Search results for ""amberley publishing""
Amberley Publishing Women in Medieval England
This fascinating book explores the status of women in medieval England, both before and after the Norman Conquest. The author starts by contrasting the differences in status between Anglo/Danish or Saxon women with those who fell under the burden of the feudal system imposed by the Normans. She covers such subjects as marriage and childbirth, the rights and responsibilities of wives, separation and divorce, safety and security and the challenges of widowhood. She also examines such issues as virginity and chastity and the pressures placed on women by religious groups. At a time when women's rights were minimal, the author charts their struggles against the sexual politics of the era, its inequalities and its hypocrisies. She also examines the problems of the woman alone, from forced marriage to prostitution. The lives of ordinary women are the centre of attention, painting a fascinating picture of their courage and resilience against the background of their times.
£10.99
Amberley Publishing Black Death: A New History of the Bubonic Plagues of London
Evidence of the foulness and cruelty of the greatest catastrophe ever to hit London is still being unearthed under the streets of the capital today. The fresh plague pits containing thousands of skeletons uncovered during the construction of Crossrail are a reminder of the painful, drawn-out death suffered by Londoners as pustules and abscesses broke out all over their bodies. Plague has been a scourge of mankind since its onset in the sixth century. Its distinctive and repulsive symptoms, the excruciatingly painful effects inflicted on its victims, with a very high mortality rate, evoked a fear and repulsion that was caused by no other disease. Attempts to control its spread proved futile. The second plague pandemic in Europe began when the disease reached Sicily in October 1347. From there it spread remorselessly across the entire continent and erupted in London in the autumn of 1348, killing at least one-third, and perhaps one-half, of its inhabitants. As the largest city in England, London suffered a higher death-toll than any other community during the many subsequent outbreaks. Tudor and Stuart London was a city afflicted by plague, yet its population continued to grow inexorably, as it drew people from the rest of the country to replace the losses. Plague’s last visitation came in 1665 and was its most destructive, claiming at least 70,000 victims in the space of just eight months and becoming known as the Great Plague. The legacy of plague has been a dread that has scarcely been overcome even today.
£14.99
Amberley Publishing Railways Around Bedfordshire
For many long-distance rail travellers, the county of Bedfordshire is a part of the UK passed at speed on an express heading north to south on either the Midland Main Line or East Coast Main Line. Less well known is that the county also boasts a short stretch of West Coast Main Line running in the area around Leighton Buzzard. In this book John Jackson takes a more detailed look at these services that speed through the county, as well as the more localised services provided at the seventeen stations remaining on today’s rail map of Bedfordshire. Our journey takes us from popular commuter towns such as Bedford and Sandy to the ‘step back in time’ of the 16-mile rural branch line running westwards from Bedford towards Bletchley and Milton Keynes. There is a variety of freight traffic on offer, too, with most of the major rail freight players operating services on these three major rail arteries.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Robin Hood and Other ITC Swashbuckling Collectibles
From the mid-1950s through to the late 1970s Sir Lew Grade’s company ITC (Incorporated Television Company) were quite possibly the most dominant force in British television. The earliest series from this new company were predominantly swashbucklers or, more accurately, historical action adventure shows. The Adventures of Robin Hood was the first of these shows, proving to be extremely successful both in the UK and USA. It was soon followed by other shows of the same ilk. ITV channels in the UK quickly becoming dominated by not only Robin Hood, but other ITC programs including The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, William Tell, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel, The Buccaneers, Sword of Freedom and the last of ITC’s swashbucklers, Sir Francis Drake.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing MGR Coal Trains
As electricity became more widely used to power and light Britain’s towns and cities a number of municipal boroughs built their own power stations. In the early years these were inevitably fed by coal, of which the UK had a plentiful supply. In the 1960s and early 1970s the government embarked on a programme of constructing new power stations. The majority of these were constructed with direct rail-connected on-site coal handling facilities and thus was born the Merry-Go-Round, or MGR, coal train. The book features a UK panorama of a wide variety of coal trains on the move, with previously unpublished images from across many years and locations.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing River Thames Dockland Heritage: London Bridge to Greenwich
London’s docks were once the busiest in Britain. They had developed piecemeal from the beginning of the nineteenth century as the existing riverside wharves became too congested and pilfering became rife. Dock systems were built on both sides of the Thames. The largest group, ‘The Royals’ comprising the Royal Victoria, Royal Albert and King George V Docks, created the greatest enclosed dock area in the world. Changes in cargo handling methods such as containerisation led to all new developments being concentrated at Tilbury from the late 1960s, and the closure of the London docks, along with nearly all of the private riverside wharves and canal wharves. The London Docklands Development Corporation was set up to redevelop the dock sites. So what replaced the docks, and what remains to remind us of what was there before? This book follows the Thames Path, which has opened up much of what was once a largely hidden world, from London Bridge to Greenwich to examine the changes and the heritage that remains on both sides of the river. Also included is the Regent’s Canal, which took goods onwards into London and linked to the Midlands, and the sewer network that makes use of the Thames.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Rail Replacement Buses: London and the South East
Londoners, and London-bound commuters, rely heavily on the railways, the London Underground and Docklands Light Railway to get around. This means there is a constant need for maintenance, and sections of lines are often closed at weekends for track work and other enhancements to take place. Rail replacement buses are employed whenever there is not an easy alternative rail route. This book features a variety of companies and vehicles engaged on rail replacement services around London and the South East over the last fifty years.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Edinburgh, Granton and Leith Railways
In 1861, the Caledonian Railway, in its efforts to gain a foothold in Granton and Leith, opened a line from Slateford to Granton with a connection to Granton Harbour, where the Edinburgh, Dundee & Perth Railway (NBR) was already established. The CR further built, at great expense, an elevated line to Leith Docks in an effort to establish itself in one of Scotland’s busiest ports. Significant dock traffic never materialised and the CR’s 1903 Leith New Lines failed. The North British Railway meanwhile, in their attempt to keep the CR out of Leith, opened Leith Central station in 1903 – the largest station constructed in Britain from scratch in the twentieth century. The station was much larger than necessary and as such was never used to its full potential. It was converted in 1955 to a Diesel Maintenance Depot and in 1972 closed completely. With a wealth of superb rare and previously unpublished images, Kenneth G. Williamson tells the story of Edinburgh, Granton and Leith railways.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Dorset Railways Through Time
Dorset has always been an important railway county, catering for holidaymakers heading to the resorts of Bournemouth, Swanage and Weymouth. As part of the mid-nineteenth-century desire for railways to reach many parts of the country, a line from Southampton reached the county town of Dorchester in 1847. This was to become part of the London & South Western Railway. The Great Western Railway arrived in the county in 1857 with a line from Yeovil to Weymouth built to Brunel’s broad-gauge standard. Another name associated with the county was the Somerset & Dorset Railway, which opened between Bath and Poole in 1870. Development of the various lines are covered – their heyday was the 1950s when they were used by holidaymakers heading for the sunny south coast. Then came the Beeching closures, but also the electrification of the main line to Weymouth. The various routes within the county are covered by a wide selection of photographs, many of which have not been published before.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Local Authority Vehicles since 1970
Local government has undergone significant changes since the early 1970s. Firstly, in 1974, the county boroughs, urban districts and rural districts were replaced by district or borough councils operating under county councils. At this time local authorities were responsible for the operation of a large number of services within their boundaries including road construction, maintenance and cleansing; refuse collection and disposal; parks and playing fields; as well as education and social services. In the 1980s competitive tendering saw many services either contracted out to private companies or operated by in-house direct labour organisations. From 1996 another reorganisation saw the creation of many unitary authorities responsible for all services in the area – in much the same way that county borough councils operated until 1974. A large variety of vehicles, from pedestrian-operated pavement sweepers to maximum capacity articulated units, were used on these duties. This book looks at some of the vehicles in use by local authorities, from Devon to Scotland, since the 1970s.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing C&T Harris (Calne): An Illustrated History
This is the story of an empire founded on pigs. It tells of how a small town on the River Marden, once prosperous from the wool trade, became famous for its Wiltshire cured ham and bacon, tasty sausages and delicious pork pies. Products loved across the nation and world, and even consumed by royalty. At its peak the C&T Harris factory employed 2,000 people, processing 5,000 pigs a week, producing 100 tonnes of pies, sausages and cooked meats. The Harris brand remained strong by changing hands and merging with other companies, surviving until 1982. After its demolition the site was redeveloped, incorporating a new library, shops and houses. The name lives on in street names, public buildings and a recreation ground gifted to the town. Illustrated by a wide variety of images, some of which are previously unpublished, this is a fond tribute to an important contributor to the local economy and community.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Historical Railways Around the World
Historical Railways around the World is a carefully curated selection of vintage railway photos from all around the world. It was composed in the spirit of the time-honoured phrase that a picture is worth a thousand words, and transports the reader back to the golden age of steam locomotives in a stunning array of exotic and obscure locales. Using these stunning photographs, Alon Siton revisits a period in history where the railways stood at the centre of global events, and celebrates the power and variety of the world’s locomotives.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Railways of the British Empire: Africa
Long before Brexit, the Common Market and even the Commonwealth, Britannia truly did rule the waves. Perhaps more unsung is the fact that she also ruled the rails over much of the world, for Britain’s engineers effectively exported the Industrial Revolution and specifically the railway around the globe. This was especially true in that forerunner of the Commonwealth, the British Empire. In those parts of the world that were coloured pink on schoolroom maps, the rapidly expanding colonial railways were supplied by British companies like Neilson Reid, Bagnall, Kitson, Cravens and Cammell-Laird. This book tells the story of the expansion of the railways of the British Empire in Africa, featuring stunning photographs, contemporary maps, posters, travel brochures and extracts from other interesting documents.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Carps: The Rugby World Cup's Father: The Biography of John Kendall-Carpenter
John Kendall-Carpenter was a truly extraordinary man. He captained the England rugby team in the early 1950s, when he was widely regarded as one of the cleverest and most tactically astute players in the world. At the same time he launched out on a career in education which saw him not only hold the headmastership of three well-known public schools but also play a prominent role in the Headmasters’ Conference in its negotiations with the Labour Government in the 1970s to ensure the continued independence of that sector. In addition, the first Rugby World Cup simply would never have happened without him. President of the Rugby Union in 1980, he was then elected as England’s representative on the International Rugby Board where his role was to defend the amateur code which was coming under increasing pressure from professionalism. His conversion to the cause of international rugby and the commercial potential of the Word Cup, with his subsequent passion and energy, was instrumental in getting the first World Cup in 1987 off the ground and also paved the way towards the professional game. He then threw himself into the planning of the next World Cup but sadly died just a year before it started in 1991. John Kendall-Carpenter was remarkable man with many friends – and a few enemies! – not only in sport, but in education, the theatre, among politicians and writers. He is still a legend in Cornwall – his adopted home. This biography will appeal to every dedicated rugby supporter as well as those interested in sport in general and how rugby emerged from the fields of English public schools to the huge commercial sporting event it is today.
£16.99
Amberley Publishing Leyland Atlanteans: The Twilight Years
From its launch in 1958, the Leyland Atlantean played a pivotal role in the British bus industry. The first double-deck bus in the UK to offer the now commonplace layout of front entrance and rear engine, the Atlantean enjoyed an uninterrupted production run of nearly thirty years, with examples put into service throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. In this book, Howard Wilde reflects on the later years, from the end of production in the mid-1980s to the present day, featuring a colourful selection of Atlanteans in different roles. The selection pays tribute to this true workhorse of the UK bus industry: a bus that will, at some time or other, have transported many members of the UK bus-using population to work, school or play.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Swingin' London: A Field Guide
The term Swinging London entered the language in 1965 when Time magazine ran a cover story on the subject. More than fifty years later, the idea is still very much alive. This book takes the reader to the places that made London swing. Fully illustrated throughout, Swingin’ London: A Field Guide looks at some of the most important locations in the scene and reveals what became of them. It is based on extensive research and entertaining reminiscences by the bright young things who frequented them. They include Private Eye cartoonist and A Whole Scene Going On presenter Barry Fantoni, Groupie author Jenny Fabian and artist Duggie Fields, as well as some late greats like actress Anita Pallenberg, ‘Social Deviant’ Mick Farren and album cover designer Storm Thorgerson. The result is an affectionate and informative tribute to a bygone era – a time when London appeared to be the centre of life on earth.
£16.99
Amberley Publishing Newcastle in Photographs
Newcastle, which lies on the north bank of the River Tyne, has been a major city in the north-east of England since the Middle Ages. The stone castle, from which it derives its name, still stands, and the city first became prosperous because of its coal trade, later developing as a centre for shipbuilding and other heavy engineering. Newcastle has retained much of its eighteenth- and nineteenth-century fabric while developing itself as a modern city in recent decades. Heavy industry has declined but the city has regenerated many areas, as well as building exciting new developments, attracting many to this thriving city. For those who are proud to live in Newcastle, as well as those visiting, this book is a must. Look through these photographs and you will quickly see why this city has such enduring appeal.
£17.99
Amberley Publishing Aberystwyth Reflections
Variously called the ‘Biarritz of Wales’, the ‘Cambrian Brighton’ and, by Wynford Vaughan Thomas, ‘A town for the unambitious man’, Aberystwyth has been mid-Wales’s premier holiday resort for over 200 years. It is also the home of a vibrant university. Both these functions have contributed to a rich visual culture documenting the town. In Aberystwyth Reflections, local author William Troughton has brought together a fascinating collection of historic and modern photographs that are individually merged to reveal how the town has changed across the decades. As an established resort the promenade area, with its pier, bandstand, pierrots, paddling pool and seafront hotels, features in many of the images. Pictures of streets, shops, notable events, military camps, funicular and narrow-gauge railways, the harbour and vanished buildings are also included. A section looks at the development of the university campus during the 1960s and 1970s. This evocative visual chronicle, which features many previously unpublished photographs, reflects Aberystwyth past and present. It will appeal to residents, visitors and anyone with connections to the town.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing The Sun Must Set: Britain's Betrayal of India
Demolishing the myth that British rule was on the whole advantageous to India, Andrew Hyde shows how Britain’s pursuit of profit brought about the deindustrialisation and impoverishment of the country over centuries and how its celebrated feats of engineering incurred tremendous financial, social and ecological cost. India’s industries were suppressed and manufacturers subjected to unfair competition and tariffs. Wealth was drained first by the East India Company, and then the Crown. Indians were impeded from participation in administration, allowing Britain to pursue its policies almost without restraint. Ultimately, this dependency meant the masses became poorer and more susceptible to famines. After the end of British rule, problems remained, with India and Pakistan emerging as heavily armed states and engaging in frequent wars that continue to absorb much of their national income. Today’s concerns include attitudes to religious minorities, self-determination, and freedom of speech, along with the continuing crisis in Kashmir.
£22.50
Amberley Publishing Class 08 Locomotives in Scotland
Since their introduction in the 1950s, the Class 08, the most common type of British Rail shunter, has been found in almost every area of the UK. These machines carried out the shuntings and movements around stations and yards, with most depots carrying an allocation. A number have survived into preservation, but at one time more than 200 could be found in Scotland. This book covers 08s from the BR era through privatisation and beyond, and features a range of different locations around Scotland. With a wealth of previously unpublished images, this book will delight Scottish rail enthusiasts both young and old.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Burma: A Soldier's Campaign in 20 Objects
Captain John Alexander served in the Royal Engineers and was posted to the 17th Indian Division, known as the Black Cats, which was sent into Burma against the Japanese as part of the 14th Army. John’s unit was 60 Indian Field Company. After the capture of Hong Kong and the fall of Singapore in February 1942 the Japanese army advanced into Burma, catching the Allies ill-equipped and unprepared. Rangoon fellin March, thus beginning a long fighting retreat by the Allies through thick jungle to the northwest frontier with India. But the Allies regrouped and fought back, and in 1944 fierce fighting, culminating in the battles of the Admin Box, Kohima and Imphal, caused the Japanese forces to begin to withdraw. At the beginning of 1945 the 14th Army launched a successful offensive pushing the Japanese southwards before them. Mandalay was retaken and then Rangoon in May 1945. The Japanese Army finally surrendered on 15 August 1945. Many histories of the Burma Campaign have been written, and the terrible conditions of jungle warfare against a brutal enemy are well known. John Alexander returned home on leave before the end of the conflict with his body weakened by fever, jungle sores and dysentery, and his mind affected by what we now call PTSD. But he also brought back with him a collection of ‘souvenirs’ from the campaign – artefacts that range from Japanese currency and cigarettes to letters, swords, a bayonet, sketches, and his own diaries, letters and decorations. This book will be a reflection on the personal stories behind this terrible and often forgotten war, looking at the conflict both from a British and a Japanese perspective. Through an examination of these artefacts, the horror and humanity of the combatants who took part in this far-away conflict will be vividly brought to life.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Steam Around Doncaster in the 1960s
The 1960s saw the final hurrah of steam on the railways – the final period of steam-powered locomotives dominating the main line. This meant that a colourful array of traffic could be found across the length and breadth of Great Britain, and an army of enthusiasts both young and old dutifully recorded the nation’s rail scene. Here, in the first of a new series of book celebrating the steam of 1960s Britain, Keith W. Platt looks back at the fascinating array of traffic that could be found around the railway town of Doncaster. Packed with previously unpublished images, this is a book that will delight anybody with memories of steam around Doncaster or an enthusiasm for the area’s railways or history.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing The Hot Trod: A History of the Anglo-Scottish Border
The 2014 Scottish independence debate and the re-ignition of the SNP’s call for a second vote in the wake of Brexit - and indeed Brexit itself - begs a reappraisal of what nationality and borderer identity actually mean in the twenty-first century and how the past affects this. As a borderer and historian John Sadler is uniquely qualified to examine the border from Roman times to today. He’s been in these Marches all his life, read about their wild inhabitants, traversed every inch and studied every castle, bastle, tower and battlefield. In July 2010 in Rothbury, a latter-day outlaw, Raoul Thomas Moat, a vicious petty criminal and murderer, holed up in Coquetdale as hundreds of police tried to flush him out. Nasty as he was, he became a kind of instant folk hero to some. Four centuries ago, Moat would barely have been noticed on the border - just another Reiver. From the Hammer of the Scots, William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary, Queen of Scots, right through to today’s new nationalism, the story of the borderlands is tempestuous, bloody and fascinating. And a ‘Hot Trod’? If your cattle were stolen there was a legal requirement to pursue the rustlers within six days, otherwise you’re on a less enforceable Cold Trod.
£20.69
Amberley Publishing In Search of Aeneas: Classical Myth or Bronze Age Hero?
Aeneas is one of the most prominent heroes who fought at Troy, as told in Homer’s Iliad, and he is the subject of Virgil’s Aeneid. Both works lie at the heart of western civilisation and are fantastic adventures involving love and war, journeys across wine-dark seas and the destruction and founding of cities. Anthony Adolph analyses all the Greek and Roman myths about Aeneas to create the biography of a character who, though heavily fictionalised, may well have been a real person. In Search of Aeneas is essential reading for anyone interested in the links between classical mythology and ancient history, and the great empires of the Mediterranean. The author transports the reader on a fabulous journey in Aeneas’s footsteps through the archaeological sites of the ancient world, from Troy to Rome. He cuts through the complexities of the classical texts and academic papers, explaining what they say about Aeneas in straightforward terms. By rooting the myths in real places, he makes them more comprehensible, especially for newcomers to the story. Rather than be daunted by Aeneas as a semi-divine, mythological figure, Adolph has approached him as any genealogist should treat an ancestor, seeking to understand him in the context of his family and the era, and builds on the growing academic view that the core of the Iliad is based on real events.
£22.50
Amberley Publishing Yorkshire People
The largest county in England, Yorkshire encompasses modern cities, industrial heritage, historic towns and villages, wide landscapes of hill and moorland, fertile agricultural regions, a long and unspoiled coastline, and much more, in which the people of Yorkshire are at work daily. In this book professional photographer Charlotte Graham celebrates Yorkshire life in all its variety in a magnificent collection of stunning images. She portrays the many different faces of Yorkshire people at work through her own individual eye, not only those with unusual occupations but also those doing more everyday jobs who are often the unsung heroes. For those who are proud to live in Yorkshire, as well as visitors to the county, this book is a must. Look through these photographs and you will quickly see what makes Yorkshire special.
£18.99
Amberley Publishing Treasures of Roman Yorkshire
From the legionary fortress at York to the coastal lookout towers on the coast, and from the artisan potters of Crambeck to the brooch makers of Castleford, the history of Yorkshire has an indelible mark left upon it by the Roman period. The Romans built towns, forts, roads and ports and lived, worked and died in Yorkshire for over three centuries. Roman emperors even visited it. This book introduces, in an accessible way for all interested readers, the incredible archaeology that they left behind, from beautiful and unique objects to whole cities. Supported by high-quality illustrations throughout, this is the perfect starting point for anybody interested in the astonishing treasures the Romans left behind in Yorkshire.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Silverstone and Formula 1
For fans all over the world the thrilling partnership of Silverstone and Formula 1 has long represented one of the pinnacles of motor sport. Here the broad sweep of Silverstone’s Formula 1 history, a kaleidoscopic pageant of great cars and drivers, is explored in a new and highly accessible way through nine specific eras, each one delightfully and freshly illustrated: • The First Grand Prix and International Trophy (1948–49) • Forza, Alfa! Forza, Ferrari! (1950–51) • The Front-Engined Finale (1952–59) • Clark’s Dark Golden Age (1960–68) • The Stewart Dominance (1969–73) • The Hunt-Lauda Epoch (1973–79) • Three Titans: Prost, Mansell and Senna (1981–93) • The Schumacher Era (1994–2006) • New Heights: Hamilton and The Wing (2007 onwards) This photographic history of Silverstone and Formula 1 should appeal to motor racing fans everywhere, as it neatly captures the essence of what the highest level of a most demanding sport has meant to this very special venue.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing The Bus and Coach Today
The design of buses and coaches is constantly changing as new technology is developed and environmentally friendly and emission-related legislation evolves. In addition to more traditional vehicles, there are now choices between hydrogen-powered hydroliners, all-electrics, vehicles with electric driving mirrors and fully autonomous buses. In this extremely colourful and diverse book, Richard Walter takes you on a photo-filled trip round the world to explore how buses and coaches are changing and how older vehicles have adapted to meet the demands of operators. Jump on board to explore how things are evolving in recent years from the wilds of the Western Isles and the big UK cities like London, York, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow to exotic locations such as pink-sanded Bermuda, sunny Tenerife, busy Hong Kong and spectacular New York. The book also looks at some of the many demonstrators that operators have evaluated and how new products have been launched at events such as the annual UK Coach Rally in Blackpool and the Euro Bus Expo.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Preston Reflections
Preston has a rich history that fortunately was captured on camera from its days as a cotton town. In Preston Reflections, local author Keith Johnson presents a fascinating visual chronicle, reflecting on the endeavours and achievements of bygone generations that made the university city of today. This book shows readers glimpses of Preston past and present. There have been periods of poverty, progress and prosperity, and displays of pomp, pageantry and patriotism, all of which have left us with images to cherish. Every picture tells its own story and the images featured, which ingeniously merge historic and modern scenes in one view, reflect the changes through time in a unique and enchanting way. Each one enables you to linger in the past and compare the current view. Viewing the old and new images uncovers layers of history perhaps forgotten yet at the root of the lives of earlier generations. This superb collection of pictures cleverly mirrors life in Preston today and in bygone times.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Bideford Reflections
The North Devon town of Bideford, situated on the estuary of the River Torridge, has a long and fascinating history as a port. From its quays sailed the first colonising venture to the New World under Sir Richard Grenville. The first Native American to be buried in England lies in its churchyard. The town was home to the Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley, who set his novel Westward Ho! in the area, and its tourism industry went on to develop greatly. Still popular with visitors today, Bideford’s narrow streets lead to a tree-lined quay bustling with fishing vessels, cargo and pleasure boats. In this book, writer Peter Christie and photographer Graham Hobbs have chosen a selection of old and new photographs that are individually merged to reveal how Bideford has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures combines a recent colour view with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers have the opportunity to ‘step back in time’ and discover what life was like for previous generations. This fascinating visual chronicle reflects past and present glimpses of Bideford and will be enjoyed by residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the town.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing 50 Gems of Herefordshire: The History & Heritage of the Most Iconic Places
Herefordshire has had the mixed blessing of being a border county, predominately rural and far away from any metropolis. Lying between England and Wales, its past has been bloody, with raids and an unstable boundary. Borders are always porous and much Welsh influence can be found, especially in the west of the county. The county did not play a major part in the Industrial Revolution, which meant it became something of a backwater. Its unspoilt countryside provided a pleasant place to visit, but not such an easy place to make a living. Herefordshire can make the claim of being the birthplace of tourism as rich travellers, thwarted by the Napoleonic War from making the Grand Tour of Europe, found journeys down the beautiful River Wye some compensation. Now modernity is making changes to the county, with pressure for more houses, large-scale agriculture and the climate crisis all having their effect, but Herefordshire remains an intriguing and fascinating place. In 50 Gems of Herefordshire, local author David Phelps visits some of the favourite and lesser-known locations that reflect its heritage, culture and scenic splendour. From churches to castles and cider factory to cathedral, this is a county with much to discover and enjoy. Well-illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to residents and visitors alike.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Derelict Britain: Beauty in Decay
In this collection of remarkable images, photographer Simon Sugden has captured the beauty in buildings in their second life of decay and dereliction. These buildings have become abandoned, no longer in use for their original purpose, but the echoes of their former life, whether as human habitation or workplaces, can be seen as the buildings gradually decay. The buildings range from Yorkshire mills, farmhouses and fairgrounds to religious buildings, asylums and factories. Some of these buildings are returning to nature, others are little touched by the changes, but all have a new kind of beauty. Look through these photographs and you will quickly see the fascination of this unique portrayal of the afterlife of these abandoned buildings around Britain.
£17.99
Amberley Publishing Dieppe: A Necessary Failure
The Allied assault on the German-occupied port of Dieppe in France, code-named Operation Jubilee, took place on 19 August 1942. It was a battle that lasted for less than ten hours but it has gone down in history as a military disaster, often spoken of in the same manner as the Charge of the Light Brigade and Gallipoli. The German defences had been underestimated. The numbers killed, wounded and taken prisoner at Dieppe were shockingly high and none of the main objectives were realised. The Third Reich considered the raid as a military joke and it provided a textbook of ‘what not to do’ in future amphibious operations. Dieppe was the largest tri-service operation ever mounted up until that point, and even if the planning for the operation was woefully inadequate, it showed that the three services could coordinate their movements under one command. Many believe that Dieppe should not be looked upon as an isolated incident because then its purpose is totally obscured by its terrible cost. Put into context, it was one in a series of raids between Dunkirk and D-Day designed to test the defences of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, the most famous and successful being the attack on St Nazaire, which is still considered to be the greatest Commando raid of all time. Author Henry Buckton has searched the voluminous records of interviews with Canadian Dieppe veterans collected by Historica Canada to shed new light on this terrible – but perhaps necessary – failure.
£20.00
Amberley Publishing The Last Years of London's RFs and RTs: North of the Thames
The AEC Regal IVs and Regent IIIs, or to give them their class prefix letters RFs and RTs, are among the most revered buses to have served London over the years. The RFs were maids of all work and were tailored for private hire, Green Line coach work and ordinary stage bus work in both the central and country areas. The first of the type were introduced in October 1951 and a total of 700 vehicles were built for the London Transport Executive. They replaced virtually all the other types of single-deckers then operating in the metropolis. The RT was first introduced to service in 1939 and production ran to 151 vehicles before construction ceased in early 1942. Following the war, the Park Royal factory recommenced building the type in 1947, with the last new chassis being rolled out in 1954, taking the bonnet number RT4825. Both types soldiered on throughout the 1970s as LTE encountered severe problems with their ‘OPO’ replacements before both finally bowed out within a week of each other in March/April 1979. This account charts the last years of operation of both types from the mid-1970s onward, focusing on North London.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing King Arthur: The Man Who Conquered Europe
Who was King Arthur? That question has puzzled researchers for hundreds of years, yet still, no consensus has been reached. However, whether it is concluded that he was a Celtic king or a Roman officer, or something in-between, there is one conclusion that virtually all investigators agree on: he was some kind of war leader who fought against the Saxons in Britain. This is a fair conclusion, but it misses ‒ or ignores ‒ something crucial. In the legends of Arthur, he engages in a monumental campaign into Europe and wages war against the Roman Empire. Few researchers even attempt to offer an explanation for this, most simply dismissing it as fiction. The few theories that have been offered to explain the historical origin of this part of the legend are invariably unconvincing and do not address the scale of Arthur's campaign in the legend. In this book, the historical event behind this legend is revealed. Arthur's enemies are identified as real historical figures. Most importantly, the identity of the man who conquered Europe is discovered and it is shown exactly how he came to be known as King Arthur.
£9.99
Amberley Publishing From the Mill to Monte Carlo: The Working-Class Englishman Who Beat the Monaco Casino and Changed Gambling Forever
This is the story of a man who went from Yorkshire mill worker to Monte Carlo millionaire. Amongst the men ‘who broke the bank at Monte Carlo’, Joseph Hobson Jagger is unique. He is the only one known to have devised an infallible and completely legal system to defeat the odds at roulette and win a fortune. But he was not what might be expected. He wasn’t a gentleman or an aristocrat, he wasn’t a professional gambler, he was a Yorkshire textile worker who had laboured in the Victorian mills of Bradford since childhood. What led a man like this to travel nearly a thousand miles to the exclusive world of the Riviera when most people lived and died within a few miles of where they were born? The trains that took him there were still new and dangerous, he did not speak French and had never left the north of England. His motivation was strong. Joseph, his wife and four children, the youngest of whom was only two, faced a situation so grave that their only escape seemed to be his desperate gamble on the roulette tables of Monte Carlo. Today Jagger’s legacy is felt in casinos worldwide and yet he is virtually unknown. Anne Fletcher is his great-great-great niece and in this true-life detective story she uncovers how he was able to win a fortune, what happened to his millions and why Jagger should now be regarded as the real ‘man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo’.
£9.99
Amberley Publishing Illinois Railroads
The Midwestern state of Illinois, known as the Prairie State, is not known for its varied topography, but this mostly flat land was indeed very conducive to the construction of railroads. It is located at a place where east meets west as railroads interchange huge amounts of traffic at Chicago, the railroad capital of the nation. Because it hosts smaller industrial cities and huge agricultural areas in the northern and central parts of the state, combined with coal, petroleum and other natural resources in the south, it’s no surprise that today the ‘Land of Lincoln’ is criss-crossed by 7,151 miles of rail lines. Illinois is also at the centre of the nation’s rail network, and an incredible variety of railroad companies can be seen traversing the state. Through a collection of incredible colour photos, Mike Danneman takes the reader on a tour of the railroads of Illinois – from Chicago to Chester, and from the tunnel at East Dubuque to the high bridge at Metropolis.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing EMD Locomotives
Electro-Motive Division of General Motors was North America’s leading locomotive builder from 1945 to 1983. After the early years of custom-built motive power and trains, EMD took to the rails in a big way when it built its first freight locomotives in 1939. The FT locomotive put the future of steam locomotion on notice, and the classic bulldog nose styling became an icon of locomotive design. In 1949, the GP (for general purpose) was born of functionalism, with the Geeps morphing into a whole line of purely utilitarian freight locomotives that became staples on nearly every railroad in North America. Railroading’s desire for more horsepower introduced further refined series of locomotives with four-and-six-axle (and traction motor) versions available. Over the years, EMD locomotives have worn just about every colour of the spectrum. Within these pages is a vivid survey of thirty-five years of Mike Danneman photographs illustrating the EMD locomotive.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Burlington Northern: The Final Years
The 1970 merger of Northern Pacific; Great Northern; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; and Spokane, Portland & Seattle created a new super railroad spanning the northern and central United States over a 25,000-mile network. For twenty-five years, BN was one of United States’ premier railroads. In its first decade BN had its hands full, paring down duplicate lines and forming a cohesive system from all the predecessor railroads, as well as investing in the explosive growth of Powder River Basin coal shipments. By the early 1980s though, BN had clearly become its own railroad, decked out in uniform Cascade green and black paint. The BN of the 1990s experienced continued growth in intermodal, grain and coal traffic, along with adding more hues to the company colours. With wonderful original photographs, Mike Danneman takes a look at the last dozen years of the Burlington Northern before the merger with Santa Fe to form BNSF in 1995.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Winter Railroading
As days get shorter and seasons change, winter arrives with snow and ice. No matter how brief the day or severe the weather, railroads continue to haul tonnage and passengers through landscapes cloaked in snowy white. Scenery takes on an added dimension when mercury plunges to uncomfortable temperatures. A crisp winter setting with a train running through it, beautifully lit with low winter sunlight, is just as captivating as a scene of heavily falling snow muffling sights and sounds of a massive train following a white pathway of hidden rails. Even when travel gets tough and the snow gets deep—and it hurts to breathe and your face and hands sting—hardy men and mighty machines keep the tracks clear. Snow season isn’t for everyone, but this stunning collection of original photographs will delight any railway fan whether they be warm at home or braving the elements.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Bradford in Photographs
Bradford was a small market town in Yorkshire until the Industrial Revolution, when its proximity to coal, iron ore and water were instrumental in its fortunes. The city became a leading international textile manufacturer, nicknamed the ‘wool capital of the world’. The wealth brought to the city was demonstrated by the civic pride instrumental in the construction of the magnificent city hall and many other buildings. Although Bradford’s fortunes declined in the twentieth century as the textile industry shrank, much of the magnificent Victorian heritage of Bradford remains today, from its civic buildings, grand factory complexes such as Lister’s Mill and Titus Salt’s workers’ village at Saltaire, to Little Germany, the area where many Jewish-German immigrants set up their homes and businesses. In recent years Bradford has sought to redefine itself, presenting a post-industrial face with the development of the university, the popular National Science and Media Museum and plans to redevelop a shopping centre in the heart of the city. For those who are proud to live in Bradford, as well as those visiting, this book is a must. Look through these photographs and you will quickly see why this city in Yorkshire has such enduring appeal.
£17.99
Amberley Publishing Japanese Steam in the 1970s
Though the famous bullet train launched in 1964, many steam engines were still operational in Japan before withdrawal in 1975. These wonders of narrow gauge railway engineering have often gone unappreciated in Western countries – until now. Japan’s distinctive four seasons offer the perfect backdrop for the rail photographer, and allowed Yoshi Hashida to capture steam engines working against a variety of gorgeous backdrops and stunning settings, including mountain scenes and coastal views. This book showcases some of his best shots of steam engines hard at work from 1971 to 1975, focused mainly on Western Japan.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Trains Through Nuneaton
Nuneaton, the largest town in Warwickshire, sits on an important railway crossroads in the Midlands. At its Trent Valley station, the busy West Coast Main Line heads broadly north to south with the important link between Birmingham and Leicester crossing east to west. An equally important line heads south-east from the town, through Coventry and Leamington Spa, carrying local passengers as well as an important freight link with the docks at Southampton. This line to Coventry and beyond has had a chequered past and was one of many victims of the Beeching Axe before, fortunately, reopening to passengers in the late 1980s. The author has spent many thousands of hours watching and photographing rail movements through Nuneaton station. This publication takes a look at the considerable variety of both passenger and freight traffic on offer to the enthusiast, ranging from the everyday to the unexpected.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Britain by Night
The landscape of Britain is transformed at night when its man-made and natural landmarks are illuminated against a backdrop of magnificent stellar skyscapes. In the heart of our cities iconic structures are picked out and away from the built-up areas in our darker spaces the astral and lunar world takes to the stage alongside the landscape. In Britain by Night, photographer Mark McNeill has captured a huge variety of night scenery and skyscapes that show both natural and man-made Britain in a new light. He takes his camera from Scotland, the North East, the Lake District and the rest of the North West including Liverpool and Manchester, to Wales, the Midlands including Birmingham, the East of England, London, the South Coast and the South West. The images captured range from iconic locations such as the Sycamore Gap in the Northumberland National Park framing the Milky Way, the Ribblehead Viaduct, the Forth Viaduct, Jodrell Bank beneath the moon, to familiar landmarks such as the Cutty Sark picked out by light and the Liverpool skyline, our magnificent coast, atmospheric lakeside and mountain shots, and much, much more. Look through these photographs and you will quickly see the fascination of the night-time world of Britain beneath the stars.
£17.99
Amberley Publishing Gates of the City of London
In this book, author Alan Brooke highlights the historic gates of the City of London: Cripplegate, Aldgate, Aldersgate, Bishopsgate, Ludgate, Newgate and Moorgate. Originating in Roman times, they remained until they were all demolished between 1760 and 1767. Blue plaques mark six of their sites, and a bishop's mitre on a building shows where Bishopsgate once stood. This book examines the history of the gates, with chapters devoted to each one. A shorter section offers a summary of some of the water gates on the River Thames, including Billingsgate and Bridge Gate, where goods were unloaded from ships. Additionally, there were pedestrian-only gates such as Tower Gate and the postern gate at the Tower of London. There were also the Bars, the most famous of which is Temple Bar, which can still be seen at Paternoster Square. Illustrated throughout with archive material, photographs of present-day locations and a map, Gates of the City of London provides an important addition to the many books on London's rich and diverse history.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing The Pennines: Trains in the Landscape
The Pennine hills of northern England offer some of the country’s finest – and most diverse – landscapes. They have long been a magnet for the nation’s railway photographers, offering stunning vistas and dramatic backdrops to the elegance and power of a locomotive working its way through the scene. They offer the photographer the chance to capture something more than just a train. In this book, David Hayes offers a selection of stunning photographs captured in this special environment. Featured are the attractive limestone dales of Derbyshire, the windswept moorlands of the Settle & Carlisle, and the changing of the seasons as the full majesty and variety of this region comes to the fore.
£17.99
Amberley Publishing English Electric Diesel Locomotives
English Electric built their first diesel loco in 1936 and, before the company closed in 1968, built thousands of diesel and electric locos that saw service all over the world. They were among the companies chosen by BR to build prototype diesel locos for the Modernisation Scheme of 1955, which would see the replacement of steam traction by diesels and electrics. Locos were built to suit a wide variety of duties, some remaining in everyday service fifty years later. This book of mostly unpublished colour photographs from the collection of George Woods shows them in service all over the BR system from 1966 to 2019 working a wide variety of trains, both passenger and freight, in the great variety of liveries they wore both during their BR service and in later years under private ownership.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Scarborough in 50 Buildings
From its origins as a fishing town, Scarborough has become the largest holiday resort on the North Yorkshire coast. In this book, author Mike Smith highlights fifty of Scarborough’s architectural landmarks and notable structures, old and new. Through a fascinating and diverse selection of buildings he charts the development and changing face of the town. Scarborough’s two magnificent bays are separated by a headland bearing the remains of a Roman signal station and the gaunt ruins of a twelfth-century castle, the two oldest buildings featured in this book. The town’s spa buildings are a legacy of the discovery, in 1626, of health-giving springs that prompted the conversion of Scarborough into Britain’s first seaside resort. The Rotunda, conceived in 1829 by William ‘Strata’ Smith, the ‘Father of English Geology’, was one of the world’s first purpose-built museums, and when the Grand Hotel opened in 1867 it was Europe’s largest purpose-built hotel. Other buildings are included for their cultural associations with people such as the Sitwell family, while St Mary’s Church is the final resting place of Anne Brontë. Bringing this engaging architectural portrait of Scarborough right up to the present century, the author also highlights stylish seafront apartments and the Stephen Joseph Theatre, which is wrapped in the skin of a former art deco cinema. Illustrated throughout, Scarborough in 50 Buildings will be of interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to this favourite British holiday resort.
£15.99