Local History

The Aroostook War of 1839, an oft-forgotten incident in the storied history of Canada-US relations, is a misnomer. It was an undeclared war with no real combat. Its underpinnings were a two-fold reaction to the 1793 Treaty of Paris -- which ended the American Revolutionary War but left the border between Maine (then part of Massachusetts) and British North America unsettled -- and the War of 1812, when parts of northern Maine were occupied by Britain. Concluding that a negotiated border might negatively afect their claim for the disputed territory, the Maine government set out to occupy the Aroostook River valley in early 1839. In preparation for armed conflict, British regulars, New Brunswick militia, and Maine militia were deployed in the dead of winter, laying the kindling for a third major Anglo-American conflagration. Although a truce negotiated in late March 1839 prevented the outbreak of hostilities, confrontations between the Maine volunteers and New Brunswick's warden, magistrates, and seizing officers continued. Ultimately, cooler heads prevailed and an agreement was reached, which resulted in the Ashburton-Webster Treaty of 1842. A multifaceted story of friction, greed, land grabs, and rivalry, this tale of a border dispute and near-war is an intriguing chapter in the history of Canada and the United States.

Return to Sender pairs pioneering colour photographer John Hinde's instantly recognisable iconic postcards from Ireland in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, with corresponding contemporary photographs. The side-by-side contrast of these wonderfully captured by photographer Paul Kelly, illustrates the ways Ireland's landscapes have changed over the decades

This book explores pre-clan history, the formation of clans, the geography of the settlements and the development of farming techniques and crofting.

Mull and Iona are two of the most visited islands in Scotland, and have played a central role in the history of the country.

How King's Cross grew from tile kilns and dust heaps to a vital rail artery, and from decay and dereliction to a site of major redevelopment

Who built the mysterious spiral staircase in the little chapel at Loretto Inn in Santa Fe, New Mexico? Was it a master craftsman or the work of good St. Joseph? Archbishop John B. Lamy had the chapel, patterned after the Sainte-Chapelle of Paris, built for the Sisters of Loretto and the young ladies of the academy. When the school closed after more than a century of outstanding service, the site was sold. Old and new owners agreed that the chapel, and the famous staircase, must be preserved for its beauty and peacenow and in the future.

Full of information which will make you say, `I never knew that!'

Featuring a range of picturesque vistas, from Norman castles and medieval abbeys to windswept moors and walled cities, each stunning scene is full of intriguing detail sure to fire the imagination and make you reach for your colouring pencils.

Storyteller Sheila Kinninmonth brings together stories from the coastal fishing villages, rushing rivers, magical green farmland and rolling hills of Fife.

Fascinating vintage photos of Hong Kong have been matched with the same viewpoint today to show the amazing growth and development of this unique city.

Vintage Parisian scenes from the time of the Belle Epoque and beyond are matched with the same views today to give a fascinating insight into the romantic capital of Europe in this bilingual edition.

LONDONTOWN is a photographic love letter to this bustling world capital.

The castle is an evocative structure, no matter its setting, and this is no truer than in Scotland, where the multitude of castles reflect the country's turbulent history: its many conflicts and skirmishes, whether against invaders from the north, the English to the south or between clans.

Featuring eyewitness accounts from a haunted room, sealed up for forty years at the Blue Boar pub, to the ghostly female resident at the Old Duke and the Westhoughton poltergeist, this book includes pulse-raising narratives that are guaranteed to make your blood run cold.

Since it was first broadcast on British television in 1997, Midsomer Murders has become one of the most-beloved detective dramas on television, instantly recognisable for its attractive backdrop at the heart of rural England.

Robin Laing set out to visit every distillery in the Speyside area, from Benromach to Tomintoul, and presents a guide which is part history, part travelogue and part commentary on the changes in the whisky industry.

World of William Morris

A visual journey into Middlesbrough's past - that will delight resident and visitor alike

Just as Peter Ackroyd's bestselling London is the biography of the city, Thames: Sacred River is the biography of the river, from sea to source.

Avalon is a site of great power, revered since ancient times as an entrance to, and exit from, the Otherworld. Book provides a coherent context in which to understand Avalon's many mysteries, including the * Isle * Tor * Glastonbury Zodiac, * Abbey * Tor Labyrinth * St. Michael ley line The author invokes the magical, spiritual power of the English landscape with a wealth of detailed information encompassing other belief systems and scared sites. He discusses * Physical and sacred topography * Symbols * Architecture * History

Once part of Lancashire, Droylsden and Audenshaw are now part of Tameside Metropolitan Borough of Manchester. The varied histories of both towns see the transition from farming to an industrial community. With over 200 photographs, this book gives us a glimpse of the streets of the two towns and the people who lived there, at work and leisure.