Search results for ""the history press ltd""

The post-war era was British speedway’s golden age. Ten million spectators passed through the turnstiles of a record number of tracks at the sport’s peak. With league gates as high as 80,000, speedway offered a colourful means of escape from the grim austerity of the times. A determinedly clean image, with no betting and rival fans mingling on the terraces, made speedway the family night out of choice. The sport thrived despite punitive taxation and Government threats to close down the speedways as a threat to industrial productivity. A three-division National League stretched from Exeter to Edinburgh and the World Championship Final attracted a capacity audience to Wembley. Test matches against Australia provided yet another international dimension. Even at the height of its popularity, speedway was a sporting edifice built on unstable foundations, which crumbled alarmingly as the 1950s dawned and Britain’s economic and social recovery brought competing attractions like television.

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E.J. Rudsdale’s role as a museum curator and air-raid shelter superintendent at Colchester Castle during the Second World War gave him the perfect opportunity to record life on the Home Front in his journals. Seventy years later, the selected extracts gathered here provide a remarkable insight into wartime life. Rudsdale’s writing is characterised throughout by his wry observations of wartime officialdom and his lack of conformity with the prevailing views of the time. He was a pacifist, which gives his journals an unusual perspective. However, even as a civilian he could not escape the conflict, living in a garrison town threatened by invasion and regular bombing raids. His journals, therefore, record anxious and tragic events, but throughout it all his sense of humour is never diminished.This absorbing collection demonstrates Rudsdale’s ability to bring a scene vividly to life and each account highlights the daily pressures that people endured as they valiantly tried to carry on with normal life in spite of the war.

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From AD 61, when Queen Boudicca – outraged at her treatment at the hands of the Romans – marched on the city and burned it to the ground, London has been hit by wave upon wave of destruction. This fascinating and unique book tells the story of over 2000 years of disaster – fire, water, disease, pollution, accident, storm, riot, terrorism and enemy action. It chronicles well-known episodes like the Great Plague of 1665 and the Blitz, as well as lesser-known events such as whirlwinds and earthquakes. This new edition also includes the recent terrorist attack on 7 July 2005, as well as a new section on the crises which have plagued the financial City, including the near-collapse of Britain’s banks during 2008 and 2009. London’s Disasters ultimately celebrates the spirit of the people of London who have risen above it all and for whom London is still a great city in which to live and work.

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This chilling follow-up to Somerset Murders brings together more murderous tales that shocked not only the county but made headline news throughout the nation. Covering the length and breadth of Somerset, the featured cases include two female poisoners, Catherine Churchill, who killed her husband in Knowle-St-Giles in 1879 and Sarah Freeman, who claimed several victims in the Bridgwater area from 1843 onwards. A wide variety of means and motive are covered. There is murder committed in the course of robbery, such as the brutal killing of Sarah Wilkins in Nempnett Thrubwell in 1851; murder through jealousy, as in the case of George Bitten, who murdered his wife at Wolverton in 1867 and even altruistic murders, such as that committed by Albion Wadman near Wincanton in 1883. Also included is the strange and intriguing story of Reginald Woolmington, who faced two trials for the murder of his wife at Milborne Port in 1934. Nicola Sly and John Van der Kiste's well-illustrated and enthralling text will appeal to everyone interested in true-crime history and the shadier side of Somerset's past.

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Like many of the families in this book, Rex Sly follows in the footsteps of his ancestors who were also farmers in the Fens. The land was reclaimed by forebears, giving this unique bond between ‘soil and soul’ - each generation wishing to leave their soils as a sustainable inheritance to the next. The variety of crops which are grown has changed little over the past half-century, but the traditional farms have been largely replaced by high-tech agro-businesses. Not all farms in the fens are large, though, and the richness of the soils still enables the small grower to survive in a niche marketplace. The greatest change has been from the grower to the consumers’ shopping baskets. The marketing chain has changed from markets and merchants to the vast supermarket network: fast and efficient for the grower and value for money for the public. The corn exchanges which witnessed the rise and fall of agriculture over one and a half centuries of history are now no more than farming monuments. The ever-increasing demands on our soils are of concern to those in the Fens. Each generation is replaceable - fen topsoil is not.

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These lively and entertaining folk tales from one of Britain's most ancient counties are vividly retold by local storyteller Kirsty Hartsiotis. Their origins lost in the oral tradition, these thirty stories from Wiltshire reflect the wisdom of the county and its people. From the Giant's Dance to the Great Western Railway, no stone is left unturned to discover the roots of the county. Discover the Moonraker's passages and Merlin's trickery, dabchicks and the devil, the flying monk of Malmesbury and a canal ghost story. These tales have all stood the test of time, and remain classic texts that will be enjoyed time and again by modern readers.

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This superb selection of 200 photographs provides a nostalgic insight into the changing face of the neighbouring communities of Stockton and Norton on Tees over the last century. Each image is accompanied by a detailed caption, bringing the past to life and describing many aspects of life in the area, including chapters on work, industry and transport, as well as providing a vital record of vanished vistas and past practices. Norton, a settlement since Saxon times, was once the leading centre before Stockton rose to world fame, along with Darlington, as the termini of the world's first railway. Around Stockton and Norton is sure to bring back cherished memories of yesteryear for all who know and love this part of Cleveland.

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The Sheffield United – a book on the Blades like no other, packed with facts, stats, trivia, stories and legends. Sheffield United FC enjoy a notable history. Names such as Ernest Needham, Jimmy Hagan and Alan Woodward have worn the famous red and white stripes hundreds of times. As has the mercurial Tony Currie plus the infamous William ‘Fatty’ Foulke - a huge keeper who walked off the field at a whim and once dumped a forward on his head in a muddy penalty area. The Sheffield United Miscellany charts these events and many more in an intriguing format. Well known events are covered as are some priceless trivia gems - who can claim to have known the club was founded on the site of one of snooker’s most hallowed venues and hosted the obscure winter sport of bandy? Also featured are a wide range of statistics, quotes and biographies from the club’s 110-year history, making it a must for any Blade. Can you really afford not to own a copy?

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The Little Book of The East End is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. Here we find out about the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and literally hundreds of wacky facts (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia). A reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage, the secrets and the enduring fascination of the original home of the Cockney which is now far more diverse. A wonderful package and essential reading for visitors and locals alike.

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This absorbing collection delves into the villainous deeds that have taken place in Norwich and its surrounding areas. Cases of murder, robbery, assault and fraud are all examined as the darker side of the city’s past is exposed. From cases as famous as the murder of William of Norwich, which led to the expulsion of the Jewish race from England in 1290, to little-known crimes such as the tragic case of a man suffering from depression murdering his fiancée, this book sheds a new light on the city’s criminal history. Illustrated with a wide range of archive material and modern photographs, Murder & Crime Norwich is sure to fascinate both residents and visitors alike as these shocking events of the past are revealed for a new generation.

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The introduction of the transom stern into the seiner-trawler fleet in the mid-twentieth century was one of the most radical departures in Scottish wooden fishing craft design since the development of the cruiser stern after the First World War. During the 1970s there also grew a colossal demand for steel boats, particularly among the herring trawling and purse seining fleets of north-east Scotland. By 1973 more than 15 British firms were building steel boats for Scottish owners. Based on her original fieldwork and using her own photographs, Gloria Wilson traces these developments and their links to economic and social trends in the fishing industry, both ashore and afloat. This fascinating book charts the tragedies and bizarre twists of fate that characterised this turbulent era, including the boats that were lost with all hands, and the boatyards forced to close, leaving half-built vessels on their slipways.

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With almost 2,000 years of continuous habitation, it is no surprise that the city of London can boast a fascinating array of strange events and paranormal occurrences. From sightings of big cats such as the Southwark Puma and the Cricklewood Lynx to the terrifying tales of the Highgate Vampire and Spring-Heeled Jack, along with stories of mermaids, dragons, fairies and alien encounters, this enthralling volume draws together a bizarre and intriguing collection of first-hand accounts and long-forgotten archive reports from the capital’s history. Richly illustrated with over sixty photographs, Paranormal London will invite the reader to view the city in a whole new light and will delight all those interested in the mysteries of the paranormal.

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Oxfordshire’s best-known employers are the manufacturers of cars, blankets and cakes, as well as those dealing in tourism, education and publishing. It is still essentially a rural county and many of its trades and crafts are related to the countryside. A number of Oxfordshire businesses have been handed down through several generations, adapting and modernizing as necessary over the years. Many have finally closed after decades of trade, but are nevertheless fondly remembered, one or two even reappearing as exhibits in the county’s museums. Some major employers have failed to survive, while others have become part of high street chains and at least one has expanded to form its own. Featured in this book are carvers and barrel makers, university employees and leather-workers, hop-pickers and bee-keepers, brewers and marmalade makers, railwaymen and bus drivers, thatchers and blacksmiths, and, of course, shops galore, including an ironmonger’s which dates back to Tudor days. With 200 superb photographs, this book will appeal to everyone with an interest in the history of the county, and also awaken memories of a bygone time for those who worked, shopped or simply remember these Oxfordshire firms, trades and businesses.

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Brierley Hill is one of the heavily industrialised towns that make up the region known as the Black Country. Like many such towns it can easily be divided into many smaller communities that, while being part of Brierley Hill, have quite an independent existence and identity of their own.This book sets out on a journey across Brierley Hill that begins at the parish church and ends at one of the principal crossroads in the town centre, and then we make our way around the satellite communities of Brockmoor, Bromley and Pensnett. We find ourselves in a world that was dominated by many local pits where coal and fireclay were extracted, much of this coal being used in the manufacture of iron. When steel came along, Brierley Hill became the home to a large and important steelworks at Round Oak. Other companies came into the area to manufacture products using steel and some became very large local employers and integral parts of the community. Large scale industry and mining may have gone but the communities they spawned survive and this books provides a glimpse of the shops, pubs, schools, chapels and churches and other facilities that once made each ‘village’ so self-sufficient, intertwined with their railways and canals of industry.With over 200 historic and fascinating photographs, this book is a must-have for locals and visitors alike, capturing Brierley Hill as it used to be and how it has been shaped into the place that it is today.

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Although only children at the time, the Second World War had a permanent effect on the schoolboys who lived through the conflict. Watching a country preparing for war and then being immersed in the horrors of the Blitz brought encounters and events that some will never forget. Now in their seventies and eighties, many are revisiting their memories of this period of upheaval and strife for the first time. In this poignant book, the author shares vivid memories of his evacuation from war-torn London to the comparative safety of places like Newquay, St Ives and Redruth in Cornwall. From touching recollections of enjoyable days spent with loved ones to the dark moments of falling bombs, this is an honest account of a wartime child’s formative years. Together with rare images and accounts from fellow evacuees who were sent to Cornwall to escape the ravages of war, this book reveals how these experiences are indelibly inscribed on the minds of wartime children.

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'Carefully compiled' in 1867 'from prison documents, ancient papers, and other authentic sources,' this extremely rare book contains the full details of the crimes, trials and executions of every murderer, highwayman, rogue and rebel ever to swing from the York Tyburn. From nobles such as Lord Hussey, Sir Robert Aske and the Earl of Northumberland (who mounted the scaffold 'with a firm step'), to notorious villains such as William Nevinson, Dick Turpin (whose right leg started to shake as he awaited the drop) and Knaresborough schoolteacher-turned-murderer Eugene Aram, it is an enthralling tour through the executions of the North. Including the last words and prison letters of many of the condemned, and laced with a grim humour (as seen in the case of the murderer who begged the hangman to check the rope carefully lest it break and leave him 'a cripple for life'), it will fascinate anyone with an interest in criminal history.

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From reports of haunted estates, hotels, public houses, chapels and churchyards, to heart-stopping accounts of apparitions, poltergeists and related supernatural phenomena, this collection of stories contains both well-known and hitherto unpublished tales from around Mansfield. From the gruesome death of Bessie Shepherd, who sometimes walks the road on which she was murdered, to the White Lady of Newstead Abbey, Lord Byron’s ancestral home, this spine-tingling selection of ghostly tales includes many pulse-raising narratives that are guaranteed to make your blood run cold. Containing over sixty illustrations, Haunted Mansfield will appeal to everyone with an interest in the supernatural history of this part of Nottinghamshire.

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From the 1700s and the most documented poltergeist case in history, to the family home currently experiencing a third generation of paranormal activity, Haunted Scunthorpe guides you through the town’s paranormal hotspots and follows the apparitions into the surrounding villages and beyond. Including previously unpublished haunting accounts from the author’s own case files, this collection of local hauntings and has something for everyone, from the layman to the hardened paranormal investigator. It is guaranteed to entertain and spook anyone interested in Scunthorpe’s ghostly history.

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The first edition of William A. Guy's "Principles of Forensic Medicine" was published at the start of Victoria's reign; the final edition, from which these selections derive, was published towards the end, just a few years after the Whitechapel horrors had pushed the emerging science to the forefront of the public's consciousness. With this guide in hand, a detective could tell whether the victim had suffocated, drowned, been shot, stabbed, or struck by lightning, spontaneously combusted, frozen to death or expired due to starvation - or, as the guide warns, was not dead at all, but simply in a state of 'suspended animation'. Suggestions include examining the face of the deceased for an 'expression of angry resistance', a clear indication of murder, and studying the demeanour of the nearest and dearest in cases of suspected 'secret poisoning'. With original woodcuts, case studies and notes on identifying the corpse and walking the crime scene, Victorian CSI will fascinate lovers of crime fiction and of true crime alike.

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The popular seaside resort of Scarborough has long been a haven for holidaymakers, but the town also harbours some disturbing secrets. Discover the darker side of Scarborough with this fascinating collection of spine-chilling tales from around the town. From poltergeists and mummies to the Headless Man and the mysterious story of the vanishing houses, this book includes many pulse-raising narratives that are guaranteed to make you blood run cold. Illustrated with over sixty pictures Haunted Scarborough will delight everyone interested in the paranormal.

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Brummie Kid is a fascinating recollection of the experience of growing up in the slums of Nechells and Aston. All the harshness of daily life is remembered here by local author Graham Twist. Despite hard living conditions and a distinct lack of money, a strong community spirit prevailed and families and neighbourhoods were close-knit. In these tough times you hoped nobody noticed you going to the 'pop shop' to pawn precious valuables, siphoning petrol from cars under the nose of the local bobby, or sneaking into the flicks without paying – though everyone was more or less in the same boat. Here are more funny, heart-warming stories from the backstreets of Birmingham which are sure to rekindle old memories.

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Around Norwich is not just another book on this fine city. Combining many previously unpublished photographs of outstanding quality and interest with well-researched captions, including many new facts and stories, one of the county's foremost local historians has created a fascinating narrative of the city, suburbs, people, shops and events of the past. Some images will be reassuringly familiar, some have changed or are lost beyond recollection. In one of its most turbulent centuries, the city has lived through the coming of the trains and the tram system, the Baedeker Blitz of 1942 and the construction of the inner link roads in the 1960s. It also takes a look at some of the sports and entertainment; from Norwich City FC playing at 'The Nest' to The Hippodrome Theatre. This book will be an enduring and nostalgic record, of interest to anyone who knows and loves the City of Norwich.

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Herefordshire Murders brings together twenty-eight murderous tales, some which were little known outside the county and others which made national headlines. Herefordshire was home to one of Britain’s most infamous murderers, Major Herbert Rowse Armstrong, who, in 1921, poisoned his wife and attempted to poison a fellow solicitor in Hay-on-Wye. However, the county has also experienced many lesser known murders. They include the case of two-year-old Walter Frederick Steers, brutally killed in Little Hereford in 1891; eighty-seven-year-old Phillip Ballard, who died at the hands of two would-be burglars in Tupsley in 1887; Jane Haywood, murdered by her husband near Leominster in 1903; and the shooting of two sisters at Burghill Court, near Hereford, by their butler in 1926. Nicola Sly’s carefully researched and enthralling text will appeal to everyone interested in the shady side of Herefordshire’s history.

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This colourful evocation of Christmas in Cheshire will enliven many an evening around a blazing fire. Wonder at the Mayor of Chester's sumptuous banquet where the tables groan under the sheer weight of food; experience the joy of the newly-wed Reverend and Mrs Brandt as they arrive on a frosty Christmas Eve at Gawsworth Rectory, their new home; feel your flesh creep at the tales of the ghosts of Christmas past which haunt the eerie country house at Poulton Lancelyn in the Wirral; spare a thought for the poor farmer to whom Christmas is just a week with three Sundays in it; ride with the whipper-in of the Cheshire Forest Hunt on a Boxing Day meet that went perilously wrong; and follow the Duke of Westminster's gamekeeper in a taxi cab full of cards and gifts, as he struggles across Cheshire to deliver them all in time for Christmas. So, shut out the cold night, draw the curtains and put another log on the fire. Then settle down in the warmth to enjoy this enthralling anthology of A Cheshire Christmas, the perfect stocking filler for all who know and love the county.

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The history of Special Operations Executive (SOE) seems to spring a never-ending run of surprises, and here are some more. This book explores the mysterious world of the tools SOE used for their missions of subversion and sabotage. An often grim reality is confronted that is more akin with the world of James Bond and Q's workshop than previously believed. Written by two scientists, one of whom served in the SOE and one who was tasked with clearing up after it was disbanded; their insider knowledge presents a clear account of the way in which SOE's inventors worked. From high explosive technology to chemical and biological devices; from the techniques of air supply to incendiarism; from camouflage to underwater warfare; and from radio communications to weaponry. SOE: The Scientific Secrets is a revelation about the tools that allowed the murky world of spying and spies to operate during wartime.

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Danger and excitement; courage and selflessness and gripping stories of life and death in the air: Lady Luck took these heady ingredients and mixed them into the lethal cocktail that is military flying in peace and war. From First World War biplanes to twenty-first-century fast jets, mid-air collisions and many other crashes, hundreds of airmen from all corners of the world left their mark - quite literally - on the landscape and collective memory of the east of England. Featuring a wealth of previously unpublished photographs and with original research and crew correspondence, Dying to Fly ensures these airmen cease simply to be names carved in cold memorial stone or entries in some dusty, long-forgotten documents, and pays tribute to their passing by bringing their courage and human-interest stories into light of day to be remembered with respect.

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A companion to his successful first book, James Pottinger’s new volume Scottish Fishing Boats: A New Look looks farther afield, and covers the fishing history of the areas of north-east Scotland, the west coast and Shetland. Topics covered include miscellaneous types from today and the past, pursers, smaller craft, visiting boats and boats which were lost to sea or have been scrapped. A number of older boats are included to illustrate shapes and designs, which are often held to retain a measure of character and individuality, perhaps not as prevalent today. Touching on some of the changes in boat types and fishing methods, as well as changes and developments in design and catching methods, this second selection of images brings the story of Scotland’s fishing boats up to date.

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The Great Western Railway’s Swindon Works was the largest employer in the area, even during the early British Railway years. For well over a hundred years thousands of apprentices and ‘trainees’ passed through its doors to learn the trades of the railways. Throughout its lifetime the apprenticeship process was hard work with many constraints, particularly in the early periods when even marriage was forbidden. However, alongside the hard work of ‘doing time’ (a colloquial term for apprenticeship), there were undoubtedly good times as the young boys were absorbed into the ‘family’ of workers ‘Inside’ (as Swindon Works was known locally). Doing Time Inside chronicles the changes of the apprenticeship process from its earliest times during the Industrial Revolution; through the varied work of two world war periods; the changes of thinking and policy in the post-war era; the significant developments of the 1960s; and the decline of apprenticeship until the closure of the Works in 1986. Full of fascinating photographs and documents, many previously unpublished, as well as numerous engaging first-hand accounts of the different ‘apprenticeships’ on offer, the books presents an in-depth study of apprenticeship in the railway world.

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Curiosities of Cheshire is a comprehensive and fascinating guide to over 100 remarkable and curious sites, buildings and structures from around the county. Included in these pages are mysterious rock carvings, a garden designed around John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, a giant’s grave, the shortest canal in England, as well as the distinctive architecture of Richard Harding Watts’s Knutsford. Richly illustrated with over 100 contemporary and historical photographs, Robert Nicholls tells an alternative history of Cheshire that will fascinate both residents and visitors alike.

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This absorbing collection of photographs, containing many rare and unpublished images of Poole, illustrates the changes that have been seen in this picturesque seaside town as it has evolved over the years. Featuring scenes from work and home life to the town centre and the harbour, Poole Past & Present presents archive photographs alongside modern images taken from the same viewpoint. Accompanied by informative captions, this title will interest both long-time residents and new visitors to the town. Compiled by the authors of two previous books about the town, both long-term residents of Poole who have witnessed many of the changes for themselves, this volume will evoke feelings of nostalgia in all who know and love this area of Dorset.

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Dark and foggy Victorian streets, the murderous madman, the arsenic-laced evening meal - we all think we know the realities of Victorian crime. Adrian Gray's thrilling book recounts the classic murders, by knife and poison, but it also covers much more, taking the reader into less familiar parts of Victorian life, uncovering the wicked, the vengeful, the foolish and the hopeless amongst the criminal world of the nineteenth century. Here you will encounter the women who sold their children, corrupt bankers, smugglers, highwaymen, the first terrorists, bloodthirsty mutineers and petty thieves; you will meet the 'mesmerists' who fooled a credulous public, and even the Salvation Army band that went to gaol. Gray journeys through the cities, villages, lanes, mills and sailing ships of the period, ranging from Carlisle to Cornwall, showing how our laws today have been shaped by what the Victorians considered acceptable - or made illegal.

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The Picts, the most powerful nation in northern Britain for some 500 years, mysteriously disappeared from contemporary records in the ninth century. All that remains of the language they spoke are a few fragments in the names of places or people. Their most enduring memorial is a unique system of symbols carved on stone monuments, engraved on objects of silver and bronze and scratched on the walls of caves - symbols whose interpretation has been as elusive as that of the Egyptian hieroglyphs before the discovery of the Rosetta stone. In this important book, Dr Cummins seeks to unravel the code behind these mystifying symbols by following up a variety of historical and archaeological clues. In doing so he opens up a deeper understanding of who the Picts were and the world in which they lived. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in the Picts and fascinated by the perennial mysteries of the Dark Ages.

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From heart-stopping accounts of apparitions, manifestations and supernatural phenomena, to first-hand encounters with phantoms and spirits, this collection of spooky sightings from around the city of Plymouth is guaranteed to make your blood run cold. Richly illustrated with over 100 pictures, Haunted Plymouth contains a chilling range of tales. From the ghost of Sir Francis Drake on Plymouth Hoe, poltergeist activity in one of the city’s Elizabethan inns and the shade of a lady in white at Widey Court, to French prisoners of war at Devonport Dockyard and a phantom pair legs at a Mutley house, this gathering of ghostly goings-on is bound to captivate everyone interested in the paranormal history of Plymouth and will chill all but the sturdiest of hearts.

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For countless holiday-makers, a trip to the seaside resorts of the West Country used to mean travelling on the network of lines operated by the Great Western and the London and South Western railways. Before the reshaping of British Railways following the Beeching Report in 1963, a wide variety of trains operated in Devon. This book chronicles these trains during a period of dramatic change, as lines were closed down, steam traction was phased out and the thundering express and the hard-working tank disappeared. A wealth of these lost images can be found within this evocative collection of over 200 photographs. Comprising the work of both amateurs and professionals, the book also reveals glimpses of the stations, the people who worked on the lines, and of the high days and disasters. Brought together here as a collection, they pay homage to the great days of steam.

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Wales is especially rich in the folklore of place, and this collection brings a new perspective to the history of Denbighshire, the oldest inhabited area of Wales. With hills, valleys, moorland and coast, this varied land has inspired many tales of ancient battles, strange creatures and curious customs. This compilation of stories from the ancient lore of the modern county of Denbighshire includes local legends, folk tales, stories of magic and mystery and tales of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Discover dragons and devils, ghosts and giants, witches and cunning men, poets, heroes, saints, kings and queens and, of course, Y Tylwyth Teg, The Fair Folk. A speaker of both languages of Wales, the author has collected some unusual material which will be of particular interest to non-Welsh speakers, who will meet these tales for the first time here.With illustrations from local artist Ed Fisher complementing the tales, this volume will be enjoyed by old and young alike. Mae'na groeso cynnes Cymreig yma i bawb. There is a warm Welsh welcome here to all.

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A biography of the man who founded St Dunstan's for blinded service personnel.

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For the first time, the story of Jersey in the First World War is revealed. Whilst the island's role in the Second World War is well documented, a generation earlier another devastating war had struck Jersey, jeopardising the lives and liberties of its people. In 1915, a band of 300 young men known as the Jersey Company volunteered to fight for king and country in a war beyond the comprehension of many. Feted as heroes, they proudly took their place in the trenches of the Western front. But the war was to have a devastating effect - both on the Jersey Company and their island. Soon the volunteers were not only fighting the enemy, but also waging a bitter struggle for continued recognition and support from home. Accompanied by some incredible rare photographs, this book tells the moving but ultimately tragic story of one small and unique unit caught in the maelstrom of the Great War. This is an eye-opening account of one of the most important periods in Jersey's history and promises to fascinate anyone interested in the island's extraordinary past.

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Princes Risborough, a small, pleasent town nestling in the Chiltern Hills, has seen many changes over the years, especially since the Second World War. In this delightful record, many stories and anecdotes have been gathered from the people who have lived and worked in the town throughout the post-war period. Long-time Risborough residents Mike and Angela Payne have interviewed scores of people about living and working in the town. The book includes untold stories, personal memories and the contributions individuals have made. All this is complemented by over sixty pictures, some previously unseen, from the authors' and local people's private collections. This volume provides a glimpse into how the town has changed and developed, as seen through the eyes of those who know it best. Bringing back nostalgic memories of real life in Buckinghamshire town, this truly is a book for the people by the people.

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In AD 43, the Romans landed an invasion force on the shores of Britain that heralded the beginnings of recorded British history and laid the cultural foundations of today’s national identity. Yet despite the crucial importance of this event, the actual location of the landings remains unclear. From Victorian antiquarians to today’s modern scholars and archaeologists, there has been much written over the years with regard to this particular question, with Richborough in Kent and Chichester in Sussex proposed as contemporary favourites. Whilst still being universal in its approach, this book is less reliant on archaeology or literary records to support its conclusions, and instead places greater emphasis on the practical problems the Romans faced in deciding on a landing site. The result is a book which presents a straightforward and logical study which can be readily appreciated by both the general reader and the specialist alike.

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In Napoleon's Briton's Paul Brunyee presents a fresh study of Napoleon's last years as a captive on St Helena, telling the story of this final chapter in Bonaparte's life as seen through the eyes of the Britons around him. The Royal Navy officers to whom he surrendered; the people of Brixham who came to gaze in awe at the man when he appeared on the deck of the Bellerophon; the British radicals who recalled what he had done to curb the French Revolution; and those whose job it was to guard and entertain the most famous dictator in Europe on the small island to which he was banished. Brunyee offers insight into the reasoning behind the decision to send Napoleon to the remote island, and paints a fascinating portrait of Napoleon's life on St Helena, his turbulent relationships with his captors, his relationship with Admiral Cockburn and his efforts to persuade visitors to the island to his cause.

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This fascinating collection of 200 archive images traces some of the changes that have taken place in Cleveland during the last century, as many old agricultural communities were swallowed up by the development of modern industry. Filled with historical insight and local reminiscences, the story of this development is told through detailed chapters on schools, worship, leisure and work. All aspects of everyday life is here, providing a rare insight into a vanished way of life. Around Cleveland will appeal to all who know and love this area.

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This is Ned Williams and the Mount Pleasant Local History Group's third book about Quarry Bank and this time they take a fresh look at this little Black Country township, plus the even smaller place next door - simply known as The Delph. The area covered is part of the modern Metropolitan Borough of Dudley - the capital of the Black Country. All human life was to be found in these communities of colliers, brickyard workers and bucket-bashers before the days when motorists roared by on their way to the Merry Hill Shopping Centre. This collection of old photographs will make you pause awhile and explore some of the old shops, chapels, canals, vanished industrial enterprises, workshops and byways you never knew existed.

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The Peak District of Derbyshire is said to experience more bizarre happenings and unexplainable encounters than any other part of England. This chilling collection of true-life tales details many terrifying accounts of spectres and apparitions which have been documented over the years. Ranging from private residences and graveyards to public houses, tourist attractions, theatres and museums, this book includes many pulse-raising narratives that are guaranteed to make your blood run cold. Containing over sixty illustrations, Haunted Peak District will appeal to everyone with an interest in the supernatural history of this part of Derbyshire.

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The superb photographs in this book take the reader on a fascinating journey through the recent history of Hampstead, Kilburn, Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage, Primrose Hill and Chalk Farm. The pictures give and unforgettable impression of familiar streets and districts as they developed, and the book offers and evocative insight into the daily lives and living conditions of the residents in the early years of this century. The collection features historic photographs of the now-fashionable streets when they were occupied by local tradesmen like the rat-catcher, the chimney-sweep and the bootmaker. It shows horse-drawn buses at Swiss Cottage and sheep grazing on Hampstead Heath and Primrose Hill. But perhaps the most striking pictures in the collection are those of Londoners who flocked to Hampstead at weekends in the early 1099s to be entertained by fairs, in tea-gardens and pubs. The publication of so many rare photographs in this book will add to the knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of everyone who takes a keen interest in the history of this famous part of north London.

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Sunderland Transport takes the reader on a ride back in time on the trams and buses that once plied the city's streets. Put together by local transport enthusiast John Carlson, this book is packed with photos, illustrations and diagrams that depict the growth and change in public transport when Sunderland was still a town, including the many different types of trams and buses that were in the corporation's employ and at the Wheatsheaf, Hylton and Fulwell depots including the repair and maintenance facilities. Also covered are the services of Sunderland and District Tramway Company and its follow-on bus operations and those of the Economic bus company. Along the way there is a good glimpse of some of the local features such as the Wear Bridge, town centre shops and the long tramline up Durham Road that make Sunderland such a unique place in which to live.

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Queen Victoria was the longest reigning monarch in British history. In this concise biography, Lady Longford, long recognised as an authority on the subject, gives a full account of Queen Victoria's life and provides her unique assessment of the monarch. Victoria ascended the throne in 1837 on the death of her uncle William IV. In 1840 she married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and for the next twenty years they were inseparable. Their descendants were to succeed to most of the thrones of Europe. When Albert died in 1861 Victoria's overwhelming grief caused her to almost withdraw from public life for several years. This perceived dereliction of public duty, coupled with rumours about her relationship with her Scottish ghillie, John Brown, led to increasing criticism. Coaxed back into the public eye by Disraeli, she resumed her political and constitutional interest with vigour until her death in 1901.

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For as long as anyone can remember, coal has been the lifeblood of the communities of County Durham. In its heyday, in 1913, the region boasted 304 pits employing 165,246 people. Coalmining in Durham was recorded as early as the twelfth century and medieval collieries flourished along the Wear Valley. A dramatic increase in coal production following the Industrial Revolution saw the county become one of the country's major sources of fuel, as it remained well into the twentieth century. The anonymous individuals, and their families, behind the story of coalmining in the area are the subject of this book, which is both an authoritative history and a fascinating portrayal of Durham life. A wide range of material is covered, from clear, illustrated explanations of the technicalities and terminology of coal extraction and coke-making, to the story of the Durham Miners' Association and its struggle for improvements in living and working conditions. The hardships and dangers of the miner's life are recalled in the pictures of the great pit disasters and the words of the survivors and rescuers, but the comradeship and community are never lost sight of and come into their own in the accounts of pit village life and of the famous Durham Miners' Gala.

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The struggle between Germany and the Allies along the Western Front is for many the most familiar element of World War I. However, many less well-known theatres of conflict, key to the overall progress and conduct of the war, hold as much relevance to both the traveller and the armchair enthusiast. In this work, the author sheds light on the fighting methods of the protagonists in less familiar settings, whether in the Italian Alps or in the cloying heat of the Greek coast.In the first weeks of fighting, stubborn Belgian resistance resulted in a desperate battle to stabilise the front and compelled the German advance to be diverted against the British at Ypres. French determination to win back Alsace-Lorraine plunged the Vosges region into fluid conflict for over a year from August 1914 before both sides realised the impossibility of a decisive success in this area. The three-year struggle between Italy and Austria across the alpine passes was to draw German, British and French forces into the region. Anglo-French assistance to the Serbs through Salonika produced a standoff between the Allies and the Central Powers which was only to be resolved in the last months of the war.

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