These Devon parish tax records provide details on thousands of Devonians who are otherwise unrecorded. The documents printed in this volume comprise parish tax records for parishes across Devon. These rates not only show the range of taxes payable in the county but also show how differently they were organised from one parish to another. The documents have been drawn from archives in Devon, London and Somerset and have not been previously published. This series will provide details on thousands of Devonians who are otherwise unrecorded.

The Welsh Harp Reservoir is an important lung of open space in north-west London. For those who drive around the North Circular Road it provides visual relief to the heavy flow of traffic. The stretch of water was once much larger and would have covered Brent Cross Shopping Centre. This outstanding collection of photographs traces the history of both reservoir and neighbourhood, pulling together the records of museums and local authorities.Incredibly, these pages explore the canal system, Victorian Music Hall, the first bicycle race, the first greyhound race, horse racing, angling, boating and wild life, as well as the early tests on torpedos, tanks and sea planes. In its Victorian heyday this was simply "the jolliest place that's out" and thousands of visitors flocked here to have a "good time". Join Geoffrey Hewlett in his visual celebration of this urban oasis.

As Milton Keynes celebrates its 50th birthday, Maker-Artists of Milton Keynes delves into the lives and work of twenty-five makers of hand-crafted artistic objects who are based in the city today. The featured maker-artists are chosen for the ways in which their use of the traditional materials of ceramics, wood, metal, glass and textiles, in the words of William Morris, 'beautifies the familiar matters of the everyday'. As well as exploring their skills and displaying the delightful objects they make, this book uncovers the maker-artists' networks of local links to people and places. Illustrated with beautiful colour photographs, this book explores how the landscape of Milton Keynes, from the recently built ultra-modern to the enduring pockets of historic buildings, stimulates and enhances the artistic lives of the makers.

Boydell & Brewer are pleased to announce that as from 1 December 2001 they will be distributing the Victoria County History, which has an international reputation as a work of reference for English local history. Begun in 1899, the publication of about three new volumes each year is gradually creating an encyclopedic history of the counties, ranging from earliest times to the present. For each county there is or is planned a set of volumes, containing general chapters on subjects such as prehistory and ecclesiastical and economic history, and topographical chapters giving a comprehensive, fully referenced account of each city, town and village in the county. Fourteen county sets have been completed; work is in progress on a further thirteen.

Situated in the south-western corner of Ireland, the region of West Cork attracts millions of visitors each year to discover its spectacular coastline and dramatic landscapes. It is known for many aspects: its scenery, its serenity, its culture and its people. 50 Gems of West Cork takes the reader from Bandon to Castletownbere, through the changing and unspoilt landscapes and seascapes, and provides an insight into the uniqueness of the region. The necklace of towns and villages are all linked together through a striking section of Ireland's coastline, encompassing a raw coastal wilderness with expansive inlets. Together with the exquisite coastal scenery are undulating inland landscapes criss-crossed by mountains, hills, streams and rivers, imposing old-world villages and wonderful discoveries at every bend in the road. In this book, local author Kieran McCarthy seeks out the essence and the character of the area to show how special it is.

Baseball's spread across Illinois paralleled the sport's explosive growth in other parts of the country. Robert D. Sampson taps a wealth of archival research to transport readers to an era when an epidemic of "base ball on the brain" raged from Alton to Woodstock. Focusing on the years 1865 to 1869, Sampson offers a vivid portrait of a game where local teams and civic ambition went hand in hand and teams of paid professionals displaced gentlemen's clubs devoted to sporting fair play. This preoccupation with competition sparked rules disputes and controversies over imported players while the game itself mirrored society by excluding Black Americans and women. The new era nonetheless brought out paying crowds to watch the Rock Island Lively Turtles, Fairfield Snails, and other teams take the field up and down the state. A first-ever history of early baseball in Illinois, Ballists, Dead Beats, and Muffins adds the Prairie State game's unique shadings and colorful stories to the history of the national pastime.

Dublin Then and Now matches archival images with contemporary views to reveal the past and present of this fascinating city. Dublin's rich architectural heritage ranges from medieval castles and cathedrals to a wealth of elegant Georgian townhouses. Capturing its famous streets, bridges, markets, parks and pubs, this book reveals the past and present of a city steeped in literary history, blessed with architectural beauty and full of character. Sites include: Trinity College, Dublin Castle, Guinness Brewery, Christ Church Cathedral, Brazen Head, Grattan Bridge, O'Connell Street, Abbey Theatre, Custom House, Liberty Hall, Four Courts, Smithfield Square, Phoenix Park, Dublin Zoo, Ha'Penny Bridge, Grafton Street, Davy Byrnes, Bewley's, St. Stephen's Green, The Long Hall, National Library of Ireland, Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square, Kilmainham Gaol.

The Brief History of Lancashire starts, as all good histories should, with the beginning - the moment when the detritus of a dying star, spinning through the depths of the Milky Way, began to cool and coalesce, and rain - typically for Lancashire - began to fall as the moisture in the new atmosphere began to condense. A planet was formed, and history as we know it had begun. Racing through the history of Lancashire, with Neolithic residents, Romans, Civil War victories and Victorians - and, of course, a few cotton mills along the way - this delightful book will tell you everything you ought to know about the dramatic and fascinating history of the county - and a few things you never thought you would.

'But we will do what we have always done - just get on with it.' The contributions of Northern Ireland to allied efforts in the Second World War are widely celebrated, acknowledged by both Sir Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt as vital to their eventual victory. Lesser known are the personal and individual lives of the people who made those contributions - the human cost and the everyday lives that would be changed forever. In We Just Got On With It, Doreen McBride gathers stories and interviews conducted and written by local historians and historical societies. From essential agricultural work to the sunken German submarine fleet that surrendered on the banks of Lough Foyle, and from childhood smuggling adventures to the devasting destruction of bombing raids, these are tales of humour and tragedy from those who have stories to tell.

Granite is the most unyielding of building materials. The great granite quarries of the North East are silent now, as are virtually all of the 100 granite yards that existed in Aberdeen around the year 1900. Yet in its time, the granite industry of north-east Scotland was the engine that built civilisations. As early as the sixteenth century, granite from Aberdeen and its vicinities was building castles. In the heyday of the mid-nineteenth century, the granite men of the North East hewed this material from the bowels of the earth and used it to fashion the iconic structures that defined the age. It paved the streets and embankments of London. It was used to build bridges over the Thames. It was carved into monuments for kings and commoners not only in Britain but all over the world. None of it possible without the men that toiled in those quarries and yards. This is the story of those granite men and their industry.

Since the 1950s, the housing developments in the West that historian Lincoln Bramwell calls "wilderburbs" have offered residents both the pleasures of living in nature and the creature comforts of the suburbs. Remote from cities but still within commuting distance, nestled next to lakes and rivers or in forests and deserts, and often featuring spectacular views of public lands, wilderburbs celebrate the natural beauty of the American West and pose a vital threat to it. Wilderburbs tells the story of how roads and houses and water development have transformed the rural landscape in the West. Bramwell introduces readers to developers, homeowners, and government regulators, all of whom have faced unexpected environmental problems in designing and building wilderburb communities, including unpredictable water supplies, threats from wildfires, and encounters with wildlife. By looking at wilderburbs in the West, especially those in Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, Bramwell uncovers the profound environmental consequences of Americans' desire to live in the wilderness.

The First World War claimed over 995,000 British lives, and its legacy continues to be remembered today.Great War Britain: Manchester offers an intimate portrayal of the city and its people living in the shadow of the Great War. A beautifully illustrated and highly accessible volume, it explores the city's regiments, the background and fate of the men on the frontline, the changing face of industry, the vital role of women, conscientious objectors, hospitals for the wounded and rehabilitation, peace celebrations, the fallen heroes and war memorials. The Great War story of Manchester is told through the voices of those who were there and is vividly illustrated with evocative images.

As the home of the famous Blarney Stone it is perhaps not surprising that the stories of County Cork could fill many libraries. Among its vast archive of myth and legend are tales of the Goddess Cliona, The Hag of Beara and the Giant Mac Mahon and the epic story of St Finbarr who bashed Louie, a fiery serpent, from the lake at Goughan Barra, its wriggling tail forming the course of the River Lee. These tales and more, drawn from historical sources and newly recorded local reminiscences, have been brought to life here by professional storyteller and Cork native Kate Corkery. This collection is a heady mix of bloodthirsty, funny, passionate and moving stories. It will take you into a remarkable world where you can let your imagination run wild.

The town of Redcar and the resort of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, with the adjoining village of Marske-by-the-Sea, lie on an eight-mile stretch of the coast in North East England. In this book author Colin Wilkinson reveals the stories behind how these once small villages along a remote coast grew into the present-day resorts. Centuries ago the beaches were ideal for smugglers. The arrival of the railway in the 19th century brought an influx of visitors and at the same time new industries emerged following the discovery of iron ore in the local hills, bringing in more people looking for work. In the twentieth century war left its mark on the area. In the First World War lookout posts were set up on the beaches, an early warning station was built to listen for Zeppelins and at Marske an aerodrome was set up nearby to train pilots. Depression in the 1930s and postwar industrial decline brought hardship to the area but the holiday industry boomed in the first half of the twentieth century and has seen a resurgence in recent years. Over the course of the last century Redcar has seen the birth of Redcar racecourse, motor racing along the beach, famous visitors such as Emily Pankhurst and Keir Hardy and much more. With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, Secret Redcar, Marske and Saltburn will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this corner of the coastline of North East England.

This folded map (890mm x 1000mm when unfolded) is an ideal souvenir for tourists to Sussex and also a valuable reference resource for local and family history research. It includes 4 Historic maps of Sussex, John Speed's County Map of Sussex 1610, Johan Blaeu's County Map of Sussex 1648,Thomas Moule's County Map of Sussex 1836 and a detailed Plan of Brighton by John Tallis 1851. All the maps have been meticulously re-produced from antique originals and printed on 90 gsm "Progeo" paper which was specially developed as a map paper. It has high opacity to help reduce show through and a cross grain giving it greater durability to as the map is being folded.

More than a century after muckraking journalist Lincoln Steffens derided the city of Philadelphia as being "corrupt and contented," Philadelphia struggles to rise above this unfortunate characterization. Philadelphia, Corrupt and Consentingis the story of a city's confrontation with a history that threatens its future. Author Brett Mandel, who has been a reform-oriented government official and political insider, provides a detailed account of the corruption investigation of John Dougherty, one of the city's most powerful political figures, in order to expose and explore networks of corruption. He examines the costs of corruption, both financial and nonpecuniary, and considers the opportunity cost that corruption imposes. Mandel explores the nature and development of Philadelphia's unique culture of corruption, emphasizing how machine politics and self-dealing are entwined with city history, creating a culture that allows corruption to thrive. In addition, he provides practical, achievable policies and actions that can produce positive change in Philadelphia and elsewhere. Mandel seeks to provide insight into how our collective actions or inattention give consent to the corruption, as well as its roots and effects, and the reasons for its persistence. Philadelphia, Corrupt and Consenting is a critique, but above all, it is a call to action.

In our world of global superstar footballers, it's easy to forget the grassroots of a sport where loyalty to a hometown club is often rock solid - and counts for everything. Even as local communities come under threat, football fandom still pulls us together. But why is this? What is the special magic that connects towns and teams? For many of us, the local club offers it all: passion, hope, heartache, drama. And a sense of belonging. The town where we grew up and all the places we've lived are the bedrock of our lives, and memories of seeing the local team play are inextricably intertwined with our sense of place and identity. Steve Leach spends a year visiting the twenty towns and clubs that are special to him. He celebrates the distinctiveness of these places, the fascinating differences between Lincoln and Leyton, Barrow and Birmingham, Macclesfield and Morecambe - towns and teams that may not be glamorous, but they are unique and, more importantly, they are home.

David Trumper is one of Shropshire's best-known historians. He has written at least one book on the county each year for the last two decades, forming an incredible collection of illustrated local history that celebrates Shropshire life over the last century. From long-lost scenes and vistas to the bustle of Shropshire's streets in days gone by, his work captures all aspects of local life. This nostalgic collection, published over twenty years after his first book on the town, draws on his two decades of research and presents the finest images from those collections as a special single volume that will delight both visitors and residents alike.