Category Archives: Accessories
The Victorian Public School
Public schools were in the business of producing leaders – in national government, in the Empire, and in the armed forces. Their impact on society was immense, and they provided the vehicle by which the sons of the middle classes could be assimilated into the gentry. Historian Trevor May examines the development of the Victorian
Royal Coronations
The monarchy has made many concessions to the modern age, but the affirming rituals of the coronation – the pageantry, the theatre and the symbolism – are centuries old. Looking at the British coronation from its beginnings, Lucinda Gosling takes the reader on a thematic journey through the history and meaning of these elaborate ceremonies.
Gypsies of Britain
Gypsies have been a part of the British and European social fabric for centuries – and have faced prejudice and oppression for nearly as long, since at least the time of Henry VIII. Theirs is a peripatetic existence, dwelling in tents and in caravans and living often precariously at the edges of towns and villages,
Church Misericords and Bench Ends
With the increasing disappearance of stained glass in medieval churches, the surviving wood carvings on church misericords and bench ends are extremely important in providing an insight into the medieval mind. The carved images were often used to convey the messages of the Christian faith in the Middle Ages but they were not just concerned
Coin Finds in Britain: A Collector`s Guide
Over the centuries Britain`s soil has yielded countless spectacular hoards of ancient coins and other artefacts, affording us priceless insights into our ancestors` lives – and it is not only such large finds that await discovery but also many thousands of individual pieces. Wonderfully, discoveries both minor and momentous are frequently made not by teams
Department Stores
The way we shop has undergone many transformations over the years – and a pioneer of one such change was the department store. Selling everything from clothes to cosmetics, furniture to food – the department store was a one-stop shop for consumers. Claire Masset charts the history of the department store, the innovations in retailing,
British Railways in the 1970s and 80s
For British Rail, the 1970s was a time of contrasts, when bad jokes about sandwiches and pork pies often belied real achievements, like increasing computerisation and the arrival of the high-speed Inter-City 125s. But while television advertisements told of an `Age of the Train`, Monday morning misery continued for many, the commuter experience steadily worsening
Post Offices
The local post office has a special place in the social history of Britain. This book provides an historical overview of the development of this public institution – from `letter receiving house` to familiar high-street presence. It outlines the range of services post offices have provided over time – from stamps, pensions and postal orders,
The Edwardian Farm
The Edwardian period is often seen as something of a gilded age; war would imminently remove hundreds of thousands of men from the labour force, and instigate progress to mechanize. Illustrated with a wealth of archive material, this book tells the story of farming in Britain in the early years of the twentieth century –
Making Craft Cider: A Ciderist`s Guide
Cider has recently seen a surge of popularity both in versions produced by large breweries and by small producers and home cider-makers who value taste and complexity. This book takes us through the history and practicalities, and introduces the concepts and techniques of craft cider production. It looks at the different styles of cider, and
Town House Architecture: British Domestic Architecture, 1650-1980
British architectural history has bequeathed to the modern age a rich tapestry of styles, one that can all too easily be taken for granted. Each of our towns represents a unique and irreplaceable combination of architectural modes, and each has been shaped by shifts in style on a national and global scale: from the classically-inspired
The Victorian Asylum
Dreaded and reviled by many, these nineteenth-century buildings provide a unique window on how the Victorians housed and treated the mentally ill. Despite initially good intentions, they became warehouses for society`s outcasts at a time when cures were rare. Isolated, hidden in the countryside and surrounded by high walls, most have been closed since the
Church Clocks
Since the medieval period, mechanical clocks located in churches across Britain have told the time to local communities, or displayed the phases of the moon and the heavens on an elaborate astrological face. Focusing on some of the most noteworthy church clocks in Britain, and the intriguing stories behind them, this book traces the history
The Color of Water: A Black Man`s Tribute to His White Mother
As a boy in Brooklyn`s Red Hook projects, James McBride knew his mother was different. But when he asked about it, she`d simply say `I`m light-skinned.` Later he wondered if he was different too, and asked his mother if he was black or white. `You`re a human being,` she snapped. `Educate yourself or you`ll be
Piers and Other Seaside Architecture
Originally constructed as landing stages for trippers by boat in the nineteenth century, piers later developed into attractions in themselves, with ornate pavilions, delicate ironwork and exotic lighting. Lynn F. Pearson, an architectural historian, outlines the fascinating history of pier and pavilion construction, using colour illustrations and photographs to show the development of these attractions
The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence
In this empowering book, Gavin de Becker, the man Oprah Winfrey calls the US` leading expert on violent behaviour, shows you how to spot even subtle signs of danger – before it`s too late. Shattering the myth that most violent acts are unpredictable, de Becker, whose clients include top Hollywood stars and government agencies, offers
The Victorian Hospital
Lavinia Mitton follows the changes in hospital treatment that took place during the Victorian era and explores the different types of hospitals that were available, from the celebrated specialist institutions served by famous surgeons to the appalling workhouse infirmaries where the patients were looked after by untrained pauper nurses. Illustrated with black and white drawings
