This is a trip down the garden path to the loos of yesteryear with photographs, a little history and many hilarious anecdotes. It is illustrated.

Hong Kong was first captured on camera when the British arrived to lay claim to its 'fragrant harbour' in 1841. Its fascinating history has been documented through photography ever since - from its rapid expansion as a Crown Colony to its handover to China in 1997 and its present status as one of the world's leading international financial centres. Pairing rare and previously unpublished photographs with contemporary views taken from the same location, Hong Kong Then and Now highlights the rich and varied history of this constantly evolving metropolis, from Victoria Harbour, the Hong Kong Club and the Star Ferry to Kowloon Walled CIty, Chek Lap Kok Airport and the gleaming skyscrapers of its central banking district. Sites include: Victoria Harbour, the Peak, the Star Ferry Pier, Man Ho Temple, Ladder Street, Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong Club, Prince's Building, HSBC, Noonday Gun, Happy Valley Racecourse, Tiger Balm Garden, Peninsula Hotel, Kai Tak Airport, Kowloon Walled City, Shenzhen, Repulse Bay, Chek Lap Kok Airport, St. Paul's (Macau).

Compiled by two highly respected authors and museum curators, this richly illustrated book features 100 objects - ranging from a Viking Thor's Hammer and Lord Nelson's funeral drape, to the whistle used during the Christmas truce of 1914. Norfolk has evidence of a substantially longer human past than any other part of Britain. The discovery of the beautiful Happisburgh handaxe, described inside, led to a find of further flint tools twice as old as anything found elsewhere in the country. Each object tells a fascinating story in its own right, adding depth and colour to the chapters of Norfolk's history. The result is an illuminating visual record, demonstrating the central role objects have in understanding our past and revealing the often crucial role Norfolk has played in the development of our national story.

Birmingham's Got Talent! Well, there can't be any question about that - a shopping centre that has always rivalled almost anywhere in existence, a manufacturing industry with a worldwide reputation andtheatres and cinemas in abundance.In this collection we have tried to show that, after the terribleevents of the forties, our city was busy replenishing and starting to flourish again - shops, factories and places of entertainment and, of course, the people. In the fifties shops played an enormous part in our lives as very few people had refrigerators and daily trips were a necessity. Politically the Conservatives held their ground from 1951 until 1964 when Labour came into its own. Musically the Beatles dominated the sixties and television finally burst into colour. So, there you are, in this, our 33rd Birmingham book, there are more wonderful items to enjoy. All proving, once and for all, that Birmingham has ALWAYS had talent!

Based on walks around Chichester this guide takes in the wonderful sights that this coastal city has to offer, as well as attractions nearby. From city walls to the cathedral, from theatres to museums, from gardens to galleries - and so much more - there is something for everyone in this charming place that embraces city, coast and countryside. Also available in this series: Bath, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Ely, Glasgow, Lincoln, Liverpool, Norwich, Oxford, York.

Sandcastles, donkeys, piers and sticks of rock. Beach huts, paddle steamers, promenade shelters and ice cream cones. Our modern seaside is the sum of its parts and all those parts have their history. This book explores the best-loved features of our favourite holiday destinations, each object and building adding its own layer to the story of our shared seaside heritage. Using a mixture of historic images and modern photographs the book takes a roughly chronological journey through the things that have made our seaside distinctive. The places where we have chosen to take our holidays for the past three hundred years have been transformed from mere stretches of coastline but they are not like inland towns. Inside these pages can be found a celebration of all that makes our seaside special.

Yards, crofts ginnels and lanes are found in many northern towns. Kendal's yards are special and are fascinating to residents and visitors alike. They are a characteristic feature of the town and demonstrate the lively history of the people who lived and worked in them. Originating in the burgage plots of Norman times, they developed over the centuries into a maze of bustling little communities lined with cottages and workshops. Their old names tell of many interesting characters associated with them. With the slum clearances of the 1960s and other town development, their number has been drastically decreased. Today, they have become more of a tourist attraction but are still living and working places and tell engaging stories of their interesting past. In this book, the full story of Kendal's Yards is told for the first time in fascinating detail - their history and development, the origins of their names, life in the old yards, their locations and much more. The illustrations in the text and the extensive Gallery of photographs provide 200 illustrations of most of the old yards which show better than mere words the atmosphere and character of the yards and the lives of their inhabitants.

The streetscape of London's historic square mile has been evolving for centuries, but the City's busy commercial heart still boasts an extensive network of narrow passages and alleyways, secret squares and half-hidden courtyards. Most are ancient survivors dating back to medieval times or earlier, their colourful and evocative names recalling old taverns, trades and City traditions. Others commemorate individuals associated with the seemingly unstoppable rise which has seen the area around an old Roman wharf become the global financial powerhouse that London is today. Maintaining that position means that few of these old rights of way have escaped the attention of developers, but their survival rate has been surprisingly good. Because of this, hidden behind the glass, steel and stone of the banks and big business, these little corners continue to bear witness to nearly 2,000 years of British history.

Chester's vibrant history is uniquely captured in this collection of photographs, postcards and lantern slides from the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, showing how time has brought changes to Chester's streets and recalling memorable events and celebrations. Rare glimpses of everyday life at school, work and play are accompanied by detailed and informative captions explaining the story behind the scenes. This book captures the historical spirit and charm of a city that embraces the past and looks towards the future, and is sure to appeal to residents and visitors alike.

The mixed-race Hawaiian athlete George Freeth brought surfing to Venice, California, in 1907. Over the next twelve years, Freeth taught Southern Californians to surf and swim while creating a modern lifeguard service that transformed the beach into a destination for fun, leisure, and excitement. Patrick Moser places Freeth's inspiring life story against the rise of the Southern California beach culture he helped shape and define. Freeth made headlines with his rescue of seven fishermen, an act of heroism that highlighted his innovative lifeguarding techniques. But he also founded California's first surf club and coached both male and female athletes, including Olympic swimming champion and "father of modern surfing" Duke Kahanamoku. Often in financial straits, Freeth persevered as a teacher and lifeguarding pioneer--building a legacy that endured long after his death during the 1919 influenza pandemic. A compelling merger of biography and sports history, Surf and Rescue brings to light the forgotten figure whose novel way of seeing the beach sparked the imaginations of people around the world.

Every year millions of travellers arrive in Athens eager to catch a glimpse of the ancient city and savour its classical heritage. But what about the late nineteenth century Athens with her neoclassical buildings, wide avenues and literary salons? An Athens where music wafted from King Otto's palace and the aristocracy waltzed under crystal chandeliers. A city of dignitaries, scholars and architects drawing plans and reworking them, leaving their mark on every dimension of the young capital. An Athens where commoners hovered around dimly lit fires and children played in the mud amidst the ancient ruins. Where criminals settled disputes with drawn knives and prostitutes roamed the ports luring sailors into filthy, smoke-filled taverns. Where Greek refugees lived in wind-swept streets with no sewers or running water, singing about their troubles under the stars. An Athens where intellectuals, writers, poets, and artists converged in local cafes planning the future of the newly founded nation, discussing philosophy, literature, and their shared passion for reclaiming Greece for the Greeks. Athens Unveiled pays homage to the people, streets, and neighbourhoods of late nineteenth century Athens, where some of the finest neoclassical buildings still stand next to abandoned mansions, brothels, and old factories; where people still bargain the prices of clothes and produce on the old streets of commerce and where young artists create powerful murals, bringing everything about the city into sharp focus.

Which river has half the distilleries in Scotland found along its length and in its surrounding glens? Were monks at the forefront of developing whisky? Which Speyside distillery produced chilli-flavoured whisky? How did Glenrothes distillery expel its ghost? Robin Laing - singer-songwriter, author of "The Whisky Muse", and chair of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's Tasting Panel - set out to visit every distillery in the Speyside area, from Benromach to Tomintoul, and presents a guide to each of them here. There are descriptions of over 50 distilleries on Speyside, including The Macallan, The Glenlivet, Cardhu, Aberlour, Glenfiddich and Glengrant. Each entry is part history, part travelogue and part commentary on the changes in the whisky industry. It includes personal musings by the author, stories associated with the distillery and snippets of poetry and song. Laing's 'spirit' guide in his journey is Alfred Barnard, author of "1887's "The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom. Barnard visited many of the same distilleries that Laing visits now and similarly left his impressions of the state of the facilities and the beauty of the surroundings. Much of this present book compares what Barnard found with what exists now, and the differences - and similarities - are often fascinating.

This enchanting collection of stories gathers together legends from across Ireland in one special volume. Drawn from The History Press' popular Folk Tales series, herein lies a treasure trove of tales from a wealth of talented storytellers. From fairies, giants and vampires to changelings and witches, this book celebrates the distinct character of Ireland's different customs, beliefs and dialects, and is a treat for all who enjoy a well-told story.

W. R. Mitchell has had a sixty-year connection with the Lake District. It started with his work for 'Cumbria' magazine and from the 1950s he made innumerable trips to find out more about this beautiful area and particularly its people. Using the maxim 'people not places' passed down by Harry Scott, editor of the 'Cumbria' and 'Dalesman' magazines, Bill has carried out countless interviews with a rich tapestry of Lakeland folk. This book reflects on some of the most memorable meetings and reveals links with great names of the area, such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Lakeland folk can be set in their ways but have always been keen to talk about a way of life that has changed appreciably with the passing of time. Bill also remembers fondly the many outings of the band of four intrepid walkers, including himself, known as the 'Geriatric Blunderers'. They climbed every mountain and forded every stream of this most beautiful of areas. In 'Lake District Folk' Bill makes a nostalgic walk on his own back through the decades as he recollects some of the many wonderful experiences in the Lakes.

The last three decades of the twentieth century saw dramatic changes in the bus industry with deregulation of bus services nationally in October 1986 in the provincial areas. Visually London seemed to stay the same with the buses still operating in the customary red liveries which all cherished from childhood. This book sets out to show how the vehicles moved forward from the traditional layout of rear platform and open half cab to the introduction of one man buses with their front entrances. The effects of deregulation are shown with dynamic colour schemes especially with the Bexleybus blue and cream colour scheme. With the passing of years we progress to the now familiar single deck buses, and also cover various other transport experiments.

A unique book showing Cambridge in the late 1960s from different angles. Striking, previously unpublished photographs show famous buildings as well as the river and backstreets and some of the small towns, villages and countryside nearby. Students and distinguished members of staff are here, with builders, shoppers in the market, and men from the gasworks. This was a time of 'demos', protests and disruption to established, maybe complacent, academic traditions. The author draws on archive sources to illustrate 'official' concerns at that time with, for example, major worries about overreactions triggering widespread unrest. However, he also draws on personal recollections as a Cambridge student, together with anecdotes from others and further archive material to suggest that most students were far more interested in the quality of meals they were served, and the state of the showers. Cambridge students from any generation, and anyone else who knows the city, will find themselves entertained and challenged. But the book's appeal goes further: there are amusing reflections on moving from the north of England to Cambridge almost half a half century ago, and on student life in post-war Britain; the eye-catching photographs will have widespread appeal.

Norwich in the Second World War is the story of the city and its people, both civilian and military, from the construction of the first air raid shelters in 1938 through to VE Day in 1945 and the return of Far Eastern prisoners of war in 1946. Featuring first-hand accounts of what happened when enemy bombers raided the city, notably during the notorious Baedeker Blitz of 1942, rare photographs and documents make this book a must for anyone who knows and loves the city of Norwich.

Mary Beth Rogers has led an eventful life rooted in the weeds of Texas politics, occasionally savoring a few victories-particularly the 1990 governor's race when, as campaign manager for Ann Richards, she did the impossible and put a Democratic woman in office. She also learned to absorb her losses-after all, she was a liberal feminist in America's most aggressively conservative state. Rogers's road to a political life was complex. Candidly and vulnerably, she shares both public and private memories of how she tried to maintain a rich family life with growing children and a husband with a debilitating illness. She goes on to provide an insider's account of her experiences as Richards's first chief of staff while weaving her way through the highs and lows of political intrigue and legislative maneuvering. Reflecting on her family heritage and nascent spiritual quest, Rogers discovers a reality at once sobering and invigorating: nothing is ever completely lost or completely won. It is a constant struggle to create humane public policies built on a foundation of fairness and justice-particularly in her beloved Texas.

In "A Treasury of Tennessee Tales" you'll discover:

Who painted "See Rock City" signs on barns?

What man, born in Nashville, became president of Nicaragua?

What were the best excuses moonshiners gave to the "revenooers" when their stills were discovered.

How Nathan Bedford Forrest won a naval battle in Tennessee during the Civil War.