Books in the Shire Library series

The Victorian suburbs, now such a familiar element of the British townscape, were once building sites where armies of workmen converged to cover open land with streets of modest, comfortable houses. This title celebrates the work of the men who, plot by plot, translated surveyors' drawings and piles of materials into streets of dwellings.

Gardening became a popular pastime in Victorian Britain with the rise of suburban gardens and a new public passion for the outdoors. This title explores the many aspects of Victorian gardening and introduces some of the most influential people of the age, including Joseph Paxton, John Loudon and Gertude Jekyll.

Presenting a collection of Victorian and Edwardian images, this book explores the growth of tourism from the 1840s until the outbreak of the First World War.

Explores rowing's history on the Thames and other rivers around Britain. This title also explores the most famous aspects of the sport: the Boat Race, rowed on the incoming tide from Putney to Mortlake in March; Henley Royal Regatta, which takes place on the first weekend of July; and more.

Presenting a selection of images, this book tells the story of the photographers who chronicled Britain's Victorian and Edwardian wars.

A concise, superbly illustrated guide to Britain's medieval monasteries. Rosewell provides basic information on the different monastic orders, the monastic layout and architecture, the administration of the monastery, the round of prayer, food and drink, sign language, illness, learning, charity and pilgrimage.

When war broke out in 1939, the Women's Land Army (WLA) was already organised and ready for action. This book tells the story of the Women's Land Army - how it was organised, what its members did, what training was provided, and the work of the Timber Corps of the WLA, also known as the 'Lumber Jills'.

Outlines the tradition and mysticism associated with them and the role they still play in the 'theatre' of church, and shows how colour and ornament are used in the symbolism of the Christian faith.

The London Underground is a pioneer and an institution. The first underground railway in the world, and incorporating the first ever deep tunnel 'tube' lines too, it is at the heart of London life. This book focuses on the interesting and quirky aspects of the subject.

Tells the story of travelling by rail between 1830 and the First World War: the development of stations, passenger carriages, waiting rooms and tickets; less familiar phenomena such as smoking and 'ladies only' compartments, and excursion trains; and the danger of accidents.

Outlines and investigates the legendary beasts of Britain, including famous examples such as St George's dragon alongside more local traditions such as the Laidly Worm, a princess turned by an evil stepmother into a monster that terrorised the countryside.

The commercial paddle steamer was the Comet of 1812. Soon competitive steamer services developed, resulting in bigger and magnificent vessels, and before long no seaside resort was complete without a pleasure steamer moored alongside the pier. This book outlines the efforts to preserve what remains of pleasure steamer heritage in Britain.

Developments in microelectronics in the early 1970s meant that computers at home seemed about to become commonplace. This title tells about the story of first commonplace home computers - the Sinclairs, Commodores, Amstrads, and the earliest versions of Microsoft Windows - that helped to make the computer an indispensable item in the British home.

Tells the epic thousand-year story of Britain's Jewish community, the country's oldest minority group, replete with the dark episodes of persecution and expulsion, but also with positive periods of acceptance and toleration. This book offers an introduction and fitting tribute.

The blacksmith was once crucial to village life, whether commissioned for the humblest repair, the most luxurious ironwork or even the odd anvil marriage. This title describes the varied work blacksmiths undertook, the tools and techniques they used, and the magical and mystical qualities with which they were associated.

From global icons like the British Museum and the Ashmolean to the many hundreds of small collections to be found across the country, museums are at the very centre of our heritage. This book looks at museums in our culture and history as a whole, tracing the social shifts and trends which have affected them and of which they have been part.

British airmen experienced a wide range of conditions and challenges during the Second World War. They served in every corner of the globe, operating over oceans and deserts, jungles and cities. This title examines the experiences of the young men who, as well as carrying out air offensives, had to fly, navigate and defend their aircraft.

Packed with colour illustrations and photographs, this title traces golf's evolution from preserve of the privileged few to aspirational pursuit of the masses, taking in the game's Victorian and Edwardian popularity and the rise of the professional sport in the twentieth century.

Since the dawn of children's television in the 1950s, toy companies have been keen to capitalise on the success of these programmes. This title charts the history of the successful TV toys from Muffin the Mule in the 1950s to Star Trek: The Next Generation in the 1980s. It offers a look at some of the appealing toys of the late twentieth century.

Tartan is an enormously popular pattern in modern fashion. Beginning as Highland dress, it was originally peculiar to certain areas of Scotland, but is now generally accepted as its national costume. This title traces the early stages of that evolution, and the process by which the various tartans became icons of Scottish identity.

Until the middle of the last century, London's social calendar was dominated by 'the Season', a round of social events and parties during which the daughters of the upper classes made their 'debuts'. This title offers spotlight at a phenomenon that was central to the lives of generations of privileged young ladies.

The old-time shepherd is an emblem of sturdiness, dependability and independence. How did he manage his charges and his own life? What skills and equipment did he use? How did sheep farming change in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and what effect did those changes have on the shepherd's work? This title deals with these questions.

Britain's towns and cities were famously transformed in the nineteenth century by the coming of the railways, which turned around their fortunes and gave urban dwellers new opportunities to travel across the country. This book tells the story of these country railways from their golden age to their decline in the wake of nationalisation.

Tells the story of how Reverend William Booth's East London Christian Mission of 1865 (which became the Salvation Army in 1878) has become a truly global enterprise, one that in Britain is still second only to the government in the provision of social care.

The British film industry was already well established when Hollywood sprang to life in 1911, and has remained at the forefront of film-making ever since. This title tells the century-long story of British film, illustrating it with colourful photographs of actors, directors and production staff at work.

Executions have played a crucial - if grisly and controversial - part in British history and provided the bloody climax to many a life, from Mary, Queen of Scots, Charles I and Dick Turpin to untold thousands of anonymous wretches whose names are now forgotten. This title details the history of formal execution in Britain.

Explores the development of the professional detective during the 19th century, giving examples of the methods he used to track down criminals and to convict them of offences ranging from petty theft to brutal murder. This book explains the development of forensics, from fingerprinting to tests that could identify whether or not blood was human.