Green Men are faces sprouting foliage that are found in churches, abbeys and cathedrals. They were popular figures adorning church architecture and furnishings in the Middle Ages, and enjoyed a secon
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 depar
There are few pieces of pottery more recognizable than those designed by Clarice Cliff. For many the epitome of Art Deco, and 1930s style, characterised by bold color and lines, geometric shapes, and
From the 1930s to the 1960s, millions of British people chose to spend their annual summer break at a holiday camp, taking advantage of the all-included package that provided accommodation, food, and
In the 1930s, Britain underwent the most profound economic crisis of the twentieth century, with high unemployment, wage cuts, benefit cuts and an overall deterioration in living standards. This was B
The Tudor period was a time of massive social change in England with growing cities, increasing trade, and growing stability after the chaos of the Wars of the Roses. Despite military preparations in
Model engineering was popularized by pioneering steam enthusiasts, and rapidly grew into an exciting worldwide hobby for amateur engineers. This book describes how model steam engines work, outlines t
The lives of children during the Victorian era differed dramatically between the rich and the poor. The children of the wealthy lived in comfort with good education, while the poorest children grew up
Throughout history, the English language has reflected social changes, trade routes, and waves of fashion. This book examines the histories of the names of foods, ingredients, utensils, drinks, cooki
Penny slot machines are evocative of seaside holidays and Edwardian amusements, although most have now disappeared from the pier arcades into museums or private collections. They were jolly, colorful
The First World War was the conduit for some of the most dramatic changes in the role of women in British society. Suffragettes gave up their militant protests to support the war effort, and from the
Postcards sent by men on the front, and to them by their families, are among the most numerous, and most telling, surviving artifacts of World War I. They tell us much about attitudes towards the war,
Flying Scotsman is probably the most famous railway locomotive in the world. When it was new in 1923 it caused a sensation for its beauty and its speed, and the engine found itself at the center of me
From the bronze age to the present day, man has found numerous uses for tin and its alloys, and has gone to great lengths to extract it from the ground. This book explains why tin minerals are found o
The broader Regency period 1795-1820 stands alone as an incredible moment in fashion history unlike anything that went before or after. It was the most naked period since Ancient Greece and before the
Church monuments are memorials in various forms within the church itself (this was more prestigious than being buried in the graveyard, and so the most important people tended to have memorials inside
The evolution of beekeeping can be traced in the changing shape of the beehive and in the various structures used to house and protect it. These range from simple recesses holding one or two straw hiv
Of all motor vehicles the farm tractor has proved to be among the most beneficial. It has freed hundreds of thousands of laborers and horses from backbreaking toil on the land in all weathers and it h
Felt is an amazing material, and its history, properties and uses are unparalleled among textiles. Although its origins are lost in prehistory, there is a clear record of its manufacture and use in Ro
In 1938, Britain prepared for war, and to spread the word about what should be done in the event of attack, and to distribute the gas masks that would become universal, a body of men and women were ca
Samplers have a long history in Britain and the United States, dating from the sixteenth century. They were originally a collection of patterns gathered together for easy reference to be used in embro
Since the eighteenth century, British cattle breeds have spread worldwide and have made the names of several counties famous in distant lands. Yet some of those breeds have become extinct and many oth
Beneath the streets and towering buildings of London, there is a realm of shadow and secrets. This little book is the first concise guide to the hidden world of underground London. Informative, author
This book introduces the history of the Scottish fishing vessel and chronicles the developments that have created fishing machines which are not only highly effective tools but a delight to the eyes a
This book emphasises the information to be gleaned from the interpretation of the archaeology, and provides a practical guide to pursuing the study of medieval masoncraft. Dr Hislop reviews the main
In the aftermath of World War II, design was key to a new way of living as carefully thought-out principles were applied to new homes and commercial buildings across the country. From open plan living
Growing up as a child during the Second World War could be a frightening, strange or even an exciting experience. For many city children the war brought evacuation to the countryside and a way of life
The Potteries is the name given to the industrial area in the English Midlands that was home to hundreds of pottery-making companies and until recently supllied most of the country's crockery and deco
Whether they are still operational or long abandoned, quarries are often dismissed as eyesores. Despite this, they can be fascinating to visit, and provide an interesting link to a once powerful and n
Silk was first developed in ancient China as early as 2600 BC and over the centuries to follow it gradually spread first to South East Asia and then to the Middle East, North Africa and Europe along t
Brooklands, near Weybridge in Surrey, holds a unique and highly important place in the histories of both motoring and aviation. It was the first purpose-built motor racing track in Britain and the fi
Old fashioned seaside holidays inspire a great deal of nostalgic affection among British people. Quintessential elements such as seaside donkeys and sickly sticks of rock are easily identifiable and
This book introduces readers to a different side of London than the one they may already know, revealing a city full of curiosities and peculiarities, stories that have largely been left untold, and f
During the last days of peace in 1939 nearly two million people, most of them children, were evacuated from British cities, towns and ports to the countryside, or across the Atlantic to the USA and Ca
For 1500 years English has built new words or taken them from other languages and changed their form and often their meaning to make them the words we use today. When we explore the journeys, arrivals
For over a century, no surviving marque so accurately charted the triumphs and tribulations of the British motor-manufacturing industry as Rover. This book traces the history of the company, starting
The Scottish warrior has throughout history been armed with some of the most famous and instantly recognisable weapons and armour ever produced. From the majestic Highland two-handed sword and the dim
The village pump was once the focal point of rural life, providing the only water supply to communities and offering a place in town squares and village greens for people to come together. Sadly, with
Jet, a hard, black, shiny gem closely related to coal, has been fashioned into jewelry and trinkets for generations. During the Victorian period, when the ritual surrounding death and the long mournin
This is the intriguing story of garden gnomes and how they have come to reside in the flowerbeds of gardens across Britain. Originating in Europe, gnomes made the leap across the channel in the ninete
