Books in the Shire Library series

"Sailing Barges".

The earliest known dolls' house was made in Bavaria in the mid-sixteenth century. Like most of those built in the following 250 years, it was designed not to be played with, but to be a perfect representation in miniature of a princely house, and to reflect the wealth of the owner. This book outlines the history of these little buildings.

Turnpike trusts formed an important part of English life for over 150 years, from about 1690 to 1840, during which time they made a contribution to economic development before and during the industrial revolution. This book outlines the origins, development, success and decline of the turnpike trusts and some of the features associated with them.

Traces the history and evolution of the gramophone, the intricacies of recording sound on discs or cylinders and the complex early development of the record industry. This book is suitable for music enthusiasts.

A great number of monuments dating from the twelfth to the twentieth centuries can be seen in cathedrals and churches throughout England, and they make up a valuable part of the country's cultural heritage. This title includes numerous illustrations and a list of places where interesting examples can be found.

Surveys the history of bell production and the development of moulding and casting techniques. This book describes the intricate tuning process and the role of the bellfounder. It contains photographs that illustrate the production process of some of the famous foundries in Britain, such as those at Whitechapel and Loughborough.

Bricks were introduced to Britain by the Romans and reintroduced by Flemish craftsmen in the middle ages. This book gives an insight into the surprising variety of bricks, as well as a brief history of brickmaking, descriptions of hand and machine moulding, drying, the use of kilns and firing.

The Hansom cab is one of the most striking images of the Victorian city, but it was not the only type of cab in use during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. This title traces the origins of the horse cab and the improvements in its design in the period, and celebrates the cab drivers themselves, who had a reputation for quick-wittedness.

With 16.5 million built between 1908 and 1927, the Model T Ford was, until overtaken in the 1970s by the Volkswagen Beetle, the most popular car in automotive history. Illustrated with photographs from the Ford archives, this album charts the model's 19 year evolution and explains how this quirky, ingenious motor car put the world on wheels.

The hop has been intimately involved in social history for many centuries. This book examines hop's history since the earliest times, describing the traditional tools of the trade, the growers, the pickers and those whose versatile skills have through the centuries made the hop industry a success.

Delightful, eccentric, capricious, bizarre - the English Rococo garden, an intriguing branch of eighteenth-century horticulture, was all these and more. This book relates the components of the Rococo garden to movements in art and architecture that had developed in Britain and in Europe, and shows its appeal to amateur designers and owners.

Heavy horses played a pivotal role in the development of western economies, toiling in mines and quarries, at mills, factories and docks, alongside canals and railway lines, in fields and pasture. This book examines the breeds and their qualities, their historical role, the industry that built up around them and the revival years.

Deals with the extraction methods of various types of stone and the rise and slow decline of quarrying across the UK. This book covers some of the most famous and notable quarrying sites.

The Victorian farmer occupied a pivotal role in rural society, paying rents to the landowner and providing employment for the labourer. This book explores the world of the farmer during Queen Victoria's reign, which was a period of considerable change on the farm as the forces of industrialisation made themselves felt.

Traces the history of the trolleybus since the first experiments in this mode of electric transport were conducted over a century ago.

After the close of the First World War, the British motorcycle industry rose to prominence as British motorcycles became almost unbeatable in competitions. However, a shortage of these new model bikes pushed prices to a premium and most people were forced to settle for pre-war designs.

Public schools were in the business of producing leaders - in national government, in the Empire, and in the armed forces. This title examines the development of the Victorian and Edwardian public school, covering their defining characteristics, their slowly evolving curriculum, and the often-notable headmasters.

Identifies the various types of animal powered machines, the jobs they performed and how they evolved with the onset of the industrial revolution.

"Old Working Dogs".

Explores the life of the average British 'Tommy' of the Great War, in battle and at rest, in training, and on his return home. Illustrated with evocative images of the war, and items of the soldier's kit, this book provides an answer to the question: What was it like to be a soldier in the trenches on the front line?

Offers a typology of buckles detailing the types of buckles from different historical periods and listings of museums where they can be found. This book offers guidance for period costumes, and provides the collector or enthusiast with the information needed to continue or begin to learning about this object.

Focusing on some of the most noteworthy church clocks in Britain, and the intriguing stories behind them, this book traces the history of church clocks from the wealthy abbeys and cathedrals of the medieval period, through the gentle developments and refinements that made clocks more accurate and easier to maintain.

Slipware has been one of the most popular types of pottery in Britain since its introduction over four centuries ago. This book presents an introduction to the variety of slipware designs in England and Wales, explaining the industry by which it is produced, and highlighting some of the most important centres of production in the country.

The coastline of Victorian and Edwardian Britain provided beauty, entertainment and a venue for most people's holidays. But it was also a thriving centre of industry - shipbuilding and fishing. This book travels around Britain's coast - clockwise from London - looking at the industries that could be found at many of the cities and towns en route.

Exploring the development of old delivery vans, this title discusses the improvements and fashions up to the 1960s, including the advances in locomotion from steam to petrol, electricity and diesel. Looking at the Ford Model T, it provides a comprehensive and illustrated introduction to the history and design of classic delivery vans.

During WWII, German prison camps swelled with Allied Prisoners of War, captured during fierce conflicts, from the Battle of France in 1940 to the bomber offensives over Germany from 1943. This book looks at the life of average private soldiers.

Illustrated throughout with many black and white photographs, this book follows the development of the iconic London taxi, painting an image of the changing lifestyles of Londoners through the context of the growing cab trade and the many different styles of taxi that have served the people of London.

Worcester is the single most collected British porcelain manufacturer in the world. Produced since 1751, it is most notably renowned for several styles. This title takes you on a journey through the many periods of this highly respected manufacturer, illustrating and describing the diverse range of styles and designs produced over the years.

Monumental brasses became popular during the Middle Ages and were commonly mounted on the walls and floors of cathedrals to commemorate the great and wealthy. Often depicting knights and bishops, these representations are a major source of information concerning arms, armour and dress in the Middle Ages.

Originating in Europe, garden gnomes made the leap across the channel in the nineteenth century, where they were welcomed warmly by wealthy Brits who saw them as the must-have garden accessory. This title provides the intriguing story of gnomes and how they have come to reside in the flowerbeds of gardens across Britain.