Books in the Shire Library series

The red double decker bus is one of the enduring images of London. Although now increasingly replaced by modern bendy buses, the classic rear-entrance double-decker still appears on postcards, keyrings, t-shirts and other tourist souvenirs. This title takes a trip back in time to explore the story of the London bus, from horse-drawn to bendy bus.

Before World War II, Brooklands was the most famous motor racing venue in the world, attracting large and glamorous crowds to its banked circuit to watch races being won and records being broken. This title helps you discover the history of this sporting site, from its heyday as a motoring treasure to its wartime service in aviation production.

A story of the road to Dunkirk, the development of Fortress Britain and the rearming of the army to open the 'Second Front' in Europe. It explains what it was like to serve in the desert, on the long road that led to victory in Alamein, and of the battles against the Japanese in the Far East.

Although tanks have become a symbol of military power, the first tanks were created as a temporary solution to the deadlock created by trench warfare. This book covers the design and development of tanks during the First World War, describing the types that were used in action and the most important battles in which they fought.

'The Potteries' is the name given to the industrial area in the English Midlands that was home to hundreds of pottery-making companies. This title presents an introduction to the industrial history of the Potteries, its major firms and the men and women who produced pottery for Britain and the world.

Offers a survey of the different kinds of toy steam engines of the stationary type, and especially those produced during the heyday of steam toys between 1900 and 1930. This book explains how the engines work, gives advice about operating and maintaining them, and contains useful information about identifying and dating vintage models.

The nineteenth century saw huge changes in design and technology. This book looks at the social history of rooms in the Victorian home and at how, thanks to industrialised mass production, people were empowered to make choices about how to decorate their homes.

Explores the world of Victorian children, and how their experiences changed as laws were introduced to stop child employment, and education became compulsory, how holidays became possible by train, and the introduction of mass-produced toys. This book includes photographs and illustrations of Victorian Britain.

In 1851 an event was organised in London that changed the world: The Great Exhibition. It was a spectacular showcase of technology manufacture and design from all over the world. Chronicling the first exciting spectacles, through to the much-maligned Millennium Dome, this title brings together the details and stories behind the great exhibitions.

With a network covering much of the West Country, Wales and the West Midlands, and a history and tradition stretching back more than a century, the Great Western has been seen by many railway historians and enthusiasts as the most famous railway in the world. This book summarises Great Western Railway's place in British history.

In 1917 a remarkable organisation came into being. Its brief was vastly ambitious: to commemorate the 1,100,00 men of the British Empire who lost their lives in the First World War. This book looks at the history of the war graves for British and Commonwealth servicemen and women.

Fern Fever was popular in Britain between 1837 and 1914. This book looks at the how the craze developed, the ways in which ferns were incorporated into garden and home, and the spread of the fern through Victorian material and visual culture.

Steam, and then cumbersome motor, tractors existed in small numbers before 1914. The rivals of Ford brought in novelties such as diesel engines, pneumatic tyres, and hydraulic implement lifts. After the Second World-War, an indigenous tractor industry was led by Ferguson, David Brown, Nuffield and Ford. This book highlights these developments.

In the late 1930s, when war seemed inevitable and it was realised that aerial attack would be the greatest threat posed by any coming conflict, the government established a volunteer organisation - Air Raid Precautions or ARP - that would stand at the centre of the wartime civil defence. This book presents the history of members of the ARP.

Charts the history of motor road haulage in Britain, featuring the design and development of the vehicles, competition from the railways, and the coming of the motorway age, the services that kept the trucker going, from garage to transport cafe, and the men themselves. This title is illustrated with period photographs.

Postcards sent by men on the front, and to them by their families, are among the most telling, and surviving artefacts of the Great War. They tell us about attitudes towards the war, and provide a great insight into men's lives, and into the thoughts and emotions of those left behind. This title features British postcards of the First World War.

The Flying Scotsman is probably one of the most famous railway locomotive in the world. From 1928 it began running non-stop, an achievement that earned it yet more attention. This book celebrates the locomotive, the train that shared its name, the route it took, and how it captured the imagination of the nation.

There are few pieces of pottery more recognisable than those designed by Clarice Cliff. Employed in The Potteries from the age of thirteen, Clarice was talented and resourceful, and in 1927 she was given her own studio at the Newport Pottery. Using colour illustrations, this title traces the story of Clarice Cliff and the pottery that she created.

The evolution of beekeeping can be traced in the changing shape of the beehive and in the various structures used to house and protect it. However, these older structures gradually fell into disuse. This book discusses these forgotten beehives, and explains the important role they played in the development of beekeeping.

Topiary, the art of creating sculpture in clipped plants, originated with the Romans and experienced periods of popularity during the Renaissance and Jacobean eras. This book reveals the history of topiary. Amateurs in the art can purchase 'preformed' rabbits and deer to graze suburban lawns.

Presents a concise history of Austin-Healey, and the marque's success on road and track. This book contains illustrations and an introduction for all lovers of this quintessentially British sports car.

From the 1930s to the 1960s, millions of British people chose to spend their annual summer break at a holiday camp, taking advantage of the all-in package that included accommodation, food, and plentiful entertainment. This title celebrates the communal and the kitsch, grandmother competitions, chalets, Redcoats and the other well-known symbols.

Green men are figures or heads that were carved in churches, abbeys and cathedrals from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries. This book discusses the origins and definitions of these figures and traces their many declines and revivals throughout history. It is suitable for any church history enthusiast.

Model engineering was popularised by pioneering steam enthusiasts, and rapidly grew into an exciting world-wide hobby for amateur engineers. This book describes how model steam engines work, outlines the development of the machine tools used to build the models, and investigates the seven different categories of model engines.

The way we shop has undergone many transformations over the years - and a pioneer of one such change was the department store. This title charts the history of the department store, the innovations in retailing, advertising and technology, and the developments in fashion, design and working practices.

With the aid of stringy glue and scalpel-sliced fingers, young and old have turned display cabinets and bedrooms into mini-museums, or tiny battlefields. This book looks at the tale of Airfix, the British company which is a pioneer in the world of modelling, its products, its changing fortunes over the years, and its links with popular culture.

Tracing the footsteps of British milkman over the past one hundred years, this book investigates the many changes that have taken place over the years, from the delivery of milk through a seventeen gallon churn to the gentle electric milk float. It also includes several photographs of the milkman at work.

If ever the idea of Britishness could be distilled into liquid form it would be into the quintessential cup of tea. This title guides us through the evolution of tea from its beginnings as an exclusive imported luxury found only in up market coffee houses to its firm establishment in every household of Britain.

Wrought iron has been used as a decorative element in architecture from the eleventh century to the twentieth. At first a device to strengthen and embellish doors, wrought iron was soon adopted for free-standing screens and railings, examples of which can still be seen in churches and cathedrals.

RAF Bomber Command and its crews were probably unique in the history of warfare. This title lets you discover what it was like to fly with an RAF heavy bomber crew on a typical night raid over Germany. It also helps you learn about the different kinds of specialist flying kit.