Books published by Amberley Publishing

A look at the dark side of life in Bolton, this book provides the reader with a collection of true stories based on real murders. Each tale provides a macabre account of these infamous crimes and the events leading up to them. The reader will learn about the case of the despicable Betty Eccles who slowly poisoned her children to death by putting arsenic in their puddings, or ponder upon the mysterious death of James Booth a local business man who suffered a violent death after eating at the local inn. A must read for anyone interested in true crime and local murders!

Kidderminster Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the country. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of Kidderminster, the famous streets and the famous faces, and what they meant to the people of Kidderminster 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. Through the author's factual captions for every picture, and carefully-selected choice of images, the reader can achieve a reliable view of the town's history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of Kidderminster, as the author guides us through the town's streets. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in this area all their lives or whether they are just visiting this vibrant town. It also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever changing society.

Hemel Hempstead's history goes back a long way and is mentioned in the Domesday Book survey. St Mary's Parish Church is one of the oldest buildings and dates from 1150. Henry VIII came to Hemel Hempstead and granted a Charter in 1539 which also put the town on the map. In more recent times Hemel Hempstead was designated to be a New Town in 1946 which caused it to grow from being a market town of 22,000 to one of the largest in the county. This book shows how the town has changed - many people consider it to be improved while others wish time could hark back to the days when small shops were the norm and areas such as Apsley, Boxmoor and Leverstock Green were individual villages where everyone knew each other. The photographs will help those who have forgotten what Hemel was like years ago and shows the places and buildings that have replaced them.

Hanley has been the dominant Potteries town since the early nineteenth century. From being 'a humble collection of dwellings' in the early eighteenth century, it grew into a recognisable town and ultimately emerged as the Potteries metropolis and the city centre that we know today. From 1801 it was the largest of the six towns, and it was politically dominant too. It was in Hanley that the meeting that many regard as being the first step towards federation took place in 1817. Hanley might perhaps be considered the cultural centre of the potteries towns too, with many cultural amenities here, from the Pottery Subscription Library to the modern day Potteries Museum. With its grand Victoria Hall, Hanley Park and a diverse shopping centre, Hanley continues to be one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods in Stoke-on-Trent. Here we take a look at the evolution of the town through fascinating photographs spanning the last 100 years.

East Kilbride Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the country. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of East Kilbride, the famous streets and the famous faces, and what they meant to the people of this area 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 town's history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of this vibrant town, as Bill Niven guides us through the local streets. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in this area all their lives, or whether they are just visiting East Kilbride for the first time. This book also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever changing society.

East Dulwich Through Time contains 180 images of East Dulwich in London, of which 90 are old photographs, (some printed in a sepia tone and some in full colour). Each photograph is printed alongside a contemporary full colour photograph illustrating the same scene. The contrasting illustrations show how the area has changed and developed during the last 100 years. The photographs are of shops, schools, garages, churches, houses and street scenes and each photograph is captioned. The book also has an introduction which gives a brief overview of the history of the area.

Derbyshire Extremes is a unique record of over 600 extremes in Derbyshire. They could be the first in the county or perhaps the oldest, the longest, the fastest, the finest or even the only one of a particular item. The subject is wide and varied but entries must be special. Do you know Derbyshire has the oldest megalithic tomb, the world's first travel agent, the first astronomer royal, the man with the largest collection of bar towels, the first National Park, the league's first football mascot, the first oilwell, etc. Whatever your interest you'll find something you didn't know, with an index in three sections, villages, people, and the items themselves. This is a book to be left on the coffee table, to be dipped into or to be followed through the comprehensive index, tracing subject, people and places that feature in the book. For those wishing to visit some of the entries, there is information where visiting is possible. In the introduction the author also invites your additions to swell the 600 or so entries in this unique collection of Derbyshire Extremes.

Audley Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the country. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of Audley, its well-known streets and famous faces, and what they meant to the people of this town 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 village's history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of Audley, as Tony Lancaster 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 for the first time. Audley Through Time also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever changing society.

Bordering Devon and Cornwall, the River Tamar stretches through some of the most beautiful and scenic parts of the south west. Over the years, much has changed in the region. Gone are the many barges that once took fruit, vegetables and other produce up and down the river. The river was once a hive of industry with many tin, copper, lead, silver and tungsten mines along its banks.Much has changed but the river is still very busy with boats, dinghies and jet skis. Regular yacht races are held weekly and there is much activity as the river nears Plymouth. This book shows the many developments over the years including changes to transport, shipping and fashions as well as changes to the many communities that live nearby.

It was a railway just waiting to be made. The capital, London, was in the east; Bristol, second city in the land, 110 miles to the west or a sea journey of 672 miles. By the late 1820s, technology had improved to a state where the very latest form of transport, a steam railway, could make a far superior link than travel by canal, sea or road. This in-depth study of the Bristol to Bath line by the master of West Country railway history, Colin G. Maggs, covers the line's conception, construction, opening and its dramatic effect on the district from the nineteenth century to the present day. It illustrates many aspects of the railway: the first English Pacific locomotive, GWR diesel railcars, gas-turbine locomotives and the pioneer HST, as well as damage and uses during the Second World War and the many accidents that occurred, including one that could have proven fatal to the author. The GWR Bristol to Bath Line is illustrated with maps and over 200 photographs showing every aspect of the line, which passes through sylvan scenes and industrial ugliness. This book also contains appendices giving financial and traffic information, along with descriptions of all stations. This fact-filled, authoritative study offers a rare insight into the development of an integral section of the British railway.

Royal Leamington Spa Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of Warwickshire. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of Leamington Spa, the famous streets and the famous faces, and what they meant to the people of this town 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 town's history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of this diverse and vibrant area, as Jacqueline Cameron guides us through Leamington's streets. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in this area all their lives, or whether they are just visiting Warwickshire and Leamington Spa for the first time. This book also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever changing society.

Owing to the superb defensive position of the great castle, which still stands sentinel above the River Avon, Warwick has been important for the past thousand years or more. The town has a long and interesting history, and still has many attractive buildings dating from medieval times, the Elizabethan era and the Georgian period. The interesting variety of gardens and parks in Warwick includes the grounds of the castle, which were redesigned by Capability Brown in the mid-eighteenth century. There are numerous other gardens, many associated with historic houses, as well as the recently restored Hill Close Gardens, a rare survival of a group of nineteenth-century urban leisure gardens once common on the outskirts of most towns. In this superbly illustrated, full-colour guide, Christine Cluley and Jennifer Meir take the reader on a tour of Warwick's historic houses and gardens, from the Court House, to Lord Leycester Hospital, through Priory Park, and to the castle itself.

When Titanic sailed on her maiden voyage she carried two cousins. one, one of the richest men aboard and the other a steward in Second Class. Both Ryersons had never met and never knew each other was on board but their unique tale is told by Phyliss Ryerse, a relative herself of both. As the ship went down, Steward William Ryerson made it into lifeboat 9, while Arthur Ryerson placed his family into boat 4. The Ryersons had been making a rushed dash back to the USA, after the death of their son in an automobile accident. Little did Emily Ryerson know that both her son and husband would die so tragically. William Ryerson, a cousin of one of the richest men aboard, had been born in Canada but had served with the British Army before becoming a steward aboard Titanic. Phyllis Ryerse tells the story of the Ryersons aboard Titanic and illustrates the story with many unseen images.

When Royal Princess was named in Southampton by HRH The Princess of Wales in November 1984, she was the most advanced purpose-built luxury cruise ship ever conceived and constructed. Built at the beginning of the modern commercial age of cruising, she was the trend-setter of the cruise ship world and continues to hold a number of records, among them, the first contemporary cruise ship to have all outside cabins, and in 2010 as Artemis, the first British passenger ship to be commanded by a female captain, Sarah Breton. In the following years of service, she has taken passengers all over the globe in luxury and style, and it is hoped she has many more years of cruising ahead of her. At 45,000 gross tons she is small in comparison with the super-liners of today, but when launched she was one of the largest cruise ships afloat. Her traditional ambiance and service standards have attracted a loyal following, not only among passengers, but also among her crew. This book, written by Andrew Sassoli-Walker and Sharon Poole, celebrates the innovation in cruise ship design that Royal Princess / Artemis represented, and highlights her career with both Princess and P&O Cruises in the words of both passengers and crew. Fully illustrated throughout with many never-before-seen colour images, it is a tribute to a unique and much-loved vessel.

SIR ALEX FERGUSON is one of the most admired and respected managers in the history of the beautiful game. Sir Alex Ferguson: Fifty Defining Fixtures presents a completely new perspective on the longest-serving manager of Manchester United. Covering his complete career as a player and a manager, this book highlights the games that projected the boy from the Glasgow district of Govan to the worldwide phenomenon that was Manchester United. From his Scottish Football League debut with the amateurs of Queens Park at Stranraer to his final game as manager of Manchester United at West Bromwich Albion, this fascinating book recaptures the many highs, and also a few lows, of a memorable and trophy-strewn career. It is the Sir Alex Ferguson story with a difference: fifty fixtures that defined the career of an ordinary footballer, who went on to become the most successful British manager ever.

On 4 August 1914 the people of Preston received news that war had been declared. Local newspapers printed explosive headlines stating this fact, and four years of hardship, uncertainty and loss followed. From recruitment and the Pals, to women joining the war effort in munitions factories, news from the front, rationing, and eventually demobilisation, this book provides a valuable insight into the city's experience of one of the greatest events of the twentieth century. This book has been designed to inform you, the reader, of how the city coped with the war by presenting first-hand accounts. You will read letters from those who served at the front, interviews with local people who spoke of their childhood memories and extracts from local newspapers.

Stoke-upon-Trent, described as a village in 1795, grew rapidly from the 1820s and 1830s, by which time a new Anglican church had been built as well as new streets. Noted in a trade directory of 1829 as having 'many handsome houses, wharves, warehouses and earthenware manufactories', it became famous for pottery manufactured by the likes of Spode, Copeland, Minton and Goss. However, Stoke is not just the story of ceramics. Other forces shaped the development of the town, including the North Staffordshire Railway Company, the Michelin Tyre Company and even Stoke City FC. Entertainment venues and public houses contributed conspicuously to community life and were part of a vibrant town that began to decline from the 1970s. As Stoke struggles to reassert itself, this book looks back at more prosperous times.

Biographical material on Emily Bronte is scarce. In the past, biographers have taken this as an excuse to portray intuition as fact, creating a confused and inaccurate image of the author of Wuthering Heights. In A Life of Emily Bronte, Edward Chitham searches diligently for the truth. He describes his book as an 'investigative biography', delving into Emily's childhood, her relationships with her family, her father's Irish roots, and the influences of her friends and acquaintances. Using material neglected by other biographers, Chitham makes an illuminating and scholarly study of the events and characters that shaped Emily's inspiration - a puzzle that has confounded many and made her, up to this point, an enigmatic and misrepresented figure.

This book is a photographic journey through the Lake District. It illustrates what a group of young men would have seen on their Whitsuntide holiday in 1931 had the weather been in their favour. In 1991, shortly after the death of Alfred Wainwright, W. E. Maudsley, the sole surviving member of that group, made available the details of their holiday; unknown to anyone, he had kept them for sixty years. On six foolscap sheets, it outlined a route over the high fells of Lakeland. The Whitsuntide Tour was the brainchild of Alfred Wainwright, who, after his first visit to the Lakes the year before, had to see more. Its aim was to see every valley, mountain and lake, even though they may not all be visited. With his three companions, Jim Sharples, Harry Driver and Eric Maudsley, they set out on 23 May 1931. The walk, a test of man's endurance against nature, ended six days later. Although it failed to achieve its objective, the Whitsuntide Tour was to sow the seeds that culminated in the guidebooks we know so well. It was the beginning of a Love Story.

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Cornwall has changed and developed over the last century

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Cranbrook has changed and developed over the last century.

A fascinating heritage tour through the town and County Borough of Wrexham in North Wales featuring its people and places across the centuries.

A fully illustrated look back in time at Portsmouth, its people and how life has changed in the city over the last century.

Discover some surprising, intriguing and curious stories, myths and legends from the county of Northumberland.

Under the streets of many of our towns and cities lie the remains of Roman settlements, with houses, shops and military and civic buildings. This book opens a window onto life in those towns, and examines what survives, 2,000 years on.

A fascinating exploration of Stockport's architectural treasures and notable landmarks from across the centuries.

Documents the ups and downs of the First West Yorkshire operator, with a range of previously unpublished images.

The United Kingdom was united in battle - and some of those battles, though an important part of British history, have been forgotten.

With a wealth of previously unpublished images, Southdown buses captured in liveries other than the iconic green and cream colour scheme.

A fascinating journey through Somerset's county town of Taunton highlighting its people, places and heritage across the centuries.