Search results for ""The History Press""

Coronations are very public occasions, typically seen as meticulously planned formal ceremonies where everything runs smoothly. But behind the scenes at Westminster Abbey lie extraordinary but true stories of mayhem, confusion and merriment. In this book we travel through over a thousand years of England's history to reveal the real character of its kings and queens. Also packed with facts about how the service, traditions and accessories have changed over the years, Crown, Orb & Sceptre provides both a compelling read and an accessible and irreverent reference guide to one of the most spectacular ceremonies in England's heritage.

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From heart-stopping accounts of apparitions, manifestations and related supernatural phenomena, to first-hand encounters with phantoms and spirits, this collection of stories contains both new and well-known spooky tales from around the county of Essex. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources, Haunted Essex contains a chilling range of ghostly phenomena. From the well-known story of Robin the Woodcutter of Coggshall, to how Thundersley's 'Shrieking Boy's Wood' acquired its name, along with details of the horrific reign of Mathew Hopkins, Witchfinder General, this phenomenal gathering of ghostly goings-on is bound to captivate anyone interested in the supernatural history of the area.

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Once, Southampton was a medieval town borough and a thriving port. Now it is a glittering city, having risen like the proverbial phoenix from wartime ruins. Sadly the once great liner traffic did not rise again with it. Like the rest of Britain, Southampton had to find a new identity. This collection of photographs, enriched by Robert Cook's captions, charts the challenges and changes up to the present day, and a world in which there are no easy answers.

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The railways which operated in Worcestershire were controlled by the Midland Railway and the Great Western Railway, whose struggle for supremacy had considerable effect on the development of railways in the county. The most important route through the county linked the great industrial centres of the Midlands and the seaport of Bristol, while lesser routes included the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway, Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway, the Severn Valley Railway, and numerous branch lines. The photographs in this book illustrate not only the county's trains and locomotives but also many of the stations, locosheds and locomotive building works, and the picture is completed with timetables and shed allocation.

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Glastonbury, with the distinctive landmark of the Tor, is a familiar name to many. Its fame lies not simply in its renowned festival, but in its legendary associations with King Arthur and with Joseph of Arimathea, whose staff was supposed to have grown into Glastonbury Tor. Philip Rahtz has excavated extensively in and around Glastonbury, and disentangles the myths from the truths, giving a comprehensive survey of this remarkable place from the earliest times to the present day.

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It may come as some surprise that in such a popular area of military history there is no book that focuses on the experience of the Victorian soldier - from recruitment to embarkation, fighting and perhaps returning, perhaps dying - in his own words. Dr Manning's meticulous research in primary sources gives the lie to the received image of the disciplined, redcoated campaigner of Victorian art and literature: for one thing, by the time he arrived at his destination, the coat would have been in rags. The distances covered on march were unbelievable, through desert and disease-ravaged swamp. Lavishly illustrated throughout, all the major Colonial campaigns and most of the minor ones are featured. To understand how what was in reality a tiny standing army controlled the largest empire the world has ever seen, this book is a must.

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This exhaustive and affectionate history is crammed with information and rare pictures from the famous Shepperton Studios. From assistants to directors, producers, stars, prop men, production managers and studio executives, the author has interviewed over 200 industry people and has painstakingly researched the history of the studio site from its first recorded use in the Doomsday Book through its redevelopment as one of Britain's first major film studios in 1932. The studio has housed classic movies featuring comedy great Will Hay, to blood-churning horrors starring Todd Slaughter through the studio's covert use during the Second World War as a camouflage manufacturing plant and on to its reopening with great classics such as The Third Man, The Tales Of Hoffman, Dr Strangelove and I'm All Right Jack, and on to modern greats such as Flash Gordon, Alien, Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, The Crying Game, Chaplin, Gladiator, Troy, Batman Begins, The Da Vinci Code and The Golden Compass. This is their story.

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This is the story of how the Great War affected Biggleswade through the experiences of those who fought and those who remained behind. The book does not follow the pattern of many in this field in giving basic details of the men from communities who were killed during the Great War, but builds and humanises their stories in the context of the war, and how this impacted upon a typical town of the period. Letters from the men at the front feature throughout, and reveal the stoicism, fortitude, humour and determination of those who fought. The author uses his own research, war diaries and local newspapers to weave local, national and international strands of the story together. Out of a population of just over 6,000 Biggleswade saw 199 of its men killed, whilst hundreds of others were wounded. This fascinating account does not seek to glorify war but strives to ensure that these men are not forgotten, and that their sacrifice is remembered.

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There can be no better example of Victorian enterprise than the amazing success story of Blackpool whose pioneering spirit embodied all the unflagging, indomitable confidence of that age - "He who dares wins". This was the watchword, and bold publicity coupled with diligent application of the town's motto "Progress" proved it to be true.There were great natural advantages: 7 miles of flat, golden sands washed twice daily by no ordinary sea but "the bounding main". With the help of the railways, equally confident and zealous, the workers were speedily brought from sprawling, industrial areas and once in, they were captivated. Here was splendour in buildings and interiors envisaged only in fairy tales. Here was safe bathing (all the rage) and the facilities that went with it. Here was a cornucopia of entertainment and daylong merriment extending into night. Every Bank Holiday after the opening of Blackpool Tower signalled some new and entrancing addition to the pleasure domes. The crowds came in their thousands year after year, as children, with their own children, and with their grandchildren, to "wonderful Blackpool, the most progressive resort under the flag".This book is a truly wonderful record of the growth of Blackpool into the national treasure it is today.

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Ely in Old Photographs is a wonderful collection of archive images that records the life of Ely through the ages. Chris Jakes takes us on a journey, looking at the city's life, streets and businesses during the Victorian and Edwardian periods, between the wars and in the postwar era. He also includes detailed information on the evolution of the drainage system in the surrounding fens, upon which the prosperity of Ely has always depended. It also shows the consequences of its failure, when nature has triumphed over man's ingenuity. The final section of the book takes a look at the group of small villages which lie within the city boundary, but which are some 2 to 7 miles distant from the city itself. They all have their own character and sense of community, and are proud to be both separate yet part of the whole. From Ely Cathedral to the River Great Ouse, this book covers the history and heritage of Ely and the surrounding area, using images to bring the past to life.

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The vivid accounts in this book are taken from the early days of tank warfare and give an idea of the crucial role that tanks played in breaking the murderous stalemate on the Western Front. This influence was acknowledged by friend and foe alike and, while not decisive, it certainly hastened the end of that dreadful conflict, saving thousands of Allied lives and ushering in a new era of mechanised warfare. David Fletcher, the editor, draws his material exclusively from the archives of the world famous Tank Museum at Bovington Camp, Dorset. His linking narrative guides us through the war, battle-by-battle, from 15 September 1916 to the Armistice, using first hand accounts of the tank actions. A wealth of original photographs showing the tanks and their crews, both in action and at rest, support these vivid accounts. Tanks and Trenches is an invaluable aid to our deeper understanding of the war on the Western Front, seen as it is through the eyes of those who were actually there.

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The book covers the history of municipal transport in Luton from the first horse-drawn buses and the town's electric trams, through to the sale of the undertaking in 1970 to United Counties, the bus company which dominated services in the rest of Bedfordshire. The book includes comprehensive information on the buses operated by LCT and the routes they served. Much of this detailed reference material for the enthusiast is contained in the appendices, allowing the bulk of the book to be devoted to the narrative history of the company. This will have a nostalgic appeal as a local interest title to all who have lived and worked in Luton in the LCT era and beyond that to many bus enthusiasts nationwide.

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This is a terrifying collection of true-life tales of ghosts, poltergeists and spirits of all kinds in the streets, buildings and graveyards of York. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources, Haunted York contains a chilling range of ghostly phenomena. From the medieval stonemason who haunts York Minster to a re-incarnation mystery at St Mary's Church, the spectres of King's Manor, Micklegate Bar and Exhibition Square and the many spirits to be found in the city's public houses, this phenomenal gathering of ghostly goings-on is bound to captivate anyone interested in the supernatural history of York.

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This dictionary of Shropshire place-names examines their origins and meanings. It includes not only towns, villages and hamlets, but also rivers, streams, hills, fields and woods, as well as streets, buildings and public houses. A comprehensive description of the origin and evolution of each name is given, which brings to life the history of the place in a new and remarkably revealing way. Few are aware of the background of the names that are part of our everyday language, and Anthony Poulton-Smith brings this aspect of Shropshire's rich history to life.

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Sussex has a good claim to be the birthplace of the seaside pleasure pier, for although Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight has the earliest origins as a pier, the famous Chain Pier at Brighton was the first to be used as a fashionable promenade. There followed a rich succession of piers, as from the 1860s until around 1910 as they were constructed in Brighton West, Worthing, Bognor, Hastings and Eastbourne. In their heyday they were the place to be seen. Brighton even boasted a 'moving pier', the extraordinary Electric Railway, affectionately known as the 'Daddy-long-legs'. One of the country's finest piers, Brighton Pier suffered a decline in popularity in the 1950s and '60s, enduring a high-profile demise after dereliction from fire and storm damage. Nonetheless there is hope for it yet and the county of Sussex should be proud to have retained six of its piers including three of Britain's finest.

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Many people have written biographies of Charles Darwin, but the story of his family and roots in Shrewsbury is little known. This book, containing original research, fills that gap. The key player is Charles' father, Dr Robert Darwin, a larger-than-life character whose financial acumen enabled Charles to spend his whole life on research unencumbered by money worries. Through Susannah, Charles' mother, we are introduced to the Wedgwood family, whose history was so closely interwoven with the Darwins. The stories of Charles' five siblings are detailed, and there is a wealth of local material, such as information on Shrewsbury School and its illustrious headmaster, Samuel Butler. The book is fully illustrated with contemporary and modern pictures, and will be of interest to anyone wanting to discover more about the development of Shrewsbury's most famous son.

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This book is an entertaining romp through the history of our capital city from its origins as a simple market place in 50AD to the sprawling metropolis we know today. In it, the reader will discover many fascinating and unknown facts, ranging in timescale from the Romans to the twenty-first century. With chronological chapters dealing with themes such as royalty, politics, war, education, business and commerce, crime and punishment and transport, along with wonderfully illuminating accounts of the history of rhyming slang, words, street- and place-names, this is a revealing insight into London life through history. Other fascinating pieces of information on famous Londoners, famous firsts and events that shaped the city are also featured. Full of intriguing facts gathered from many years of research, this book will be a valuable addition to every Londoner's bookshelf.

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Set in the historic county of Essex, this gripping compilation includes stories of restless Vikings that still haunt their former sparring grounds; the distraught countryman of Canvey Island forever searching for his horse and cart; the mysterious haunted picture of 'Cunning' Murrell, the last witch doctor in England; spectres of a runaway funeral carriage; dastardly Harwich smugglers; strange wartime encounters; foul murders; weary ferrymen on storm-tossed nights; the sites of abandoned wrecks... With his flair for atmospheric storytelling, Robert Hallmann interweaves historical fact and reported ghost sightings with imaginary events to create perfect tales for reading under the covers on stormy nights. Illustrated with charcoal drawings and the author's own eerie landscape photography, this book will enchant readers time and again.

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King John long ago acquired the epithet 'Bad,' and he is reputed to be the worst of England's kings. Before his death in 1216, his desperate exploitation of his subjects for ever more money had turned him into the mythical monster of Hollywood legend. In marked contrast to his brother Richard, John appeared incompetent in battle, failing to defend Normandy (1202-04), and was unsuccessful in recovering his lost lands in 1214. A continuing crisis was a constant need for money, forcing John to drain England of funds for campaigns in France, demanding unlawful and oppressive new taxes. Adding to his evil reputation was an ill-tempered personality and a streak of pettiness or spitefulness that led him to monstrous acts, including murdering his own nephew. King John's unpopularity culminated in a final crisis, a revolt by the English baronage, 1215-16, aimed at subjecting him to the rule of law, that resulted in his grant of Magna Carta.

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Roman towns and villas on the Bay of Naples are among the best know to the modern public, largely because some, including Pompeii and Herculaneum, were buried under ash, pumice and mud, when nearby Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, preserving them for our benefit. Before modern development the Romans would have seen these places in a system of towns and countryside. Our knowledge of this area is continually being added to by new discoveries, excavation and research. This book offers an up-to-date description of the remains, how they were used in Roman times and a guide to visiting them. It covers not only the better known sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, but also the other Roman remains in the area which were much more important, including Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli) and Naples itself. This book will appeal to enthusiasts, tourists and students alike.

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The many influences of the past on our diet today make the concept of 'British food' very hard to define. The Celts, Romans, Saxons, Vikings and Normans all brought ingredients to the table, as it were, and onwards the Crusades gave us all manner of spices. The Georgians enjoyed a new level of excess and then of course the world wars forced us into the challenge of making meals from very little. The post-war period brought convenience foods, and health issues which are being felt widely now. This is the first study of the rich history of our food, its fads and its fashions to be combined with a practical cookbook of over 200 recipes from each age for use today. Offerings include tasty beach BBQ ideas from Celtic times, a hearty Roman Army lentil stew and ideas for festive feasts from every period.

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Les Pugh is well known in the Stroud area for his absorbing memories that have appeared over the years in the Stroud News & Journal. Recalling life from the early 1900s, these columns have now been collated into this fascinating book giving a glimpse of a life few now remember. Ninety-three-year-old Les vividly recollects his childhood, particularly his schooldays at Eastington C of E School before he moved on to Marling Grammar School in Stroud. After leaving school he worked at R.A. Lister in Dursley for forty-nine years and recounts his fellow workers with admiration and kindness. Included are fond memories of his marriage to childhood sweetheart Peggy, their life together with daughter, Rosemary, and the hardship and community spirit of the war years.

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For over a thousand years Greenwich was the site of a thriving ship and boatbuilding industry. A variety of ships were built up and down the Thames, but it was here on the south bank of the river where London's shipbuilding evolved when the Royal Docks of Deptford and Woolwich were established by King Henry VIII, who's palace stood between the two at Greenwich. On Greenwich Peninsular, Greenwich Marsh, all types of river craft and sea-going vessels were once built, and the marsh area gradually became a vast commercial zone for the manufacture of all types of shipping and industrial commodities. The riverfront itself was filled with cranes, wharfages and ships loading or un-loading their cargoes. A multitude of river craft, from small rowboats to giant steamers, once made their way along this point in the river, and the boroughs of Greenwich, Deptford and Woolwich became synonymous with new technology and engineering.

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Stirling District, which includes parts of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, is one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland - and one of the most mysterious. This is a comprehensive guide to the county' ancient sites and archaeological curiosities, from tourist attractions such as Stirling Castle and Dunblane Cathedral to strange carvings, stone circles, healing wells and hidden cairns. With countless tales of encounters with ghosts, magical beings and monsters, a full list of all Stirlingshire's witch trials and the real story of Robert Kirk, the 'Fairy Minister', who is reputed to have been abducted by the Little Folk in the seventeenth century, this fascinating addition to Geoff Holder's best-selling series will delight residents, walkers and tourists alike.

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The Wrekin Brewery of Wellington, Shropshire, was in business for 100 years from 1870 until 1969. Of all the breweries in east Shropshire, it was the most successful. From 1929, the brewery actively pursued a programme of public-house acquisition which resulted in an unprecedented area being provided with its award-winning ales, stretching to include towns throughout Shropshire, Herefordshire and Powys. Most of the photographs included in the book have never been published. and are supplemented by chapters revealing a brief history of the brewery and the nature of its public houses.

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The history of East Sussex theatres is particularly fascinating due to the sheer variety of venues that hosted plays, opera shows and musical entertainment.Tina Lakin's interest in the rise and fall of the many piers in the county where extravagant balls and concerts were held, led her to discover the weird and sometimes tragic tales that have arisen in these spectral structures.Included in the book is a history of entertainment, from Greek tragedies to the rise of the music hall and circus acts through to the modern-day tattooist shows and successful events at Glyndebourne. From the spectre of a waif-like orphan searching for the glamour of the theatre, a phantom orchestra playing on a seaside promenade to the ghost of an unrequited backstage love affair the tales will both surprise and mystify the reader.Illustrated with over fifty unusual images, the tales will enchant the lovers of ghost stories and those interested in the rise and decline of entertainment on Britain's south-east coast. Accompanied by interesting pictures of bygone times as well as some contemporary images, a complete history of area's theatrical hauntings are gathered here. This collection of thought-provoking eerie tales is sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in the paranormal or theatre history.

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Human remains can answer all sorts of questions about our ancestors - what sort of diet they ate, what age they lived to, what sort of living conditions they experienced and how they died. The Neolithic is the earliest period from which significant numbers of human burials survive in Britain. This book looks at the history of the study of such burials and how new scientific techniques have massively expanded what we know about our Neolithic ancestors. As well as the treatment of the dead, issues such as health and subsistence are considered, along with evidence of conflict and also the extent to which the people of Neolithic Britain can be considered a distinct population. This is the only book specifically dedicated to human remains from the Neolithic and fills an important gap left by other books on the period.

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This book examines the role of Akeman Street, the Roman road stretching from St Albans to Cirencester, in a unique and unusual way, choosing to look not at the technology of the Roman road, as more traditional studies do, but rather to look at the 'human' aspect of the road, by examining its effect on the peoples of the surrounding landscape. Tim Copeland looks at the people who would have travelled this road, what effect these travellers and the road itself had on the settlements and countryside through which Akeman Street passed and how the changing history of Roman Britain from its beginnings in the first century to its end in the fourth was echoed in the story of this most Roman of constructions.

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Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, was one of the most notorious pirates ever to plague the Atlantic coast. He was also one of the most colourful pirates of all time, becoming the model for countless blood-and-thunder tales of sea rovers. His daring exploits, personal courage, terrifying appearance, and fourteen wives made him a legend in his own lifetime.The legends and myths about Blackbeard have become wilder rather than tamer in the 250 years since his gory but valiant death at Ocracoke Inlet. It is difficult for historians, and all but impossible for the general reader, to separate fact from fiction. Author Robert E. Lee has studied virtually every scrap of information available about the pirate and his contemporaries in an attempt to find the real Blackbeard. The result is a fascinating and authoritative study that reads like an exciting swashbuckler. Lee goes beyond the myths and the image Teach so carefully cultivated to reveal a new Blackbeard - infinitely more interesting as a man than as a legend. In the process, he has captured the spirit and character of a vanished age, ‘the golden age of piracy.’

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Wapping, once a vital part of the Port of London, has undergone many changes since the Second World War. Slum clearance, the closure of the docks and redevelopment have irrevocably altered the landscape of the area. This volume, combining the memories of over thirty people of Wapping during the earlier part of the twentieth century with a painstakingly researched historical narrative of the area, provides an important legacy of an age which has now vanished and a community which has changed forever. Whilst working as a GP in Wapping for twenty years, Martha Leigh became fascinated in the first-hand memories from people who had lived and worked in the area between the First and Second World Wars. As well as recreating a view of working-class life in an enclosed community during the period, the book covers the decline of the docks, family life, work, housing and leisure as well as tackling more esoteric subjects such health, gender roles and attitudes towards Jews.

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This creepy collection of true life tales takes the reader on a tour through the streets, cemeteries, alehouses, attics and docks of Liverpool. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources and containing many tales which have never before been published, it unearths a chilling range of supernatural phenomena, from the Grey Lady of Speke Hall to the ghost of John Lennon airport. Copiously illustrated with photographs, maps and drawings, this book will delight anyone with an interest in the supernatural history of the area. It is the first complete guide to the paranormal history of the region.

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Few kings deserve more than David I the reputation as ‘maker’ of his kingdom. Although overshadowed in popular memory by his descendant, the later ‘saviour’ of Scotland, Robert Bruce, it was David who laid the foundations of the medieval Scottish monarchy and set in train the changes that created the kingdom that vied with England for mastery of the British Isles. In a reign spanning nearly three decades, David moved his kingdom from the periphery towards the heart of European civilisation.

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Capitol Days is the story of the Capitol Cinema in Cardiff from its opening in 1921 through its heyday, its painful decline and eventual closure in 1978. Featuring many first-hand accounts and contemporary press cuttings, Capitol Days illustrates how both the public and significant figures reacted to the events of the day and analyses the motives behind some of the key decisions taken by the owners and proprietors. This book takes a fond look back at former times, when cinema truly lay at the heart of the community.The Capitol, due to its central location and distinctive decor, was more successful than most, and was often full to capacity both in the early days for hit films such as The Wedding Singer (1927) through to performances in the 1960s by Bob Dylan and The Beatles, and the live screening of Muhammed Ali’s fights during the same era. Contributions from many former employees of the cinema, together with many previously unseen photographs, bring this most remarkable venue to life, representing an important part of Cardiff ’s social history during the last century. Capitol Days is essential reading for both former visitors to the cinema and for those who wish to explore the tale behind the rise and fall of one of Cardiff ’s most recognisable centres of entertainment.

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Following a devastating fire in 2003, an area of moorland above Robin Hoods Bay on the North Yorkshire coast was laid bare, revealing a fascinating and previously unrecorded landscape. The authors have spent hundreds of hours locating and plotting the newly exposed features with particular regard to the many curiously marked prehistoric stones.This engaging book represents the first major interpretative work on both the recently discovered and already known prehistoric rock motifs within this area. It follows the authors in a fascinating series of archaeological detective stories, studying the clues through which an insight into prehistoric life can be reached.In a collection of multidisciplinary studies the authors present their innovative interpretations of the carvings, as well as offering new insights into the astronomical and calendrical associations that can be assigned to the marked stones of the North York Moors.

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This gripping biography of the Chicago Traction King, Charles Tyson Yerkes, reveals how the tycoon behind the development of London Transport had a private life as turbulent as his dynamic business dealings.

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Why is so much heroism attached to the sinking of the Titanic? Why do we accord impossible glory to the miserable, misbegotten drowining of the equivalent of a small town? What process led to the creation of champions? Who were the real heroes, and how were they overlooked? What did society - and the press - do with an overriding need for blame? By identifying the fable-making, and finally throwing off a blanket of boasting, this book enables a fresh, sharp focus on history's most famous shipwreck.We see into the nature of prejudice, public values and political and national motives. It explores the light and the dark of what we thin we know: about the engineers, the musicians, the Captain, his officers, owners and officialdom - as well as the sinking itself and society's curious 'celebration' of abject catastrophe. It also looks at sacrificial victims, in particular the character of Captain Stanley Lord of the Californian, a man tarred with abandoning fifteen hundred people to their fate. Backed up with a new photographic archive and bolstered by a series of contemporary extracts to support its arguments, this is Titanic history presented in an entirely new and authentic light.

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Presents an alternative history of the last eighteen years of West Ham. With a commentary on each season alongside the best of the OLAS cartoons from that campaign, this book is a warts-and-all reflection of the view from the terraces, celebrating the frustrations of supporting the team and the pessimistic mindset of the long-suffering fan.

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Upminster is a leafy suburb of London which has seen many changes over the last century. The Second World War and the arrival of fast transport links into the city were major events which shaped the area. In this delightful compilation, local write and long-time resident of Upminster, Cecilia Pyke, has asked a range of different people about living and working in the area. The book covers all aspects of life, from the big events, such as the impact of war, to the smallest details of everyday life. The absorbing stories are complemented by 100 photographs from the author's and residents private collections. Voices of Upminster is sure to appeal to anyone who has ever lived in this garden suburb.

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Covering the lives and achievements of five English intelligence officers involved in wars at home and abroad between 1870 and 1918, this exceptionally researched book offers an insight into spying in the age of Victoria. Including material from little-known sources such as memoirs, old biographies and information from M15 and the police history archives, this book is a more detailed sequel to Wade's earlier work, Spies in the Empire. The book examines the social and political context of Victorian spying and the role of intelligence in the Anglo-Boer wars as well as case studies on five intriguing characters: William Melville, Sir John Ardagh, Reginald Wingate and Rudolf Slatin, and William Robertson. Responding to a dearth of books covering this topic, Wade both presents fascinating biographies of some of the most significant figures in the history of intelligence as well as a snapshot of a time in which the experts and amateurs who would eventually become M15 struggled against bias, denigration and confusion.

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Within these pages are accounts of Robert James Lees, the Ilfracombe spiritualist who claimed to have unmasked Jack the Ripper; Charles De Ville Wells, the Plymouth-based fraudster who famously broke the bank at Monte Carlo; Herbert Rowse Armstrong, the former Newton Abbot solicitor who remains the only member of his profession to be executed for murder; Lord Frederick Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire's son who was assassinated in Dublin; Oscar Wilde, whose downfall was initiated by an incriminating letter sent from Babbacombe; and Robert Hichens, the helmsman of the Titanic who later in life was jailed for attempted murder in Torquay.

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Illustrated with more than 60 archive images, this collection of true tales from across the Ribble Valley gives a record of crime and punishment. It begins with the paranoid prisoner of Barnoldswick and passes through an alphabet of place names that ends within the haunted ruins of Whalley Abbey, where the execution of a martyred monk was staged.

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This A-Z covering Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire is a delightful tour around the most interesting pubs in the area. Taking in all manner of establishments such as the Coach and Horses, an old village pub in Longborough, to the White Hart Royal Hotel, a sixteenth-century inn in Moreton-on-Marsh, the author visits a huge variety of pubs that have made the Cotswolds the delightful area they are today. It is sure to appeal to those who live in the Cotswolds and also to visitors wishing to tour the area's charming pubs.

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This is the story of the heady days when Brian Clough and Peter Taylor brought about a revolution at Derby County in the late 1960s and early '70s - transforming them from Second Division strugglers to First Division champions - from the unique perspective of close friend, confidant and local journalist George Edwards.

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Presents a social and industrial study of the conditions faced by the many thousands of working men and women and their families whose lives were controlled by the Great Western Railway from 1930-1960, the beginning of the modern period for the railway with mechanical accounting, up to the decline of the railway from 1957.

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Although Henry P. Folland never received the public acclaim accorded to the Spitfire and Hurricane's designers, more than 7,000 examples were built of the seventeen fighters he designed. His first biplane fighter, the Royal Aircraft Factory's S.E.5/5a, fought in the First World War with the Royal Flying Corps; his last, the 1934 Gloster Gladiator, equipped ten Royal Air Force Fleet Air Arm squadrons during the Second World War. Between the wars Henry Folland was responsible for the designs of fourteen other fighters, with Gladiators being exported to thirteen countries. Here Derek N. James, renowned aviation historian and author of nineteen books, relates the fascinating story of Henry Folland's days as a Lanchester Motor Co. apprentice and his move to Daimler Motor Co., which was to change his life, before his prolific sixteen years with Gloucestershire (Gloster) Aircraft Co. A major section of the book is devoted to the Gauntlet and Gladiator with special contributions by the test pilots who flew them. Detailed histories of all Folland's fighter designs are included, alongside an in-depth study of the man himself, and many of the 180 illustrations are previously unpublished.

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Memorable not for his life but his death, Edward V is probably better known as one of the Princes in the Tower, the supposed victim of his uncle, Richard III. This work presents to us the backdrop to this tragically short life - and reveals how he was both the hope of a dynasty and an integral cause of that dynasty's collapse.

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Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose is based in Cornwall, on the Lizard Peninsula. Its purpose is to train specialists for the Navy while serving the Fleet Air Arm's front line Sea King and Merlin helicopter squadrons. This book presents history of RNAS Culdrose from the initial planning of the base onwards.

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A guide to supernatural, paranormal, folkloric, eccentric and, above all, mysterious that has occurred on islands of Iona and Staffa. It includes entries covering Iona's tombstones, simulacra, standing stones, gargoyles, ruins, churches and archeological curiosities which are complemented by more than sixty photographs.

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