Category Archives: Travel Guides
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
Brighton Then and Now
From the extravagances of the Royal Pavilion to the slums of nearby Albion Hill in the past, and from the elegance of the Regency squares to the amusement arcades on the Palace Pier today, Brighton & Hove has always been a place of high contrasts; these exist most noticeably over time, as shown by the
Heroines of SOE: Britain`s Secret Women in France
`They were the war`s bravest women, devoted to defeating the Nazis yet reluctant ever to reveal their heroic pasts. Now a new book tells their intrepid tales.` Daily Express Britain`s war in the shadows of male spies and subterfuge in the heart of occupied France is a story well known, but what of the women
All the Countries We Ever Invaded (and the Few We Never Got Round to)
All the Countries We Ever Invaded (and the Few We Never Got Round to), written by Stewart Laycock and published by The History Press, is a fascinating book, if perhaps somewhat uncomfortable to read in these post-imperial days!According to the author’s introduction, out of the 193 UN members in 2012 Britain invaded, had some control
Camden – Bloody History
* BLACK DEATH! The HORRORS of the PLAGUE in Camden! * My WIFE is under the floor! The true story of Camden murderer DOCTOR CRIPPEN! * The elephant stampede! WEIRD ACCIDENTS and STRANGE EVENTS galore! Camden has a dark side to rival that of any London borough. The haunt of highwaymen, its fields also witnessed
York – Not A Guide To
From the momentous to the outlandish, this little book brings together past and present to offer a taste of York. Learn about the movers and shakers who shaped this fantastic city. The great and the good; the bad and the ugly. Small wonders, tall stories, triumph and tragedy. Best places – worst places. Origins, evolution,
Workhouse – A Grim Almanac
For two centuries, the shadow of the workhouse hung over Britain. The recourse of only the most desperate, dark and terrible tales of malnutrition, misery, mistreatment and murder ran like wildfire through the poorer classes, who lived in terror of being forced inside the institution`s towering walls. This book contains 365 incredible tales of fires,
Ye Olde Good Inn Guide: A Tudor Traveller`s Guide to the Nation`s Finest Taverns
Art thou in need of hearty ale and a bed safe from brigands as you ply the highways and byways of Britain? Then Ye Olde Good Inn Guide is for you – the essential handbook for the Tudor traveller. Packed with the finest hostelries to grace the 16th century and written with all the flavour
Beeching: 50 Years On
In 1963 Dr Beeching`s infamous report signalled the end for over 15,000 miles of track, a third of Britain`s stations, and for 70,000 jobs, as well as making irrevocable changes to the way of life of many consumers. Much misery was caused and Beeching`s name was muddied, but in hindsight the report probably did more
Medieval Pirates: Privateers, Raiders and Piracy in the English Channel
In the Medieval Period the English Channel was an especially perilous stretch of water. It had two distinct (and often conflicting) functions. It was a rich commercial seaway, on which the rising economy of the known world depended. At the same time it was a wide, lawless, political frontier between two belligerent monarchies, whose kings
London Urban Legends: The Corpse on the Tube and Other Stories
How long has a corpse been staring out at passengers on the tube? Was London Bridge really shipped abroad by an American thinking he`d bought Tower Bridge? Did the Queen really mix with the crowds as a princess on VE Day? And did Hitler actually want to live in Balham? Urban legends are the funny,
The Manchester Book of Days
Taking you through the year day by day, The Manchester Book of Days contains quirky, eccentric, shocking, amusing and important events and facts from different periods in the history of the city. Ideal for dipping into, this addictive little book will keep you entertained and informed. Featuring hundreds of snippets of information gleaned from the
Lambeth – Haunted
Haunted Lambeth is a collection of real-life stories of apparitions and poltergeists from all across the London Borough of Lambeth. Included are the ghost stories of Lambeth Palace, the terrifying tradition of the `Tomb of the Tradescants`, a ghost at The Old Vic Theatre, the dream house that haunted the entertainer Roy Hudd, supernatural echoes
Historic Sail: Britain`s Surviving Working Craft
Around the British Isles many former working sailing craft survive from the once large fleets of distinctive local types, such as the Humber keel, Brixham trawler, Cornish lugger, Scottish fifie and Thames spritsail barge. In this beautifully laid-out book Paul Brown documents these vessels, concentrating on those of 40ft and over. Each type is introduced
Jungle Journal: Prisoners of the Japanese in Java, 1942-1945
This is the story of a young Royal Artillery officer, Lieutenant Ronald Williams, who was held as a prisoner of war in the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies from 1942-45. It is a true account of the alternate horror and banality of daily life, and the humour that helped the men survive the beatings, deprivation and
Richmond-upon-Thames Then & Now
Contrasting a selection of 45 archive images alongside full-colour modern photographs, this book traces some of the changes and developments that have taken place in Richmond-upon-Thames during the last century. Accompanied by detailed and informative captions, these intriguing photographs reveal changing modes of fashion and transportation, shops and businesses, houses and public buildings, and, of
1963: That Was The Year That Was
A compendium of milestone stories and watershed events in popular culture, national and international politics from 1963, including: The Beatles` first No 1 The coldest winter since 1740 Martin Luther King`s `I Have a Dream` speech The Great Train Robbery The Profumo Affair Ian Brady and Myra Hindley`s killings The first woman in Space, Valentina
Great Steam Chase: The Last Days of Steam on BR`s Southern Region
Amassing over 52,000 miles from Kent to Cornwall, here is Keith Widdowson`s journey as he raced against time to chronicle the steam locomotives on the Southern Railway before its ultimate transferral to diesels 45 years ago. From sleep deprivation to gung ho drivers, this is no ordinary trainspotter`s diary but a nostalgic and evocative look
