Local History

Explore the West London towns of Kew and Brentford in this fully illustrated A-Z guide to their history, people and places.

An accessible history of Taunton from its beginnings to the present day highlighting the town's significant events and people

An insider's spirited history of Yale Repertory Theatre   In this serious and entertaining chronicle of the first fifty years of Yale Repertory Theatre, award-winning dramaturg James Magruder shows how dozens of theater artists have played their parts in the evolution of a sterling American institution. Each of its four chapters is dedicated to one of the Yale Rep's artistic directors to date: Robert Brustein, Lloyd Richards, Stan Wojewodski Jr., and James Bundy. Numerous sidebars-dedicated to the spaces used by the theater, the playwrights produced most often, casting, the prop shop, the costume shop, artist housing, and other topics-enliven the lavishly illustrated four-color text. This fascinating insider account, full of indelible descriptions of crucial moments in the Rep's history, is based in part on interviews with some of America's most respected actors about their experiences at the Rep, including Paul Giamatti, James Earl Jones, Frances McDormand, Meryl Streep, Courtney B. Vance, Dianne Wiest, and Henry Winkler-among many others.   More than just a valentine to an important American theater, The Play's the Thing is a story about institution-building and the force of personality; about the tug-of-war between vision and realpolitik; and about the continuous negotiation between educational needs and artistic demands.

For 15 years, from 1970 until 1985, Lancaster was one of the great centres for live rock music in the world. This superb book tells the full story of this unbelievable period, giving details of the performers and the shows, and revealing what went on backstage.

A whirlwind journey exploring the Gloucester streets that inspired the characters of Scrooge and Long John Silver, the countryside that gave us Gustav Holst's finest work and the locations where the jet engine, the vacuum cleaner and instant custard were invented.

A collection of twenty-two essays about the people and events that have largely been neglected by historians but are part of Kent's rich tapestry featuring the eccentric, bizarre and outrageous people who have lived and passed through the garden of England. This book concentrates on the strange tales surrounding these extraordinary people.

The next instalment of the Norwich City quiz book that will test your knowledge of the Canaries to its limit!

A detailed historical celebration of village halls, and the crucial role they play in rural communities.

The fascinating region of the Black Country is one of the most interesting areas in Britain. Here is a collection of strange tales and local legends from the region.

Secret Stroud explores the lesser-known history of the town of Stroud in Gloucestershire through a fascinating selection of stories, unusual facts and attractive photographs.

A photographic journey exploring the seaside piers of England and Wales, capturing the variety of life and structures to be found around our coast

A guide to London's distinctive Blue Plaques which commemorate remarkable men and women who have lived in the capital. Its biographical portraits, listed in alphabetical order, provide imformative and sometimes irreverent anecdotes about many of the famous and some not-so-famous lives.

A fascinating exploration of the underground world and its history beneath the surface of Wakefield.

Coventry at Work is a fascinating pictorial history of the working life of the city of Coventry through the years.

A fascinating collection of merged historic and modern images that reflect the changes in Jarrow through the decades.

Exploring the military heritage of the Isle of Wight from Viking invaders straight through to the present day.

A look at the dark side of life in Kent through the centuries to the present day. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime as well as those who want to know more about the history of this county in the South East of England.

A stunning collection of photographs of the islands around Scotland's West Coast from the Firth of Clyde to the Outer Hebrides.

A fascinating tour of the Wirral's pub scene, charting the area's taverns, alehouses and watering holes, from past centuries to more recent times.

The Gwent Levels line the north shore of the Severn in South Wales: Cas Gwent (Chepstow) at its head; its more famous cousin, the Somerset Levels, across the water; the Welsh capital, Caerdydd (Cardiff), at its feet. You could waste an hour crossing the Levels by motorway. Or brush aside the journey by train. But writer Marsha O' Mahony has chosen the slow route of foreshore, footpath, and country lane. Over the course of two years, she meandered from village to village collecting conversations and anecdotes as she went. The result is a remarkable oral history of this unique landscape and the people who live there.

A comprehensive and concise history from the earliest times to the present day