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Explore a fascinating journey in superb photographs through the railway scene in Britain in the 1980s.

The story of entrepreneur George Elliot, containing first hand material and fascinating facts from the Industrial Revolution, and some inspirational moments of the Victorian Era.

Every corner of Nottingham is rich in history, and if the streets could talk they might tell of the people and events they have witnessed. Many ancient secrets have remained untold, such as the purpose of the great Viking 'long-house' found beneath the site of a demolished Victorian factory, and who built the ancient mound that once marked the site of the spot where a king of England raised his standard. Perhaps the city's greatest secret of all lies beneath its streets - a labyrinth of over 500 man-made caves. Visitors to Nottingham are often told not to stamp their feet too hard as they never quiet know where they will end up. Father and son authors Frank and Joe Earp are privy to these and many more of Nottingham's secrets. Come with them as they share their knowledge within the pages of this book.

Over the past 400 years more than 800 pubs have opened in the city of Preston. While many have been lost due to time, money or misfortune, the stories and memories live on. Preston Pubs offers a captivating glimpse into the history of some of Preston's most famous pubs. Drawing upon an eclectic collection of photographs, Stephen Halliwell presents the reader with an insight into the history and life of the pubs in this area. Well-researched and beautifully illustrated, Preston Pubs provides something for everyone, whether they have lived in Preston all their lives, or whether they are just visiting this vibrant town.

The route covered by this book dates from 1849 onwards. It ran from Manchester to Altrincham, utilising the infrastructure of the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway, then to Knutsford by 1862, with extensions to Northwich and Mouldsworth, and a new terminus at Chester Northgate by 1874. Operated by the Cheshire Lines Committee, trains from Chester via Altrincham terminated at Manchester Central until its closure in 1969, with Northgate closing later in the same year. For many years the line had the reputation of being one of the busiest in the country and today serves many small rural communities in Cheshire. The Mid Cheshire Line is essentially one of contrasts. From its beginning in the historic Roman city of Chester, this book details those differences: the farmland and villages of Mid Cheshire and the remaining industrial remnants of the salt and chemical industries around Northwich; the affluent outer suburbs of Greater Manchester; and the culturally and economically diverse city centre, with its rich heritage of Victorian railway infrastructure.

The part of the Suffolk coast that embraces Southwold and Aldeburgh has a rich history in its relationship between its inhabitants and the North Sea. This is a paradise for writers, artists, walkers, bird watchers and all those who want a holiday away from some of the excesses of the typical seaside resorts. There are golden sands, shinglebanks, crumbling cliffs, lost towns, heathland walks and all the time the restless sea rolling in. 'There is no sea like the Aldeburgh sea, it speaks to me,' wrote the poet Edward Fitzgerald and it still speaks to anyone who wants to hear it that visits this fascinating area. Michael Rouse's photographs capture the places today, while the selection of old photographs record holidaymakers and scenes from over one hundred years ago. This is a nostalgic journey back in time for residents and visitors alike.

Eastbourne is situated at the eastern end of the South Downs alongside the famous Beachey Head cliff. Although Eastbourne has some industrial trading estates, it is essentially a seaside resort and derives its main income from tourism. It is a genteel resort with none of the glitz, glamour and 'kiss-me-quickness' of other seaside towns; even today there are no shops or amusement arcades along the sea front. Join Kevin Gordon on this nostalgic trip through time as he shows, using old and new postcards and photographs, that Eastbourne is still the Empress of the South. This will be essential reading for anyone who knows and loves this typical British seaside town.

A fabulous slice of wartime nostalgia, a facsimile edition of the manual used by the Land Girls during the Second World War. With millions of men away to fight in the Second World War Britain was struggling for labour. In order to replace the agricultural workers now fighting the Nazis, the Women's Land Army (originally founded in the First World War) was relaunched in June 1939 by the Ministry of Labour. The majority of the Land Girls already lived in the countryside but more than a third came from London and the industrial cities of the north of England. By the end of the war over 100,000 women of the WLA or 'Land Girls' as they were more affectionately known, had helped feed the nation in its darkest hour. First published in 1941, LAND GIRL was a practical guide for the city slickers who were recruited into the Women's Land Army and sent to work on farms in the English countryside to replace the men who had joined up. An amazing period piece, hundreds of thousands of copies were printed and sold and it became one of the year's best selling books.

Exmoor is one of southern England's few remaining wild landscapes. In this area there are a scattering of attractive villages and the occasional town. Exmoor's importance to the nation is recognised in its protected status as a National Park, and it covers much of western Somerset and an adjacent area of Devon. This book looks at a selection of those villages, including historic Dunster, Selworthy, and the popular Porlock. Dulverton, Lynton and Lynmouth also feature. Views of many of the iconic beauty spots of the coast and inland are also included, such as the Valley of Rocks and those of Lorna Doone country. A selection of landscape views show that even in such an unspoilt area, the countryside is a place that is continually changing. Throughout this book you may be surprised not only by the changes that have taken place, but also by what has remained the same.

Steam in East Anglia recalls the era when steam ruled the tracks and the railways conveyed passengers and goods, from the commuter lines of Tilbury and Southend to the rural tranquillity of north Norfolk. There are sometimes conflicting ideas about which parts of Britain comprise East Anglia. This book describes and illustrates the steam trains which ran within Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Cambridgeshire. The book concentrates on the years between the mid-1930s and the end of steam. Apart from the Pacifics, preservation has not been kind to the London & North Eastern Railway and its forbears. There are precious few locomotives left and it is a tragedy that no B17 or Claud was saved - but it is a relief that two Thompson B1s have been preserved.

Wiltshire is one of the largest counties in southern England. Much of it is comprised of high chalk downland, most famously on Salisbury Plain, and wide valleys and vales, often with rivers running through them, but in the north-west Wiltshire runs into the Cotswolds and south-east Wiltshire lies on the edge of the New Forest. Wiltshire is unsurpassed in its ancient sites, from the Neolithic monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury to numerous barrows and burial chambers. Later ages have also added to Wiltshire's gems, from the distinctive white horses cut into the chalk on hillsides, to Salisbury Cathedral, Longleat and the gardens at Stourhead. In 50 Gems of Wiltshire author Andrew Powell-Thomas explores the many places and their history that make this part of the South West so special. The 50 Gems include ancient sites of the earliest settlers in the area, castles, historic towns and villages, stunning country houses and estates, natural beauty spots and many other treasures. Alongside the justly famous the author includes many lesser-known gems that are equally deserving of attention.

The metre-gauge railways of South East Asia are a popular destination for railway enthusiasts from all over the world. In this book, Peter J. Green looks at the national railways of Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam in the twenty-first century. While all these railways are modernising at varying rates, it is still possible to step back into the past and experience train travel behind diesel traction, often in carriages with windows that open, through varied and interesting landscapes. Semaphore signalling is disappearing rapidly but can still be seen in parts of Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia. With a wealth of previously unpublished photographs, this book offers a fascinating insight into the railways of this rapidly changing area of the world.

'Fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots make history' - or so the bomber pilots say, anyway. Strategic Air Command held a constant nuclear-armed vigil, ready to launch nuclear war at a moment's notice, twenty-four hours a day. SAC was responsible for two of the three components of the Nuclear Triad - manned strategic bombers and land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) - alongside the Navy's SLBMs. Also responsible for the USAF's strategic reconnaissance aircraft, SAC maintained a large fleet of tankers to support its bombers and spy planes. After a drawdown of strength in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, SAC rebuilt its strength throughout the 1980s as part of a wider revitalisation of the US armed forces under President Reagan. New advanced bombers, tankers and ICBMs joined the fleet with the promise of new stealth aircraft under development.

Since the dawn of the railways, away from the glamour of the main line express, thousands of miles of industrial railway moved raw materials and finished products. From sewage works to sugar factories, all manner of industries were served. These sometimes employed dozens of locomotives, or in other cases simply a horse or a petrol tractor. The Beckton gas works in London ran a massive railway, complete with locomotive roundhouse and signals, while the ironstone industry of the East Midlands operated on the edge of fields. It can be said that one was never more than a mile or two from an industrial railway, though often its existence might not have been well known. A corncucopia of locomotives provided power, while a fantastic array of specialist wagons moved all manner of goods. A few industrial lines have survived as heritage attractions, and one is even a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This book is part of the Britain's Heritage series, which provides definitive introductions to the riches of Britain's past, and is the perfect way to get acquainted with Industrial Railways in all their variety.

Steam power led the transport revolution in England throughout the nineteenth century, but was crippled on the road network by punitive legislation. As the century turned, the laws were altered in such a way that the development of the English Steam Lorry or Wagon became a viable transport proposition. For the best part of four decades, the steam lorry was a major player on the transport scene, being developed into a highly technical machine designed to beat competition from the petrol and diesel lorry. The most advanced machines were efficient and very fast. Made by a variety of builders, including the famous Sentinel company of Shrewsbury, who built waggons with a double 'g', and Foden, of Sandbach, steam lorries came in many shapes and sizes. This book looks at their birth, and the operation and engineering that set them aside from the traction engine and steam roller. This book is part of the Britain's Heritage series, which provides definitive introductions to the riches of Britain's past, and is the perfect way to get acquainted with steam lorries in all their variety.

The Somerset town of Bridgwater was an important port on the River Parrett in the Middle Ages, linked inland during the Industrial Revolution with the construction of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. Bridgwater became the main manufacturing town in Somerset, including shipbuilding, iron foundries and the manufacture of clay tiles and bricks and cellophane. Although these industries have declined in the later twentieth century, it is still a major industrial centre with a diverse cultural life, including an arts centre, music festivals, its Guy Fawkes Carnival and the second biggest fair in the country. In A-Z of Bridgwater author Lynne Cleaver delves into the history of the town, highlighting well-known landmarks, events and famous residents, such as Admiral Robert Blake's birthplace, the Somerset Brick and Tile Museum and the historic port and quayside and the Battle of Sedgemoor fought on the Somerset Levels outside the town, as well as digging beneath the surface to uncover some of the lesser-known facts about Bridgwater and its hidden places of interest. This fascinating A-Z tour of Bridgwater's history is fully illustrated and will appeal to all those with an interest in this Somerset town.

The ancient Suffolk market town of Beccles has a history of more than a thousand years, which saw it flourish as one of the principal trading communities in the county. Situated on the River Waveney, it is often referred to as the 'Gateway to the Southern Broads'. In Secret Beccles, local author Barry Darch sets out to discover the lesser-known and hidden aspects of the town's heritage. At its heart lie two large marketplaces, the newer one (dating from the fourteenth century) still very much in use for a weekly market and for special events. A number of nearby buildings also have large cellars with interesting architectural features. Many buildings have had several changes of use; for instance, the late Anglo-Saxon St Peter's Church became a tannery and later a restaurant. A Georgian theatre that became a corn hall now lies hidden behind a branch of Lloyds Bank. Part of the town's hidden past rests in the names of its streets and paths, such as Shipwreck Alley and Hungate, the street of the dogs. As well as the places and locations, the book will also uncover stories of those significant townsfolk across the ages, ranging from the heroes to the villains. The author also looks at gravestones and memorials and seeks out what secrets are revealed about the town in publications including books, newspapers, maps and letters. Featuring archive and contemporary images, Secret Beccles includes a wealth of little-known or previously unpublished material, which will be of interest to residents, visitors and anyone with connections to the town.

Southern California Railways looks at the operations of some of the many railroads that serve the southern half of the Golden State. These include the passenger operations of Amtrak, Metrolink and San Diego Coaster and the freight operations of the Union Pacific and BNSF Railway as well as some short-line operators. The book shows some of the huge variety of trains and locomotives that ply their trade in the area. Author Richard Billingsley focuses on the area south of San Luis Obispo and Bakersfield, including Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as the Mojave Desert and Salton Sea and includes 180 stunning images documenting the railway scene.

In 1961 the maximum length of single-deckers was increased to 36 feet. Bristol Commercial Vehicles and Eastern Coach Works designed their first rear-engined single-decker to take advantage of this new length. Two prototypes were built and tested in service in 1962. United Automobile Services had the RELL version with a low chassis frame for bus work. South Midland had the RELH version with a high frame for coach work. Production started in 1963, with Eastern Coach Works-bodied buses and coaches for the nationalised Tilling Group companies, plus some Alexander-bodied coaches for the nationalised Scottish Motor Traction Group companies. In this book the author illustrates the Bristol RE in service from 1970 to 1994 in England and North Wales. This includes Tilling Group companies, National Bus Company subsidiaries, municipal operators and independents, some of the new companies created from bus deregulation and privatisation from 1986, plus a few more recent photos of preserved Bristol REs.

Britain's biggest county, Yorkshire, was particularly affected by the period of deregulation. Many independents have fallen by the wayside over the years but others have come to take their places. The blue buses of Samuel Ledgard of Leeds, the red ones of Connor & Graham in Hull and the delightful colours of Felix Motors of Hatfield may now be only memories, yet there are still plenty of other small businesses providing bus services within the boundaries of Yorkshire. These vary from Powells providing buses in industrial South Yorkshire to Reliance Motor Services running out from York to the rural north. John Law was born and bred in Yorkshire and has been photographing the bus scene there since the 1960s, often focusing on the independent firms that have flourished throughout the county over the years. In this book he has chosen the best of his collection, featuring a variety of photographs to illustrate the independent bus sector in the great county of Yorkshire.

The county of Cornwall in the far south-west of England is surrounded by sea on three sides. Resisting Roman and Anglo-Saxon invaders, it retained its Celtic independence and remained separate from the rest of England into the Middle Ages. Cornwall has a rich military history that stretches back through centuries, and evidence of this military heritage can be seen throughout the county with numerous buildings and other structures still standing today. Cornwall's Military Heritage explores the history of the county - not only the battles that took place on its soil and the measures that were taken to defend it, but also the heritage of the military units that were nurtured there and sent to fight in conflicts abroad. Cornwall was home to two uprisings in 1497, followed by the Prayer Book Rebellion in 1549 and the Spanish raiding of 1595. In the English Civil War, Cornwall was a Royalist stronghold in the predominantly Parliamentarian South West, and Pendennis Castle was besieged alongside the strategic Isles of Scilly, contested by both sides. Author Andrew Powell-Thomas explores the conflicts surrounding an array of historic monuments, including castles, forts, airfields and military bases, noting how the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and its antecedents fought through two world wars to maintain the survival of this most remarkable county.

The Cotswold Hills run in a large swathe through south central England, chiefly in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, but also parts of Somerset, Wiltshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. The local limestone characterises the area, providing the main building material for its towns and villages. The rolling hills were ideal for sheep farming in the Middle Ages and the area became a prosperous centre of the wool trade, with many fine buildings, including churches, dating from this period as well as later centuries. A-Z of the Cotswolds delves into the history of this beautiful region. It highlights well-known landmarks, famous residents and digs beneath the surface to uncover some of the lesser-known facts about the Cotswolds and its hidden gems. Significant moments in its history are covered as well as its notable buildings and natural landmarks. This fascinating A-Z tour of Cotswolds history is fully illustrated and will appeal to all those with an interest in this part of England.

St Albans has a long and fascinating history from its pre-Roman settlement as Verlamion, through the Roman municipium of Verulamium, the Benedictine monastery dedicated to Alban, the first British Christian martyr, to the charter borough and market created by Edward VI in 1553 and the city designated by royal edict in 1877. The town's location on the ancient Watling Street linking London with the Midlands and the North West has ensured its significance in each of these periods. In this book, local author Kate Morris portrays episodes in the social life of the charter borough and market, when the town gained in popularity with City merchants and professional folk, often as their 'second home'. Morris reveals lesser-known events and characters of the Early Modern period of the town's history. Some of the tales and happenings revealed are not untypical of those in other English towns, but their telling in this context will appeal to all those with an interest in St Albans and its history, and the book's period illustrations and modern photography will delight.

This book covers the development of mosaics in Britain from the invasion to the end of Roman Britain. The technical side of the art form is covered as well as prefabrication. It covers those mosaics based in towns as well as more rural locations. Many of the mosaics have been lost but are recorded in coloured engravings. The author has a large collection of illustrations of both existing and lost mosaic pavements. The uniqueness of some British depictions of such well known characters as Orpheus are also explored here. Reconstructions by the author of some sections of figured mosaics based on examples found elsewhere in the empire are included. The author's recent work on the newly discovered Boxford mosaic, that is the most important mosaic found in Britain for over 50 years, is explored here for the first time. Anthony Beeson is the former archivist of the Association for the Study and Preservation of Roman Mosaics, a member of the board of trustees of the Association for Roman Archaeology and The Roman Baths Foundation, a prolific writer of papers on Roman art and architecture and has lectured on the subject of Roman mosaics.

Bastions of civic architecture, town halls are a prominent part of the urban landscape of towns and cities throughout Britain. They are part of a long tradition dating back to sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when the town hall began to embody power and authority within local society and politics. Their design and decoration are a fascinating reflection of these centres of power, and architecturally they reflect the periods in which they were built, from the classical revival and Gothic styles of the nineteenth century to the art deco of the 1930s, and the modernist buildings of the mid- to later twentieth century. This book traces their historical development from their early beginnings to the present day, at a time when many are being repurposed as they become redundant, while others have opened themselves up for more secular use. This book is part of the Britain's Heritage series, which provides definitive introductions to the riches of Britain's past, and is the perfect way to get acquainted with town halls in all their variety.

London's East End History Tour is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this famous part of the city. This new book guides us through the streets and alleyways, showing how its famous landmarks used to look and how they've changed over the years as well as exploring its lesser-known sights and hidden corners. With the help of a handy location map, readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and discover for themselves the changing face of London's East End.

Throughout their existence from 1904 until 1981, the Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Company were an idiosyncratic operator whose area of operations ranged from the Welsh Marches and Shropshire in the West to Northamptonshire and Rutland in the East and from Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire in the South to Staffordshire and Derbyshire in the North. Much of their area was distinctly rural but in Birmingham and the Black Country, Worcester and Hereford, Stafford and Leicester, intense urban services were operated mainly by double-decker buses and it is these buses that this volume examines. Looking at the coaches that formed a part of this iconic fleet, David Harvey utilises his collection of rare and unpublished images to explore the fascinating world of Midland Red coaches.

Mainly covering the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s, this collection of images offers a fascinating survey of one of the iconic locomotives of twentieth-century Britain: the Class 40. A common sight in Scotland and the north of England in the latter part of the century, the Class 40 continues to capture the imagination of railway enthusiasts everywhere. Used to haul both heavy freight and passenger trains, this book captures a locomotive at the peak of its powers, with previously unpublished images showing Class 40s both at work and rest. The vast majority of the photographs in this book were taken by the late Keith Holt. He was brought up in West Yorkshire and, like many youngsters at that time, developed an interest in railways as he cycled around the West Riding to visit places of interest. He always took photographs, including many of the iconic Class 40 locomotives. This book serves as a fitting tribute to his longstanding interest in the railways, and reflects the varied work carried out by the Class 40.

This book is a portrait of the period that became known as the era of BR Blue - the 1970s and 1980s. The railway appeared to be caught up in a world of its own. It was still recognisably the one from the steam era, and happy to be living in the past rather than making strides toward the future. As with most of the nationalised industries, labour relations were somewhat fraught. The railway invested in electrification and everything else was standardised to minimise costs. Unsurprisingly, stagnation haunted the network. Some would suggest the railway was doing a particularly fine job given the circumstances. It was fortunate to be blessed with a dedicated workforce and supported by thousands of people who travelled by train. For those of us who remember those days fondly, this is how we would prefer to remember that time.

Indian soldiers made a pivotal contribution to the British Empire and Great Britain's development from a small, relatively poor island to a dominant military and industrial power. Under the British Crown, following the Mutiny of 1857, India's military became a vital link to holding the Empire together. From the jungles of south-east Asia to the deserts of Africa, and the hills of northeast India to the forests of Burma, the Indian army would become the pride of the Raj. Upon India's independence, the army continued to be one of the finest inheritances of Empire. This book looks at the world of the Indian soldiers who enlisted in the armies of India under British rule, and how they served with such dedication and loyalty. The extent to which the soldiers acted as an effective control over the coercive power of British rule in India is also examined, as well as the implications and logistics involved in running such a complex military machine. The first comprehensive single-volume history of India's soldier's in the British Empire written with flair and rich in detail, True to Their Salt offers a vital new perspective to mark the 75th anniversary of Indian independence.