Local History

The incredible story of how the village of Lesmahagow has influenced the world in a variety of fields, from industry to espionage, throughout history.

The perfect celebration of the beauty, romance, and poetry of Paris, city of Marcel Proust and Coco Chanel, of Impressionism and Surrealism, of Left Bank cool and Right Bank elegance. This photographic portrait features some 300 city pictures alongside an extensive appendix of some 100 books, movies, and records inspired by the city of lights....

Bitterne & West End Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of Hampshire. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of Bitterne and West End, the famous streets and the famous faces, and what they meant to the people in this community throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos, readers can see the historical context in which they are set, and through the author's factual captions for every picture and carefully-selected choice of images, the reader can achieve a reliable view of this area's history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of Bitterne and West End, as Keith Marsh guides us through the local streets. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in the area all their lives, or whether they are just visiting. It also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever-changing society.

There is a lot of controversy over the history of Stilton cheese: its origins, who first made it, and who now has the rights to the name and recipe. Trevor Hickman has delved into the National Archives to explore the story of this famous cheese. In this new book on the subject, he sets down the facts of the cheese's origin, development and history to the present day. He explains how Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire became the centre for Stilton cheese production and emphasises its importance as a leading area of speciality food production.

Ipswich has long been dismissed as a town without history, yet archaeology carried out over the last 30 years proves conclusively that it is one of England''s oldest towns.

A fascinating account from award-winning author, Adam Nicolson, on the history of Nicolson's own national treasure, his family home: Sissinghurst.Sissinghurst is world famous as a place of calm and beauty, a garden slipped into the ruins of a rose-pink Elizabethan palace. But is it entirely what its creators intended? Has its success over the last thirty years come at a price? Is Sissinghurst everything it could be?The story of this piece of land, an estate in the Weald of Kent, is told here for the first time from the very beginning. Adam Nicolson, who now lives there, has uncovered remarkable new findings about its history as a medieval manor and great sixteenth-century house, from the days of its decline as an eighteenth-century prison to a flourishing Victorian farm and on to the creation, by his grandparents Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, of a garden in a weed-strewn wreck.Alongside his recovery of the past, Adam Nicolson wanted something else: for the land at Sissinghurst to live again, to become the landscape of orchards, cattle, fruit and sheep he remembered from his boyhood. Could that living frame of a mixed farm be brought back to what had turned into monochrome fields of chemicalised wheat and oilseed rape? Against the odds, he was going to try.Adam Nicolson has always been a passionate writer about landscape and buildings, but this is different. This is the place he wanted to make good again, reconnecting garden, farm and land. More than just a personal biography of a place, this book is the story of taking an inheritance and steering it in a new direction, just as an entrepreneur might take hold of a company, or just as all of us might want to take our dreams and make them real.

Animal tales full of folklore and magic, chosen for for children aged 7-11

A completely new Trail Guide dedicated to the London section of the Thames Path from Hampton Court to the Thames Barrier.

This beautifully photographed selection of fifty of Somerset's most precious assets shows what makes it such a popular destination.

Beautiful collection of old postcards showing the Lake District's enduring appeal over the last century and more.

This beautifully photographed selection of fifty of the region's most precious assets shows what makes Mid Wales such a popular destination.

The story of Muck as told through the eyes of Lawrence MacEwen, working farmer and much-loved laird.

A history of Stourbridge

"On the Trail of Mary Queen of Scots" traces the major events in the turbulent life of the beautiful, enigmatic queen whose romantic reign and tragic destiny exerts an undimmed fascination.

Brighton has long been an important seaside town, and today draws in visitors from all over Britain and beyond for its varied nightlife, rich history and attractive waterfront. In 1800, Brighton had forty-one inns and taverns, and by 1860 there were well over 450, echoing the town's growth in popularity through the Regency and early Victorian eras. A recent resurgence of interest in real ale has also seen a welcome boom in micro-breweries, placing Brighton firmly on the beer-lover's map. David Muggleton takes us on a tour of these watering holes, including the long-established venerable Greyhound, elegant Regency Cricketers, high-Victorian Colonnade, elaborate mock-Tudor King & Queen and the English Renaissance revivalist Good Companions, the pub reputed to have opened on the very day that the Second World War began. Brimming with quirky tales and fascinating facts, this carefully crafted guide initiates readers into the fascinating history of Brighton's pubs.

Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south of Widnes across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn. Upstream and 8 miles to the east of Widnes is the town of Warrington, and downstream 16 miles to the west is the city of Liverpool. Historically part of Lancashire, prior to the Industrial Revolution Widnes consisted of a small number of separate settlements on land which was mainly marsh or moorland. In 1847 the first chemical factory was established and the town rapidly became a major centre of the chemical industry. Widnes continues to be a major manufacturer of chemicals and there has been a degree of diversification of the town's industries. Widnes lies on the southern route of the Liverpool to Manchester railway line. The Sankey Canal (now disused) terminates in an area of Widnes known as Spike Island.

As one of the twelve founding Football League clubs in 1888/89, Everton Football Club has a long, proud history. Having played more top-flight League games than any other English team, the Toffees have won the League championship nine times - the fourth best record of any team. The first occasion was in the third season of League football, 1890/91 when the Blues became the first club from Liverpool to collect the League championship trophy from their then base, Anfield. In achieving their success, Everton knocked the winners of the first two championships, the Invincibles of Preston North End, off their throne. But how did they do it? Who were the players in this momentous season, what sort of football did they play and who did they beat?

How much do you know about Ireland? There’s so much to learn about the Emerald Isle that even its residents don’t know. In this trivia book, you’ll learn more about Ireland’s history, pop culture, folklore, and so much more!In The Great Book of Ireland, you’ll learn: How did Ireland get its name?Why is it known as the Emerald Isle?Who was St. Patrick really?What do leprechauns and shamrocks have to do with St. Patrick’s Day?Which Irish company had a 9,000-year lease?What is Ireland’s top attraction?Which movies have been filmed in Ireland?Which famous novel may have been based on an Irish myth?Which legends did the Irish believe in?And so much more!This book is packed with trivia facts about Ireland. Some of the facts you’ll learn in this book are shocking, some are tragic, and others will leave you with goosebumps. But they’re all interesting!Whether you’re just learning about Ireland or you already think you’re an expert on the state, you’ll learn something you didn’t know in every chapter. Your history teacher will be interesting at all of your newfound knowledge.So what are you waiting for? Get started to learn more about Ireland!

How much do you know about Mexico? There’s so much to learn about America’s southern neighbor that it could fill several books and you still wouldn’t even know it all. In this trivia book, you’ll learn about Mexico’s history (ancient and modern), pop culture, geography, folklore, and so much more!In The Great Book of Mexico, you’ll learn:How did Mexico get its name?What are the origins of the Mexican flag?How did the Aztecs and Maya contribute to Mexican history?Where are Mexico’s most haunted locales?How did tequila start in Mexico and where?What are some of Mexico’s top tourist spots?What are the most popular sports in Mexico?What is Mexico’s highest peak?Where is Mexico’s lowest point?And so much more!This book is packed with trivia facts about Mexico. Some of the facts will make you scratch your head, while others will probably creep you out. There is no doubt, though, that all of the facts in this book will fascinate you.Whether you just have a passing interest in Mexico, or planning on visiting the country, or you already think you’re an expert on the state, you’ll learn something you didn’t know in every chapter. You will be able to amaze all of your friends and family with your newfound knowledge about Mexico.So what are you waiting for? Open the pages and get started learning more about Mexico!

Explore Edinburgh's hidden music heritage, plus a few of its more tuneful tall tales, with this eye-opening guide of the city's music milestones, famous gigs, infamous incidents and colourful characters.

Twickenham is chiefly known today as the home of rugby, but its heyday could be said to be in the eighteenth century when first Alexander Pope and then Horace Walpole made it their home and extolled its Arcadian setting.Captain Gray, a naval officer, acquired plots of land close to the river in Twickenham in 1718 on which he built two rows of houses, Sion Row and Montpelier Row, which survive to this day and are much admired.This book tells the story of Sion Row, which was built for Gray by a remarkable local craftsman, Edward Reeves, who had ambition to become an architect. It explains the features of the houses and how they were built. It then follows them through to the present day showing how they were used and what modifications have been made to them and, not least, how they survived.In parallel we learn of the owners and the residents, many of whom have fascinating stories to tell. They are immensely diverse, some international, some purely local, some disreputable, others pillars of respectability.Their lives are put in the context of changes in Twickenham as it evolved from out of town retreat to prosperous commuter suburb. In telling the story of these houses and people, a remarkable social history is revealed.

New Orleans jazz thrilled the world in the twenties and traveled around the world in the thirties. In the forties and fifties, the world came to New Orleans to hear authentic New Orleans jazz played by real jazz musicians. The sixties brought Preservation Hall, a musical institution that even a hurricane couldn't kill. For the last 40 years, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has been celebrating New Orleans' and Louisiana's unique culture and music.This volume contains rare photographs from the Louisiana State Museum's Jazz Collection, lovingly assembled and accompanied by captions written by award-winning author and Jazz Roots radio show host Tom Morgan. Those who love jazz will be amazed by these pictures of some of the best musicians ever to pick up an instrument. For those just beginning to learn about jazz, this 200-page volume is an excellent takeoff point to learn more about what made New Orleans jazz unique, and a source to discover musicians who can further enhance readers' listening pleasure.

Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition, popularly called the Chicago World’s Fair, or the White City, was the largest and most spectacular world’s fair ever built. The Columbian Exposition opened on May 1, 1893, and more than 21,000,000 people visited the fair during the six months it was open to the public. The White City was a seminal event in America’s history that changed the way the world viewed Chicago. Fortunately, the fair was documented in stunning photographs by commercial and amateur photographers. This volume tells the story of the fair from its construction in Jackson Park to its destruction by fire after the fair had closed. Photographs of the exhibition halls, state buildings, foreign buildings, indoor and outdoor exhibits, the attractions of the Midway, and the various ways to move about the fairgrounds give a sense of how visitors experienced this extraordinary time and place.

HISTORIC PHOTOS OF BIRMINGHAM captures the remarkable journey of this cultural city of the South, with still photography from the finest archives of city, state and private collections. Through the late 1800''s, the roaring Twenties, two World Wars and into the modern era, Birmingham has continued to grow and prosper by maintaining the strong, independent culture of its citizens. With hundreds of archival photos reproduced in stunning duotone on heavy art paper, this book is the perfect addition to any historian''s collection.

Along the bayous of south Louisiana, with its majestic oak trees draped in Spanish moss, open prairies teeming with wildlife, and lush primeval forest, the Chitimacha lived long before the first white settlers arrived in the Attakapas District around 1746. The newcomers would travel by oxcart and boat along waterways lined in flowering magnolias, pecan trees, and grapevines to establish new homesteads. In April 1811, a territorial act that divided Attakapas County created St. Mary Parish. Sugarcane plantations with idyllic names such as Idlewild and Shady Side were established, and timber, trapping, fishing, and agriculture prospered. Later, oil and gas with its many support industries became part of the rich heritage of south Louisiana. The first settlers endured many hardships: floods, storms, outbreaks of yellow fever, and the challenges of the Civil War. St. Mary Parish has seen its share of changes over the centuries, but the tenacity, resourcefulness, and pride of the people remain as constant and endless as the slowly flowing waters of the bayous to the Gulf of Mexico.