Category Archives: Travel Guides
London`s Markets: From Smithfield to Portobello Road
London is a city of markets: markets in meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, money, insurance, shipping and, occasionally, in stolen goods. As both a major port and the nation`s capital, it was almost inevitable that commerce became the bedrock on which the city has risen to be one of the world`s greatest modern marketplaces. Many of
Mabel Keeps Calm and Carries On
`During the Second World War, I worked in an empty building by the Thames. It had been used by the Thames Conservancy Board. When war came, they moved out and I was moved in. I stayed there for most of the war. I never went down to an air raid shelter. I was too busy
Highway 61: Crossroads on the Blues Highway
n (Text) Highway 61 – the legendary Blues Highway and route taken by modern-day blues pilgrims on their journey south into the Mississippi Delta. Littered with iconic place names and immortalised in the songs of the Deep South, the great river road was taken by countless African Americans in search of the promise of work
Little Book of Wales
THE LITTLE BOOK OF WALES is an intriguing, fast-paced, factpacked compendium of places, people and history in Wales. Here we find out about the country`s food, sports, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and literally hundreds of wacky facts (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia). Mark Lawson-Jones` new book gathers together a myriad
The A-Z of Curious London
Spooky, gruesome, weird but true things about one of the world`s greatest cities come alive in The A-Z of Curious London. Discover London`s tiniest house, a 4,000-year-old mouse made from Nile clay, and have a giggle at things people leave on London`s transport (including false teeth, a human skull and a park bench – yes,
The AZ of Curious Essex: Strange Stories of Mysteries, Crimes and Eccentrics
`Curious` is perhaps not the first word you would use to label Essex. But `curiouser and curiouser` it becomes when you dig below the surface. Meet larger-than-life characters, including the one-time fattest man in England whose waist was wider than the height of an average man. And talking of big, discover the origin of Humpty
London`s Lost Power Stations and Gasworks
Many of London`s original power stations have either been demolished, converted for other use, or stand derelict awaiting redevelopment that is seemingly always just out of reach. However, in their prime these mighty `cathedrals of power` played a vital role in London`s journey towards becoming the world`s most important city. Gasworks also played a key
Flying With The Larks
In 1903 the Wright Brothers achieved their dream of powered flight and from then on man`s domination of the skies became a reality. The military potential of aircraft was obvious from the outset, first as a way of spying on the enemy with reconnaissance planes and balloons armed with early cameras, and then as a
Shadows on the Sea: The Maritime Mysteries of Britain
Sink into the depths – The great oceans of the world have long been considered alien environments said to harbor strange creatures and unfathomable mysteries. This new book from full-time monster hunter Neil Arnold examines the maritime-rich heritage surrounding the coastline of Britain and the mysterious activity said to take place there. Shadows on the
Out of the Rat Trap: Desert Adventures with Rommel
For the Austrian Max Reisch, pioneer international motorist and writer of the 1930s, the Second World War offers yet more opportunities for adventure. Here is his lively account of his time with a vehicle maintenance unit of Rommel`s legendary Afrikakorps in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia. On forays into the desert at the wheel of a
LMS Story
The London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) claimed to be the largest private enterprise concern in the British Empire. It was Britain`s largest steam railway and the only one to operate in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as having two short stretches of line in the Irish Republic. It was the world`s
Channel Islands Book of Days
The Channel Islands are unique – a result of 800 years of independence. Taking you through the year day by day, The Channel Islands Book of Days contains quirky, eccentric, momentous and amusing events and facts from the earliest period of the island`s history to the present. Entries cover a huge variety of subjects and
Steam Locomotive Story
The steam locomotive was a British invention and even today, the world speed record for steam remains with a British locomotive, Mallard. Steam`s first significant contribution to British industry was through powering pumping engines for mines. When steam was applied to the railways, the `railway age` began. The steam locomotive went through several distinct phases
Leicester – Not A Guide To
From the momentous to the outlandish, this book is packed full of fun facts and trivia about everything to do with Leicester. Much more than a tourist guide, residents too will discover things they never knew about the city. Facts, history, humour; it`s all here in this engaging little book.
Abberline: The Man Who Hunted Jack the Ripper
The name Frederick George Abberline has become synonymous with that of Jack the Ripper, and he has been portrayed as everything from an alcoholic, a drug addict, a womaniser and a bully. In reality Abberline was none of these but instead was a devoted husband and a dedicated policeman in a time of rampant corruption.
The First World War in 100 Objects
Objects allow us to reach out and touch the past and they play a living role in history today. Through them we can understand the experience of men and women during the First World War. They bear witness to the stories of men whose only morning comfort in the trenches was the rum ration, children
Blood Cries Afar: The Forgotten Invasion of England, 1216
Exactly 150 years after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, history came extremely close to repeating itself when another army set sail from the Continent with the intention of imposing foreign rule on England. This time the invasion force was under the command of Louis the Lion, son and heir of the powerful French
First Household Cavalry Regiment 1943-44
The mettle of the famous First Household Cavalry Regiment was tested to the maximum in action in the mountains of Italy in 1943 – 44. This book explores a largely undervalued and forgotten part of a costly and complex struggle. We directly experience what it was like to be there through the words of those
Verdun 1916, Battle Story
The Battle of Verdun was the longest single battle during the First World War and one of the bloodiest in human history. Fought between the German and French armies from February to December 1916, this brutal battle of attrition claimed one million casualties, with 300,000 killed. If you want to understand what happened and why
A Photographic History of P&O Cruises
One of the world`s most loved cruise lines, P&O Cruises can trace its history back over 175 years. Through an impressive and unique collection of imagery, this book details the history of P&O Cruises and explores the impact P&O had in shaping the British Empire. With a vast fleet of ocean liners that undertook voyages
