Search results for ""Author David C. Ramzan""

In March 2020, London, along with the rest of Britain, entered a lockdown designed to protect the community against the Covid-19 virus. The teeming metropolis became devoid of people and traffic; places normally crowded with people were suddenly empty. In this book author David C. Ramzan explores how London changed in this period through the evolving measures in the pandemic from 2020, and gives the history behind the scenes he captures, covering topics such as the Black Death, Great Fire of London, the Second World War and the Blitz. London in Lockdown is a poignant reminder of the devastating changes to people’s lives in the capital during this period.

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From a low road bridge crossing the Fosse Way near Trewsbury Mead to the towering Queen Elizabeth Bridge linking Kent to Essex, the River Thames is crossed by over 200 bridges, some simple wooden or stonework structures, others magnificent architectural constructions. Stretching across the southern counties of England, starting as a trickle in a Gloucestershire meadow to the vast expanse of tidal water leading into the North Sea, the course of the River Thames defined local kingdoms, tribal lands and later the counties situated to the north and south of the river. Throughout this time, although London Bridge was the first permanent structure to traverse the river in London, other bridges crossed the Thames further upstream, first simple structures erected for moving livestock and carts from one field to another, where the waterway dividing farmland and pasture was too wide or too strong to cross by fording, then new building techniques made it possible for carpenters and stonemasons to construct permanent structures to link communities, hamlets, villages and towns. Of the 200 bridges many have fascinating stories to tell, of their construction and historical events which surround them, from prehistory and Roman times up to the twenty-first century. In this book author David C. Ramzan explores the economic and social history of these Thames bridges, some unassuming, but no less important, while others are unique in design and construction.

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Greenwich was home to a royal palace from medieval times and was a particular favourite of the Tudor monarchs, and the Royal Observatory was built in Greenwich Park in the reign of Charles II. Lying on the River Thames in South East London, it has a strong maritime heritage, reflected today in the buildings of the Royal Naval College and the National Maritime Museum, and the Cutty Sark in the dry dock. The centre of Greenwich has long attracted many to its market, shops, museums and theatres, but Greenwich has also been an industrial area and recent decades have seen massive changes along the riverfront and on the peninsula where the old industries have been largely swept away in urban regeneration schemes. Greenwich Reflections features an exciting collection of historic and modern pictures that are individually merged to reveal how the area has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures in this book combines a recent colour view of Greenwich with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers can see how streets, buildings, the docks and everyday life have transformed with the passing of time. Author David Ramzan presents this fascinating visual chronicle that ingeniously reflects past and present glimpses of Greenwich. This book will be of interest to residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the area.

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The history of Greenwich in South East London is defined by its location on the Southbank of the River Thames and its proximity to central London. Since its foundation, the people of Greenwich have worked in maritime industries and served the great metropolis, as well as everyday occupations and trades in the town. Greenwich Palace was the home of the Tudor monarchs, later becoming the Royal Naval Hospital then the Royal Naval College, and at the other end of the social scale the Greenwich peninsula has been home to many of those who worked in Londonʼs industries and in the docks nearby, accessible through the foot tunnel under the river. Greenwich Power Station was built to power Londonʼs trams and underground railways and today the old industrial area of North and East Greenwich is home to the O2 Arena and the Millennium Village built on the site of a submarine cable manufacturer. The centre of Greenwich is today a mixture of old and new, the centuries-old market continuing to attract many new visitors. Greenwich at Work explores the working life of this South East London town and its people, and the industries that have characterised it. The book will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of Greenwich.

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Greenwich’s position on the River Thames has drawn many people to this fascinating area of south-east London over the years. This book delves into the history of Greenwich, detailing intriguing and lesser-known facts associated with many of its famous landmarks and intriguing sites. Topics covered include royal localities and the little-told stories behind them; green spaces including gardens, parks and graveyards; underground tunnels, caves and hideaways; residents of Greenwich noted for their heroics or villainy; river traders upon which Greenwich’s maritime and trading enterprises depended; and its sporting heritage, including the origins of sports that evolved and were first established in Greenwich. Secret Greenwich, by local historian David C. Ramzan, contains many colourful stories to enliven these little-known facts about Greenwich.

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