Books published by Crecy Publishing

A century ago the Cody Biplane was presented to the Science Museum, putting Britain at the forefront of the worldwide aviation heritage movement. This special edition of Wrecks & Relics celebrates the centenary and the development of the UK's aviation museums, telling the story of the national icons such as the Science Museum, Imperial War Museum, RAF Museum, Fleet Air Arm Museum, Museum of Army Aviation and the Shuttleworth Collection including how they developed and their exhibits, past and present. "Great Aviation Collections of Britain" also pays tribute to provincial, regional and local collections, large and small which tell the tale of the UK's incredible diversity of aviation achievements and provide details of nearly 100 venues open to the public. Over 200 of the most important exhibits are profiled in detail, with their backgrounds described, their significance explained and the exploits of the pilots that flew them revealed. From Roe's Triplane, Amy Johnson's Moth, a Battle of Britain veteran Spitfire, the very first Mosquito all the way through to Concorde and Eurofighter, each has its biography outlined. Aircraft are cross-referenced allowing the reader to visit the 'must see' exhibits across Britain. Over 250 photographs and illustrations including archive imagery stretching back over 100 years highlight the UK's treasures both when they were in service, or found disused and decaying. A vital addition to the Wrecks & Relics series and the perfect companion to Lost Aviation Collections of Britain.

Written by an accomplished military aviation author, this new study is the result of many years of research, and will be essential reading for all historians of the period and keen aviation enthusiasts.There is growing interest today in the Cold War era in British history. This newbook provides a new study of Cold War airfields that will be of interest to all those who study airfield history and archaeology.This new title provides a background to the Cold War airfields in Britain. Phillip Birtles gives readers an airfield by airfield coverage of those in operation from the start of the Cold War during the Berlin Air Lift in the late 1940s to the end of the Cold War with the fall of the Berlin Wall at the end of the 1980s. The book covers both RAF/FAA and USAF airfields in Britain, and charts the changes that took place at these airfields in this period including the development of aircraft from the first postwar jet aircraft to aircraft types that are still flying today.Alongside descriptive text outlining each airfield, the units and aircraft operating from that airfield and its role in the Cold War are also explained in great detail. Descriptive text is complemented by contemporary photographs, maps and airfield plans.

Holmfirth was, in its genesis, little more than a northern industrial textile town, despite the fact that it nestled in some stunningly beautiful countryside. By the mid-1960s many of the mills had gone out of business and the short branch railway had closed in May 1965. Then, something rather unusual happened that would change Holmfirth forever. On 4th January, 1973 the first ever Last of the Summer Wine programme hit the TV screens.The programme was a great success and the rest, as they say, is history! Today Holmfirth has changed out of all recognition from the town where the respected transport historian, Professor Alan Earnshaw went to school. In this book he charts the history of the former Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway branch line from Brockholes Junction to Holmfirth in a way that will be enjoyed by railway enthusiasts, railway modellers, locals and visitors alike.

Kevin Robertson provides readers with a volume concentrating solely on the coaches of the GWR.

The concept of mobile ice cream factories, having been brought to Britain by the ice cream industry, but by body-builders, Smiths Delivery Vehicles of Gateshead, is one of the most intriguing stories in the British motor industry. This book charts the roller coaster history of the Mister Softee brand through successive owners.

The Meon Valley Railway (MVR) was a cross-country railway in Hampshire that ran for 22.5 miles between Alton and Fareham, closely following the course of the River Meon. At its northern (Alton) end, it joined with the Mid-Hants Railway to Winchester, the Alton Line to Brookwood and the Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway. At Fareham it linked with the Eastleigh to Fareham Line, the West Coastway Line and the line to Gosport. The railway was authorised in 1896 and opened in 1903, making it one of the last railways of any size to be built to main-line standards in the United Kingdom.This informative new book contains the first full set of construction photographs for any railway in the South of England. Taken from the perspective of the surveyor; Navvy, his family, and the local populace, this is an amazing record displaying the impact of building a new railway had on an otherwise untouched landscape. The images are also seen in their original sepia form, without recourse to modern day toning. The 64 pages portray what is intended to be the first of three part work on the Meon Valley Railway. This first volume covers the early years from 1899 through to 1903.

In 1945, the author visited the Isle of Wight for the first time, finding himself captivated by a railway system at the time innocently believed to be concentrated just at Ryde. Further visits followed, including trips on the Island line to Ventnor, Bembridge, Newport and Yarmouth. This title presents the author's stories of railway life.