McKie's Gazetteer ― A Local History of Britain

McKie's Gazetteer takes its readers on a journey through the hidden history of Great Britain. From Castle Dangerous in South Lanarkshire to Defiance Platform in Cornwall, David McKie relates the anecdotes and arguments, heroes and villains that comprise Britain's rich local history. Read of the tragic demise of Mr. Marvell (Andrew's father) in the Humber; discover where the only Knockin Shop in the country remains open; or wonder at the tale of Sir William the Kent Messiah, who, armed with two pistols, a sword, and a bugle, claimed that he was the reincarnation of Christ and then murdered the local plumber wielding his warrant for arrest. David McKie's search for Britain's best-kept secrets will entertain and enthrall in equal measure.

David McKie was deputy editor of the Guardian from 1975 to 1984 and wrote both its "Smallweed" and "Elsewhere" columns. His bookJabez: The Rise and Fall of the Victorian Rogue was shortlisted for the Whitbread Biography Award and the Saga Award for Wit. He is also the author ofGreat British Bus Journeys: Travels through Unfamous Places.