This book charts the rise of the AA and reflects the interest in collecting its memorabilia in the form of badges, books, models and signs. It includes detailed information on the dating of car badges
The best testament to Britain's participation in Graceo-Roman civilisation is its 'hidden' monuments: hoards of household valuables or decorations and also rich hoards of gold, silver and bronze coins
The Toby jug is often seen a s a uniquely British form of ceramics. Its history dates back at least as far as the 1770s, and it is possible to trace its ancestors even further back to the creation of
This book guides the reader through the intricacies of identifying a piece of lace, listing and illustrating the points to look through in each lace. It covers the whole range of lace from all parts o
This book tells how mines evolved from simple bells pits into extensive networks of shafts and tunnels extending deep underground. It describes the methods used to drive tunnels through the rock and
As more and more people feel the urge to possess objects of age or beauty, so the prices of antiques soar beyond the pockets of many people. Bottles, however, have remained comparatively inexpensive.
As long ago as the 1720s, Daniel Defoe wrote about the eccentricities of English dialects. To historians the dialects used in the Yorkshire Dales and rural East Anglia are as important in understandin
There are over thirty million sheep in Britain belonging to more than sixty different breeds. They are almost as varied in shape, color and size as the many breeds of dog, but are far less well-known.
Dinky Toys were introduced in 1931 as 'Modelled Miniatures', and these delightful diecast metal toys, which instantly became bestsellers, still give pleasure to both children and adults. More than 1,0
The artists of Ancient Egypt reached a level of sophistication and technical mastery unsurpassed by other early peoples. They perfected a style which was less naturalistic than that later employed by
In Victorian times the steam engine was almost the only source of mechanical power. Thousands of these engines were at work driving machinery in factories and pumping stations throughout Britain, but
Spinning and Spinning Wheels traces the evolution of the ancient skill of spinning, from the early spindle, through the introduction of the wool and the flax wheel, to the numerous variations of the w
The area of England known as the Black Country has a rich heritage in the chain trade due to its plentiful resources of coal and iron. In the nineteenth century, thousands of tons of chain were hand-m
The rood screen was used to divide the nave and chancel--the secular and the sacred--in parish churches in the Middle Ages. The screen was a visual spectacle, adorned with images of saints and surmoun
Between the 1940s and the 1960s the microcar posed a challenge to large companies producing cars in huge volumes to a uniform pattern. The microcar was the opposite, produced by small entrepreneurial
Victorian pumping stations are colorful cathedrals of utility. Their imposing and striking exteriors enclose a highly decorative cast-iron frame, built to encage mighty steam engines. They are gloriou
For a hundred years the Royal Air Force has been at the forefront of the UK's defenses, protecting its allies, attacking its enemies, and, in the 1950s and 1960s, providing a key part of Britain's Nuc
The Land Speed Record is a fascinating story of human endeavor--of man and machine battling time to be the fastest. Since 1898 many have dreamed of being the fastest on earth, first with electric, the
Illuminated manuscripts are among the most beautiful, precious and mysterious works of Western art. Before the printing press was invented, books were produced by hand, and their illustration using br
Presenting snippets from Bradshaw's Handbook and other Victorian publications, the 2018 edition of the bestselling Bradshaw's desk diary is ideal for any enthusiast of Britain's Victorian railways or
Austin, Hillman, Morris, Standard and Wolsclcy are a handful of the myriad marques that once constituted Britain's indigenous motor industry. Born in 1896 into the high summer of Victorian prosperity
The Egyptian pyramids are iconic images of ancient Egyptian civilisation and mythology. This book traces the early development of ancient pyramids and tombs, from the Mastaba burial tombs of the first
Provides an introduction to Roman dress accessories (non-precious metal jewellery). Using evidence from finds, this book examines production areas, distribution patterns and the locations of workshops
For over three thousand years, ancient Egyptian sculptors created statues of deities, kings and elite officials and their families. These were set up mainly in temples or tombs and played a vital rol
In the space of little more than a hundred years, from the Roman conquest of Gaul in the mid first century BC to the defeat of Boudicca in AD 61, Britain saw the final and arguably the most impressiv
