK and Japan, starting at Kanto and stopping at Galar for a glimpse into the future.

Read more less

Its farming and fishing industries yield an impressive harvest of ingredients, so it is no surprise to discover that Sussex also boasts a rich culinary heritage. At one point in the past it was said that ‘to venture into the county was to risk being turned into a pudding yourself’. Local cookery books were filled with recipes for dense dishes including Chichester Pudding, Sussex Blanket Pudding, and the intriguingly named Sussex Pond Pudding, which contains a whole lemon and was featured on the BBC’s Great British Bake Off. Today, though, the county’s menus feature a much wider array of local dishes to satisfy even the most demanding palate and local produce matters much to Sussex folk, as well as being a reason the county attracts so many visitors. In Pond Puddings and Sussex Smokies local author Kevin Newman explores these changes through an investigation of the county’s culinary history and specialities, together with its famous food and drink producers, markets and food-themed events. Starting with an exploration of interesting and unusual Sussex dishes and drinks, as well as the people behind them, Newman visits wonderful watering holes and incredible eating places from across the centuries such as ‘Pacy’s Blood Hole’ and a hotel where Christmas puddings meet an unusual fate. The author focuses on the county’s past and present food-themed customs and traditions, offers foodie and drinking locations to visit and investigates the quirky stories behind many locally brewed beers. He explains how ‘Dirty Arthur’ became dirty, how a prince provided school dinners, how a local member of the clergy ended up as a Fijian feast and why ‘Black-Eyed Susan’ hasn’t been in a fight. We learn how it’s impossible to eat a ‘dish of tongues’ but how you could chomp on ‘the Devil’s children’ in the past. Sussex residents and visitors alike will discover the true flavour of Sussex in this book, and as you tuck into this fascinating and delicious study of its culinary heritage across the ages, just like the county’s famous Pond Pudding, there will definitely be a something you might not have expected inside.

Read more less

With a coastline that stretches from Plymouth to Seaton, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Dartmoor National Park, South Devon is a region that has an enviable selection of scenic treasures and cherished destinations. It is easy to see why so many holidaymakers come here to see the beaches, the Dartmoor wilderness, the rolling hills, river valleys, picturesque villages and historic harbour towns. In 50 Gems of South Devon landscape photographer Gary Holpin takes the reader to some of his favourite places within the region. Together with some well-known holiday locations, Gary highlights a diverse range of places across South Devon, East Devon and Dartmoor. He includes secluded estuaries, sheltered copses, remote Dartmoor tors and stone circles. This superbly illustrated book will appeal to residents and tourists alike.

Read more less

North Shields and Tynemouth, historically united, lie on the north bank of the River Tyne. North Shields grew up as a fishing port serving the Priory of Tynemouth on the headland. As other industries moved into North Shields, particularly shipbuilding, the town expanded from its site along the riverbank to accommodate the workers, absorbing villages nearby. Latterly, much of the town, including its historic quayside area, has been regenerated. Nearby Tynemouth remained smaller and today attracts many visitors to its beaches and historical landmarks, particularly the castle and priory. In North Shields & Tynemouth Pubs, author Eileen Burnett takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the towns’ watering holes. Many of the pubs have retained features and traditions of previous ages, and she reveals the variety of North Shields’ and Tynemouth’s pubs, including the characters that have frequented or run the public houses over the years. Brimming with quirky tales and fascinating facts, this carefully crafted guide initiates readers into the history of North Shields’ and Tynemouth’s pubs.

Read more less

On 1 April 1974, the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive was created by merging the municipal bus fleets of Bradford City Transport, Halifax Corporation with Calderdale Joint Omnibus Committee, Huddersfield Joint Omnibus Committee and Leeds City Transport. The new WYPTE was divided into four districts: Bradford, Calderdale (previously Halifax and Todmorden), Kirklees (previously Huddersfield) and Leeds. A new livery of cream and light green slowly but surely began to replace the blue and cream of Bradford, the orange, green and cream of Halifax, the red and cream of Huddersfield, and the two shades of green of Leeds. With over 1,500 vehicles and more than 6,000 staff along with the numerous garage and depot facilities, this was a huge operation. By 1976 changes were being made to the livery – while retaining the colour scheme much of the lining details were replaced and the district name under the Metro logo gave way to Metrobus. The photographs in the book illustrate this process of absorption of the bus fleets of Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Leeds from before 1974 up to the end of the decade.

Read more less

Plymouth is steeped in history, from the prehistoric remains discovered at Cattedown, the Bronze Age trading settlement at Mount Batten and the Roman burial grounds at Stonehouse to the Pilgrim Fathers’ departure from the Mayflower Steps, the hard-fought battles of the Civil War and the Blitz during the Second World War. In A–Z of Plymouth local author Derek Tait takes the reader on a tour through the history of this Devon city. Here are the stories behind its notable streets and buildings, and the dark secrets of its hidden lanes and alleyways. The author highlights aspects of Plymouth’s colourful maritime heritage and introduces us to some of its famous sons and daughters. With strong associations to Nancy Astor, Sir Francis Drake, William Bligh, Lawrence of Arabia, Admiral Hardy and Charles Darwin, as well as tales of slavers, pirates, suffragettes, mutineers and executions, the city is rich in stories of discoveries, triumphs and disasters, all adding to its compelling history. Fully illustrated throughout, this book will be of interest to visitors, residents and all those with links to this port city.

Read more less

Julius Caesar is part historical figure and part legend. He was a complex individual, a brilliant politician, a successful general, an accomplished psychologist. He grew up in a world where political and military careers were inextricably intertwined, and he excelled at both. In his youth he was considered vain and a little foppish, but showed nerves of steel when he defied the Dictator Sulla - and survived. Bending to someone’s will was not in Caesar’s make-up. He came late to a position of supreme power, and though his policies embraced pragmatic, sensible measures designed to solve the problems that beset the Republic, it was his dictatorial methods rather than his ideas which caused resentment. Unfortunately, when his assassins killed him, hoping to liberate the state from what they saw as his tyranny, they had formulated no plans for the government of the Roman world. By murdering Caesar, the assassins provoked a prolonged series of civil wars, and the rise of Augustus, the all-powerful first Emperor, who took up where Caesar left off. In this new appraisal of his life, Patricia Southern sheds light on the man behind the legend.

Read more less

Southdown Motor Services, renowned for their impressive fleet of green and cream buses and coaches, also operated an impressive fleet of ancillary vehicles. In this book, Simon Stanford shares some of the great variety of vehicles between the 1960s and the company’s acquisition by Stagecoach in 1989. This includes training buses, tree-loppers, lorries, vans and more.

Read more less

Everyday Life in Victorian London explores the daily lives of adults and children, aristocracy and middle classes, working poor and the ‘submerged tenth’ underclass. It shows the different faces of London, with its many extremes and contrasts – by day and by night; busy and peaceful; ugly and beautiful; safe and dangerous. It looks at the River Thames and its importance; the City, West and East Ends; at work, leisure, health, hospitals, education, food, clothes, housing, shops and markets, transport and infrastructure, public services, crime, the police and prisons, immigrant communities, and important events such as the Great Exhibition of 1851 and Queen Victoria’s golden and diamond jubilees. Daily life in the capital will be explored at three levels – above ground (views from hot air balloons), at ground level, and below ground (the sewage system, the underground railway and cemeteries). A central theme is the rapid growth in population throughout the century due to immigration from the countryside and abroad, and the resulting expansion into ‘The Monster City’. The final chapter describes London at the end of the century with improved transport, a newly embanked Thames, a sewage system, housing for the poor, public buildings, hospitals and prisons – a transformed capital of a great empire and the embryo of the London we know today.

Read more less

A stranger has come To share my room in the house not right in the head, A girl mad as birds – Dylan Thomas, ‘Love in the Asylum’ With the advent of ‘care in the community’ for the mentally afflicted, the self-contained villages for the apparently insane have now been consigned to the history books. These once bustling Victorian institutions were commonly known in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the ‘county asylum’ or the ‘pauper lunatic asylum’, and were an accepted and essential part of society for nearly two centuries. It is difficult to believe that in 1914 there were 102 such asylums, accommodating over 100,000 patients, the majority of whom lived their entire lives under care and treatment. Today, with the exception of those that have already been demolished, these buildings now lie empty and derelict, or have been converted for contemporary living. Through this photographic book we journey into the inner sanctum of a world of lost dreams, where hope was more often than not unwillingly traded for an uncomfortable acceptance.

Read more less

Lincolnshire has many well-known stories of the supernatural, among the best known of which is that of the Lincoln Imp. In this book author Daniel J. Codd explores the supernatural lore of Lincolnshire. It includes all manner of phenomena, from forgotten poltergeist incidents and village miracles to recent allegations of werewolf and yeti-type creatures seen in the wilds of Lincolnshire. There are many hitherto unpublished accounts such as reports of the ghost of a small man who appeared to builders renovating a house in Lincoln; a ghostly lady who approached a house in Skellingthorpe (whereupon previously unnoticed footprints were found in concrete outside the door); and a phantom Second World War soldier who crossed a road leading to his old house in Lincoln. There are also stories of UFOs, two tall humanoid figures seen crossing wasteland, monkeys and panthers running wild, and a smoky cross that allegedly appears outside Scunthorpe’s hospital when someone is about to die. Paranormal Lincolnshire takes the reader into the world of ghosts, spirits and poltergeists in the county, following their footsteps into the unknown. It captures the spectrum of ghosts, haunted places, UFOs, strange creatures and weird phenomena reported across the county, old and new. These tales will delight ghost hunters and fascinate and intrigue everybody who knows Lincolnshire.

Read more less

This concise book follows the journey of this quintessentially great British invention, often thought never worthy of a picture, and celebrates the mundane with its fascinating history, aided by unique pictures rarely seen before. From lawnmowers that manicured the gardens of great palaces to those that groomed the hallowed turf of Wembley, Wimbledon and golf courses and cricket grounds around the world, this book features a variety of machines and their stories. Also included are significant examples such as the first lawnmower and the fastest, as well as some ‘Lawnmowers of the Rich and Famous.’ This unique book follows the story from before the invention of animal-powered grass cutting machinery and the internal combustion engine up to the present-day robot mowers and into the future.

Read more less

Although little is recorded of its earlier history, Salford is a city of great antiquity. In 1228, Henry III granted the Lancashire town the right to hold a market and an annual fair. Centuries later, it was the Industrial Revolution that had a phenomenal impact, with Salford becoming one of the greatest cotton towns. With the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894, the newly built docks in Salford became another major factor shaping the local economy. Today the city is made up of five districts: Salford, Eccles, Worsley, Irlam and Cadishead, and Swinton and Pendlebury. Home to 220,000 people, Salford is constantly changing and moving into an exciting future as a thriving cultural, economic and residential location. In Salford in 50 Buildings, authors Carole O’Reilly and Paul Rabbitts uncover fifty of the city’s architectural treasures and landmarks from across the centuries. These are the places that reflect the city’s history and tell the stories of its people and their way of life. Among those featured are university buildings, the cathedral, Irlam railway station, Worsley Old Hall, Ordsall Hall, together with schools, shops, pubs and churches. Each one chronicles a fascinating aspect of the city’s cultural, social and industrial heritage. From urban buzz to greenbelt tranquillity, Salford is building on the mixture of its waterfront, urban and countryside environments to create places where people want to live, work, invest and visit. Its modern structures reflect this change including iconic buildings such as the Lowry Theatre and Salford Quays. The city celebrates its Victorian heritage as well as embracing the future with stunning new architecture.

Read more less

Ida Nettleship was a flamboyant Bohemian who gave up a promising artistic career to marry Augustus John. She had five pregnancies in just six years, lived with Augustus and his mistress in a ménage à trois, and died exhausted in childbirth aged thirty. Ida’s story of unconventional love is equalled by two other Bohemian women of the same era: Picasso’s first love Fernande Olivier, who was prominent in the Paris art scene, and the writer Sophie Brzeska, who lived with the artist Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, nineteen years her junior - he would die in the First World War and Sophie’s slow descent into mental instability would begin. Bohemian Lives follows the achievements and sacrifices of the three women and how their lives overlapped and contrasted, in education, childbirth, illness, marriage - and psychological disintegration. All three women had a huge influence on their more famous partner and challenged the accepted model of male–female relations of the time. At once touching and harrowing, their struggles for recognition in their own right hold a mirror up to the prejudices of an age - and what being ‘bohemian’ really meant.

Read more less

In 1562, Elizabeth I, the last of Henry VIII’s children, lay dying of smallpox, and the curse of the Tudor succession again reared its head. The queen was to recover, but the issue remained: if the queen did not produce an heir, who was next in line to succeed? Lady Arbella Stuart was cousin to both the English queen and James VI of Scotland, a woman whose parents’ marriage had been orchestrated to provide an heir to the English throne. Raised by her formidable grandmother, Bess of Hardwick, Arbella lived her life in Elizabeth’s shadow and, unfortunately, at her mercy. In this book, Jill Armitage revitalises Arbella’s tale, focusing on her lineage, her life and her legacy. Through her story we discover a well-born, well-educated woman desperate to control her own fate, but who is ultimately powerless against those in the scheming Tudor court; and the author explores the harsh consequence that comes from being on the wrong side of the revenge of a jealous, calculating queen.

Read more less

Although within close proximity to London, the county of Surrey is blessed with green open spaces, including the North Downs, the Weald and the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. All these make it a welcome escape from the frenetic pace and urban sprawl of the capital. The highest point in the county is Leith Hill, with its landmark eighteenth-century tower, one of the county’s many National Trust sites. First recorded as ‘Suthinge’ in AD 722, Surrey became a favourite royal hunting ground and today it is renowned as a centre of horse racing with courses at Epsom, Kempton and Sandown. Racing of another kind once took place at Brooklands, the scene of many record-breaking motoring feats, and during the Second World War aircraft were manufactured there. A museum now celebrates the site’s illustrious heritage. In Surrey in Photographs, professional photographer John Miller captures the spirit, essence and identity of Surrey in a series of superb images. He highlights the immense variety of places and landmarks to be found here ranging from rural to urban locations.

Read more less

Bournemouth was originally a deserted heathland on England’s south coast until the area was developed as a health resort in the early nineteenth century. The town grew rapidly in size and by 1900 Bournemouth was firmly established as a popular tourist destination and a fashionable home by the sea with grand hotels, gardens, a concert hall and a host of other cultural and entertainment venues. During the Second World War Bournemouth was a direct target, with aerial bombing raids destroying many homes and familiar buildings with a significant loss of life. The seafront was fortified and the beach mined and covered with obstacles as it was a possible target of invasion, and many iron structures were dismantled for the war effort. Communities learned to deal with rationing, air raids and large numbers of evacuees. The war had a devastating effect on local communities through the loss of life, the destruction of familiar places, the movement of people and the hardships experienced at home, but it was also a time of courage and fortitude in an effort to continue with everyday life. In this book, local historian and author John Needham has captured the tribulations of the times in words and pictures, telling the stories of many local men, women and children during this trying period. Bournemouth at War pays tribute to the people of this town who served, died and lived through the Second World War, and how they managed to endure in the face of the horrors of conflict.

Read more less

Heroines and harlots, political hostesses and mistresses, the women who lived in the great houses, and the thousands more who led more ordinary lives ‒ they all have a place in British history. Many lived and died without a lasting record of their existence beyond the register of births, marriages and deaths – perhaps not even there. But fortunately, some women did leave behind far richer evidence of their lives, itemised and expressed in the wills they wrote, providing a precious historical record that can be stitched together again today. Using women’s wills across the centuries, this book aims to tell something of women’s stories – the pioneers, the celebrities and the achievers, as well as the majority history ignored. Their bequests are fascinating and diverse, from ‘my best beaver hatt’ mentioned in Tudor times to great houses such as Chequers. They range from the Duchess of Windsor’s Cartier jewels at the top of society to the many wills of poorer women who left practical and personal possessions: pots and pans, household implements and tools for preserving, salting and cheesemaking, clothes passed down to friends and family, or a few pennies for their local church. This book will appeal to anyone interested in Britain’s story and the role women have played in it.

Read more less

Sussex is a mostly rural county, with rolling hills in the South Downs National Park, comprising ancient farmland of patchwork fields with sheep grazing the hillside. It includes the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and ancient villages, churches and castles. It also has a long stretch of rural and urban coastline, and a thriving community of seafront towns with a history in the fishing and maritime industry. Sussex in Photographs features local landmarks of both natural and man-made origin. The Sussex countryside is peaceful, and its views over the glacial valleys of the South Downs National Park are breathtaking. This book will take you through its ancient Saxon villages right through to the modern city streets of Brighton and Hove. These photographs capture Sussex in all seasons and all weathers, showing a county vibrant in colour and beautiful tranquillity.

Read more less

Pleasant smells have long been associated not only with health, wealth and good hygiene but also sound moral character; bad smells indicate lack of cleanliness, ill health, poverty ‒ and immorality. Throughout history, people have applied scents to their bodies and clothing. They have carried perfumed objects, worn scented jewellery, sent scented letters, even exchanged scented coins. Aromas have been used to perfume private houses and public spaces from the ancient world to today. Gaining an understanding of how scents were used allows us to get up close and personal to daily life in any given period. Some uses of scent are particularly revealing: the smell of the impressive quantities of blood spilt in the Colosseum of Ancient Rome was masked by a sprinkler system discharging saffron into the arena. Cosmus the perfumier’s scented pastilles designed to hide bad breath were famous enough to be lauded by the poet Martial. Leather gloves in the Renaissance period stank to high heaven and had to be perfumed. The first designer perfume was created by the fashion designer Paul Poiret in 1920, who scented the hems of the dresses in his collection. The ‘democratization’ of perfume by the introduction of synthetic scent is a fascinating story in itself. Susan Stewart’s analysis is in line with the very latest research into sensory history, tailored to the general reader.

Read more less