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Books > History > History of specific subjects > Local history
Who was the Grey Lady of Pevensey Castle? How many pubs are there
in Sussex? How long would the Cuckmere be if it were stretched out?
Where could you have dined on Pigeons au soleil. What (or who) on
earth is the Knucker? How many men did it take to run the Shoreham
Oyster Fleet? Who won the Battle of Lewes? How many Lords
Lieutenant does it take to run the county? Where are the Mutton
Barracks? What's the highest score ever made in one match by Sussex
County Cricket Club? For answers to these burning questions, or for
a lovely lazy afternoon dipping into an entertainingly quirky mix
of local facts, figures, history, statistics and folk tales, turn
to the "Sussex Miscellany", a refreshing Schott of Sussex for
readers who love local trivia.
Check out the hidden facades beneath twentieth century coverings.
Secured in history by Gen. George Washington's occupation of Valley
Forge Memorial Park, Pottstown and its surrounding townships have
been on the historical front lines for many decades. Now, that
history is remembered through 368 color images. Ringing Rocks Park,
Pottsgrove Manor, the Schuylkill River are some of the landmarks
featured. For old-timers, your memories will be awakened, and, for
newer residents, a virtual tour of the area's history and lore
might kindle your own desire to learn more about the Pottstown area
and its many gifts to the world.
In this book: each chapter features a different walk and contains
clear and precise walk data with a map, and gives information on
local conveniences, refreshments and other places of interest in
the locality; every route offers the option of the long walk or the
shorter version; and, route details give facts on various landmarks
passed by, the history of each place and some feature tales of
famous names connected to the area. The Derwent Valley is one of
this country's finest assets, both from the point of view of its
heritage and magnificent scenery. Although only about 60 miles in
length, it fills mighty reservoirs near its source, and has been
harnessed to power mills and, most importantly played an
outstanding part in the Industrial Revolution. This was recognised
in 2001, when the Derwent Valley was awarded World Heritage Status,
the site running from Masson Mill at Matlock Bath to the former
Derby Silk Mill, a distance of approximately 15 miles. It is the
only World Heritage Site in the East Midlands. In this title, the
walks and features are designed to enable visitors to discover this
unique and stunningly beautiful valley, both from the valley floor
and high up on the surrounding hills and cliff tops. The walks are
suitable both for the long distance walker as well as for those who
just want a short walk. As they can be completed in short or long
stages, dependent on time and choice. In total there are twenty
linear walks, and ten circular walks. The latter can all be
subdivided into two short walks, making fifty walks in all to
provide hours of exploration and enjoyment. Suggested refreshment
stops, suitable for both linear and circular walks have been
listed. Also numerous places of interest, both in the Derwent
Valley and a little further away, which if you have the time, you
will find well worth the effort of visiting. Some are open all
year, others on a more restricted basis.
"Exploring History In and Around Derbyshire" vividly brings to life
aspects of bygone times from misty Celtic twilight to more modern
times. In this fascinating study of Derbyshire history you'll find
tales about saints and sinners, hermits and heroes, faith, folly,
fonts, crinkle-crankle walls, 'secret' forests and much more! It is
a fantastic read with many captivating and enjoyable stories to
share! History is all around us. The past haunts the present,
shaping our customs, architecture, landscape and community life. In
a series of informative, well-illustrated chapters, this book
vividly brings to life aspects of bygone times from misty Celtic
twilight to more modern times. Many of the topics covered are
expanded from features contributed to BBC Radio Derby or from
articles that have appeared in "Derby Evening Telegraph's"
"Yesterday Today" supplement, "Derbyshire Life" and other
publications. Together with brand new items, they add up to a
collection with widespread appeal. You can meet mediaeval England's
architect-in-chief, a man whose real life rags-to-riches story
rivals that of his contemporary Dick Whittington. You can find out
how Derbyshire's farmers led a rural revolution. You can tread the
packhorse trail. You can hear strange reports of tree climbing
rabbits and of pigs decked out in ribbons and bows. You can
discover the achievements of a Derbyshire man with a claim to being
Britain's finest sculptor. Saints and sinners, hermits and heroes,
faith, folly, fonts, crinkle-crankle walls, 'secret' forests,
sundials, postboxes, and the humble country stile all feature in
this wide-ranging exploration of the character and landscape of
Derbyshire and its immediate surrounds. This is serious history
with the lightest of touches that will be enjoyed by anyone who
takes more than a passing interest in local history.
This book contains 250 photographs and illustrations, including
many published for the first time. Interviews from management,
unions, 'dockies' and other involved sources give interesting,
enlightening and often humorous first-hand accounts of life in and
around the docks during this time. Southampton has a long maritime
history that can be traced from the invasion of Britain by the
Romans in AD43, but the construction of the docks really began in
earnest in 1803, when an Act of Parliament made it possible to
develop quays and warehouses. "The Story of Southampton Docks"
traces the history and development of the docks over the last two
centuries. It looks at dock management and the construction of both
the Old and New Docks during the period when the docks were known
as 'railway docks', managed by London & South Western Railway
and later the Southern Railway. It was a time when the docks became
famous as the 'Gateway to the World' during the period known as the
'Golden Age of Ocean Travel.' With the outbreak of the Second World
War the docks came under the control of the War Department, and
during hostilities the docks were heavily bombed. From 1945 the
docks' management was faced with competition for trade from abroad,
the need to reconstruct the docks after the wartime bombing and
labour disputes. The book highlights when the ports were privatised
and recalls the introduction of Associated British Ports to manage
Southampton Docks. The huge reduction of the dock labour force
through redundancies and the retraining of the remaining workforce
compelled the docks to be more competitive in the world market.
21st-century trade is increasing in Southampton Docks, with larger
container ships and car carriers visiting, but the biggest change
witnessed in Southampton is the development of the cruise industry.
In "Ghosts of London" Jon Sutherland reveals the stories behind
hauntings in theatres, parks, homes, palaces and pubs all over the
capital, from Acton to Woolwich. The book is sure to appeal to
ghost-hunters of all ages and nationalities, as well as anyone with
an interest in the supernatural. The ancient city of London is
haunted by hundreds of ghosts, including famous historical figures
such as Henry VIII, Walter Raleigh and Florence Nightingale, and a
host of less well-known but equally fascinating characters.
Poltergeists, screaming spectres, headless women and even phantom
trains and buses fill the pages of this detailed guide to the
spirits that stalk the streets of London. Find out about the ghosts
that haunt the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, discover
London's most haunted town house in Berkeley Square, and learn
which ghosts to look out for in the pubs of the East End at night.
It is a fascinating survey of the ghostly activity of Britain's
largest City.
The small hamlet of Litton nestles in the rolling countryside of
the Peak District amid green fields and blue skies. Close to
Tideswell, it is the idyllic retreat for those wanting to get away
from the pressures of life. Yet do those that visit realise the
hardship and death that abounded there almost 200 years ago? Was it
this struggle to survive that led Anthony Lingard the younger to
commit murder or his younger brother William to commit highway
robbery? William Lingard committed Highway robbery within sight of
his brother's decaying body and was transported to Australia where
he endured punishment after punishment. The story of the Lingard
family and those around is one of murder, highway robbery and
brutality. When Anthony Lingard the elder married Elizabeth Neal a
train of events began that would help change the laws of England
The conflict at sea between Allied merchant ships, their Royal Navy
escorts and the German U-boats was christened the Battle of the
Atlantic by Winston Churchill on 6 March 1941. Churchill said that
the 'U-boat peril' was the only thing that ever really frightened
him during the Second World War, but 70 years on the men who sailed
on the Atlantic convoys are among the forgotten heroes of the
conflict. The casualty figures underline the constant peril -
almost 3,000 ships were sunk by U-boat action. Reports of torpedoed
vessels sinking in under a minute sent a shudder through the
nation. But what was it really like? Coder Cliff Greenwood was
called up aged 40 and began his naval training at the former
Butlin's holiday camp in Skegness, Lincolnshire. From then on he
wrote home to his wife almost every day, although posting his
letters was not always easy. The letters are a unique insight into
life on the Atlantic convoys, for Cliff's duties as a specialist
Royal Navy coder meant he was involved in the transmission of coded
communications between the escorting warships and their Merchant
Navy charges, a role that gave him rare insights into the broader
strategic picture. But as well as being a rare first-hand account
of life on board a Royal Navy ship on escort duties in the North
Atlantic, the letters represent a rich seam of social history.
"Alice Hawkins and the Suffragette Movement" is a study about a
woman who gave her life to the cause and, through her personality,
shaped the lives of thousands of women. It also seeks to redress
the balance and add to our understanding of who the suffragettes
were, as an integral organisation and part of women's equality. The
campaign for the suffrage is perhaps the best-known aspect of
women's political fight in the early part of the 20th century, yet
little is known of the local women who engaged in this struggle.
Indeed, the assumption that only wealthy women were involved in the
militant campaign has led not only to the distortion of the WSPU
membership, but it also neglects the significant contribution made
by working-class women within it. Previously, few investigations
have been carried out into local organisations of the Women's
Social and Political Union, and as a consequence our understanding
of local women within the party has been limited. Focusing on this
central omission, this book, through the life and times of Alice
Hawkins, seeks to redress the balance and add to our understanding
of who the suffragettes were. But, more importantly, this book is
about a woman who gave her life to the cause and, through her
personality, shaped the lives of thousands of women. The importance
of this book is that it is now slowly being recognised that history
cannot shut away the lives and experiences of thousands of women
like Alice Hawkins to concentrate on what was, to all intents and
purposes, the public sphere. Her history, and those women like her,
is an important omission, and without it the social composition of
the movement will always remain unclear and the extent to which
working women were involved will always remain hidden. Thus, the
story of Alice Hawkins and the Leicester WSPU is, without, doubt,
crucial to our understanding of the organisation.
Michael E. Smith tells the fascinating story of the inventors,
entrepreneurs and artisans who contributed to the Industrial
Revolution in Derbyshire. He describes the development of
well-known industrial enterprises as diverse as Crown Derby, the
Midland Railway, Rolls-Royce and the Butterley Company as well as
many others. Derbyshire played an important part in the history of
Britain's industrial development. The Romans mined lead here, and
from mediaeval times coal mining, iron working and the manufacture
of pottery were all important. The Silk Mill, built at Derby in
1722, has a good claim to being Britain's first factory, and in
1771, at Cromford, Richard Arkwright created a system of industrial
production, that was copied throughout the world. As water power
was replaced by steam, Derbyshire colliers hewed millions of tons
of coal to fuel the later phase of the Industrial Revolution. With
the coming of the railways, Derby became an important manufacturing
centre, and firms such as James Smith, making uniforms, and
Bemrose, printing tickets and timetables, piggybacked to prosperity
in the wake of this railway boom. By the 20th century a number of
engineering firms had established themselves within the county, and
in 1940 Spitfires and Hurricanes powered by Rolls-Royce engines won
the Battle of Britain. In the post-war world the development of the
jet engine and new industries such as nuclear engineering kept
Derbyshire in the forefront of technical research and industrial
development. Michael E. Smith tells the fascinating story of the
inventors, entrepreneurs and artisans who contributed to the
Industrial Revolution in Derbyshire as well as later developments
in aviation and chemical and nuclear engineering. He describes the
development of well-known industrial enterprises as diverse as
Crown Derby, the Midland Railway, Offiler's Brewery, Rolls-Royce,
Bemrose, the Butterley Company and Toyota as well as many others.
In "Days of London Past" the imaginative though mainly factual
stories that unfold on a particular day in a selected century,
bring that past vividly to life. London and it's rich history has
always had the power to fascinate and absorb. By using some of the
famous individuals who have enriched London's existence at various
stages of their lives, the effect is one of being transported as if
in a time machine. If you have not before been familiar with
characters such as Pepys, Johnson and Caxton, the stories in this
book will ensure that you will become more intimately acquainted
with the personalities behind the names. The stories are so richly
detailed with the knowledge we have of those times, that London
itself becomes more real through the centuries. The result is a
thoroughly absorbing mini celebration of some of London is most
famous characters and the London town they inhabited.
Mark Tobey and Teng Baiye: Seattle / Shanghai is the first book to
explore artistic and intellectual exchanges between Chinese artist
Teng Baiye (1900-1980) and his American contemporary Mark Tobey
(1890-1976). Essays by Jo-Anne Birnie Danzker and David Clarke
consider Teng's influence as both a cultural interpreter and an
artistic practitioner on the development of Tobey's distinctive
artistic practice and - through Tobey - on the discourse on
abstraction in midcentury American art.
Nobody could have predicted in the first half of the Twentieth
century that 'going to the flicks' would be rapidly superseded in
later years by television. Buildings of all sizes and descriptions
- some having only existed for a relatively short time - quickly
became redundant and have struggled for survival or an alternative
use since the demise. In the heavy industrial areas of West
Yorkshire particularly Bradford and Leeds, there was a great need
for entertainment. And in some ways it was only natural that the
new film industry should give rise to purpose-built cinemas across
the entire region. Although theatre-going declined with the growth
of the cinemas, it is pleasing to note that live theatre is still
very much alive today in a number of the towns and cities covered
here. The various developments of screen and stage in West
Yorkshire have been admirably captured over the years by the
Yorkshire Post's able photographers and featured in this book.
Using a simple A to Z format Peter Tuffrey has made it quick and
easy to examine the history - and in some cases find a picture - of
a favourite cinema or theatre.
On the banks of the Rio Grande, in the foothills of the Sandia
Mountains, and in the geographical center of the state of New
Mexico lies the city of Albuquerque. Over 200 vintage black and
white and hand-tinted postcards from the 1900s to the 1960s take
readers on a fantastic journey back in time, to tour Albuquerque
and beyond. Many interesting and famous spots are showcased. See
the AT & SF Railroad Depot and the Alvarado Hotel in all their
former glory. Browse through the selection of handmade Native
American arts and crafts sold in Wright's Trading Post or by
vendors in Old Town Plaza. Take in a show at the KiMo Theater,
stroll among the historic buildings and shops of Old Town, or stop
for a tour of the University of New Mexico's campus. Travel outside
Albuquerque for a trip up the Sandia Mountains and a tour through
Sandia Pueblo.
This priceless archive has been compiled by Raymond Andreson and
built up by the "Evening Express" and its sister paper, "The Press
and Journal". The lives of the folk of Aberdeen have been
faithfully recorded in photographs since the end of the 19th
century. It is a beautiful and fascinating collection of images
that will captivate both locals and tourists alike. For more than a
hundred years their photographers have been capturing the special
character - and characters - of Aberdeen on glass slide and film.
The momentous and the mundane. With the passage of time, even the
most straightforward picture of a street scene takes on special
significance. The immense amount of rebuilding in Aberdeen this
century has seen hundreds of streets disappear, but the memories of
the people who inhabited them remain today, ready to be rekindled
by a photograph. Part of the magic of these captured moments is
that in many cases they are the only records that remain -
certainly no movie records exist. The tremendous pride Aberdonians
have in their sturdy granite city is reflected in the continuing
popularity of the historic flashback photographs carried weekly in
the "Evening Express". So here, by popular request, are 350 images
of the Silver City from the turn of the century. A time when
Aberdeen underwent the most dramatic changes in its history.
Westward expansion in the United States was deeply intertwined with
the technological revolutions of the nineteenth century, from
telegraphy to railroads. Among the most important of these, if
often forgotten, was the lithograph. Before photography became a
dominant medium, lithography-and later, chromolithography-enabled
inexpensive reproduction of color illustrations, transforming
journalism and marketing and nurturing, for the first time, a
global visual culture. One of the great subjects of the lithography
boom was an emerging Euro-American colony in the Americas: Texas.
The most complete collection of its kind-and quite possibly the
most complete visual record of nineteenth-century Texas,
period-Texas Lithographs is a gateway to the history of the Lone
Star State in its most formative period. Ron Tyler assembles works
from 1818 to 1900, many created by outsiders and newcomers
promoting investment and settlement in Texas. Whether they depict
the early French colony of Champ d'Asile, the Republic of Texas,
and the war with Mexico, or urban growth, frontier exploration, and
the key figures of a nascent Euro-American empire, the images
collected here reflect an Eden of opportunity-a fairy-tale dream
that remains foundational to Texans' sense of self and to the
world's sense of Texas.
This is a new paperback version for 2011. It includes absorbing
real life accounts of every murder that took place in Manchester
during the twentieth century. It features well-known cases and
those which are lesser known but equally fascinating tales of
jealousy, revenge and tragedy. This book tells the story of every
murder which took place in Manchester during the twentieth century
and which ended in the execution of the person found guilty of the
crime and who went on to pay the ultimate penalty of death by
hanging at the end of a rope. Some cases are well-known, such as
those of George Rice, William Burtoft and Walter Graham Rowland -
who was reprieved for a murder he did commit but was later hanged
for one which he may not have committed - but any of the lesser
known murders have equally absorbing stories of love, jealousy and
lust. Readers will discover child killers such as John Horner, wife
killers such as Frederick Ballington, and those who killed out of
rage or for revenge, such as James Ryder. And then there was James
Henry Corbitt, where the hangman was someone he had known as a
friend. All manner of motives are shown, all sorts of weapons are
used, but in the final analysis each story represents a human
tragedy in which at least two people lost their lives. Read these
stories and then decide for yourselves whether or not every one was
guilty as charged.
"Blackpool's Seaside Stars" is a fascinating collection of
celebrity profiles, together with many rare pictures from the
archives, and sprinkled with Gazette readers' memories. This
selection only scratches the surface of Blackpool's remarkably deep
and rich entertainment heritage. It is an entertaining and
enjoyable read! Oh we do like to be beside the seaside...A timeless
refrain not just from millions of Blackpool holidaymakers, but also
from a galaxy of stars - who helped build the Lancashire resort's
reputation as THE major entertainment centre outside London. It was
the northern mill workers who helped make Blackpool into Britain's
number-one holiday resort. They came in their droves to sample its
unique atmosphere and bracing sea breezes. They loved the Tower,
the Golden Mile, the Illuminations and Piers, but they also
demanded to be entertained throughout the decades. The thirties saw
the start of a golden era, with Blackpool beginning to gleam as the
capital of seaside fun. Stars of music hall, stage and screen -
from both sides of the Atlantic - clamoured to perform in the
resort, which could boast some of the biggest and best provincial
theatres. Even during the war years Blackpool was fondly regarded
as a safe haven, which kept a smile on the face of thousands of
service personnel and civil servants, dazzled by appearances from
the country's top acts. When the hostilities finally ended,
Blackpool bounced back with the finest entertainment line-up in the
country, in its heyday offering as many as 15 live shows each night
during the summer season. Just about every group and solo star of
note in Britain and even America headed here during the fifties and
sixties - live radio and TV specials came direct from the resort
that really knew how to rock. The fun has continued since the
seventies, with families flocking to see summer season shows. So
step back in time with legends such as Gracie Fields, Jimmy
Clitheroe, George Formby, Laurel and Hardy, Marlene Dietrich, Bob
Hope, Morecambe and Wise, Hylda Baker, Thora Hird, Sid James, Bruce
Forsyth and even The Beatles. More recent household names include
Tommy Steele, Les Dawson, Russ Abbot and Cannon and Ball. All have
featured in "Seaside Stars", a weekly feature within "The
Gazette's" "Memory Lane" pages, which has proved such a hit that it
has provided the basis for this book - a fascinating collection of
celebrity profiles, together with many rare pictures from the
archives, and sprinkled with "Gazette" readers' memories. This
selection only scratches the surface of Blackpool's remarkably deep
and rich entertainment heritage, but we hope it will be a lasting
souvenir to rekindle memories for residents and holidaymakers
alike.
Before World War Two the city was in decline and only in the 1970s,
with the advent of new technologies, did Dundee's regeneration
begin. Against this background of profound change, the author gives
a remarkable account of the rich daily life of Dundee. He recalls
important events and individuals and offers keen insights into the
processes of development and recovery. Modern Dundee will be
evocative reading for anyone who knows the city and has lived there
during the post-war years, and it will also serve as a valuable
introduction to its immediate history.
You should be warned that some of the ghosts are more 'hands on' so
you may be pinched or pushed, slapped or have your clothes tugged.
You may be locked in a room or shut in a freezer and you may even
receive three cold kisses! You will visit some of the less
frequented parts of Derbyshire, experiencing the rich diversity of
its scenery, from gentle valleys to panoramic viewpoints. On these
quieter paths, you will find wildlife undisturbed by the tramp of
many feet. Kestrels hover over pastures, jays and woodpeckers may
be glimpsed in woodland, buntings chirp from uncut hedges, and, if
you are lucky, on three of the walks, a kingfisher may imprint its
brilliant hue on your day. The walks include visits to famous
halls, houses and castles and a number of fascinating churches.
There is information about parking, toilets and refreshment stops
and good maps.
A family firm despite its large size, the company was presided over
by four generations of the Ley family between 1873 and 1987. Both
the family and the foundry were embedded in the history of Derby
and their legacies can still be seen in the city today. The
Baseball Ground, built by Sir Francis Ley as a home for the game of
baseball, was sold by him to Derby County FC and has only recently
been demolished. Remnants of the factory buildings and offices,
which once covered an area of over 17 acres, can still be seen in
Derby streets. Bob Read, a former employee of Ley's, has put
together a fascinating survey of the history of the foundry. This
book uncovers a wealth of historical detail, and the account of the
firm's fortunes is lavishly illustrated with drawings, photographs
and ephemera that bring life to his story of a business that was
part of Derby life for over a century.
Stephen Halliday's beautifully illustrated book shows how the
ramshackle collection of communities that entered the 19th century
became the world's first metropolis. This fascinating story is told
through the lives of eight men who created the Victorian capital
and is a must read for all! In 1801 the population of London was
almost one million. A century later, on the death of Queen
Victoria, it had passed six million, and the city had been
transformed. John Nash defined the modern West End with his 'New
Street' (Regent Street) between the farm at Regent's Park and the
swamp at St James' Park. Marc Brunel invented the tunnelling shield
that made the underground railways possible. Thomas Cubitt built
houses for aristocrats in Belgravia and homes for the middle
classes at Pimlico and Bloomsbury. Sir Charles Barry built the New
Palace of Westminster to replace the charred ruins of the old one.
Sir Joseph Paxton designed the Crystal Palace for the Great
Exhibition of 1851, the profits of which enabled...Alfred
Waterhouse to build the Natural History Museum and thus begin the
South Kensington museums. Sir Joseph Bazalgette built the sewers,
streets and parks that made the metropolis a safe place to live,
and...Sir Edward Watkin, chairman of the Metropolitan Railway,
began the process that created the suburbs of Metroland and
elsewhere. Stephen Halliday's portraits of these remarkable men
give a fascinating insight into the diversity of their careers and
achievements. They created the imperial capital from which Victoria
ruled over the greatest empire the world had ever seen.
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