An engaging introduction to the workings of church buildings and churchyards, explaining the integral elements of a working church and how they have changed over time.The parish church is a symbol of
Handel called Britain 'The Ringing Isle' because he heard bells ringing everywhere he went. Behind the quintessentially English sound of bells ringing lies a unique way of hanging bells and a special
The streets and public spaces of London are rich with statues and monuments commemorating the city's great figures and events--from Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square and Sir Christopher Wren's Great
In the Middle Ages, it was thought that praying at the right shrine could save you from just about anything, from madness and famine to false imprisonment and even shipwreck. Kingdoms, cities, and eve
From workaday marigolds to handwear custom-crafted for the Queen, gloves perform many functions--insulation from the cold, protection from injury, and even ceremonial roles. Gloves have been used sinc
Vespa and Lambretta remain the two most iconic motor scooter brands, even four decades after the latter’s demise. But what made them such a European sensation in the postwar era? And why were they par
Designed both to protect the their inhabitants of the towns they towered over and cow them into submission, castles dominated the landscape of Medieval England and Wales. Though some were built before
The London and North Eastern Railway, or LNER as it was familiarly known, was one of the Big Four companies that took control of Britain's railway network following the "Grouping" in 1923. This networ
After the Second World War, the drive for the modernization of Britain's railways ushered in a new breed of locomotive: the Diesel. Diesel-powered trains had been around for some time, but faced with
In the 1950s and 1960s, luxury car buyers, from government ministers to captains of industry, almost invariably bought British. These were stately, dignified, and grand vehicles, with many featuring l
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
From the horse-drawn trams of the nineteenth century to the larger electric models of the early twentieth, this reliable form of public transport revolutionized town travel by making it affordable eno
From the Middle Ages to the present day, parsonages - vicarages and rectories, and later manses, presbyteries and chapel houses - have been amongst the most significant dwellings in every kind of Brit
Coal heated the homes, fuelled the furnaces and powered the engines of the Industrial Revolution. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries the coalfields – distinct landscapes of colliery winding fra
Rolls-Royce is one of Britain's legendary car brands, representing the pinnacle of engineering quality and luxury like no other manufacturer. Since 1904, when Charles Stewart Rolls and Frederick Henry
London's many cemeteries, churches and graveyards are the last resting places of a multitude of important people from many different walks of life. Politicians, writers and military heroes rub shoulde
Built more than sixty years after the California Gold Rush that inspired massive migration to Northern California, and ten years after the devastating 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco, Filoli
Brunel called his Great Western Railway the "finest work in England" and it certainly contained many special and groundbreaking new features, but none was as unorthodox as the decision to abandon the
The history of the Rootes Group (1913-1978) and its subsidiaries - Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam, Karrier, and Commer.This is the story of the Rootes Group which was both an important British car m
With over two-thirds of the globe covered by water, the ability to navigate safely and quickly across the oceans has been crucial throughout human history. As seafarers attempted longer and longer voy
A brief history of the design and use of railway carriages in the UK, ideal for those interested in railway and social history.Evolving from the horse-drawn stage coaches that they soon eclipsed, rail
More complex and imposing than any other vehicle in the British emergency services, the fire engine has a long and interesting history. At first a blaze could only be tackled by buckets of water being
From cooks and clerks to weapons analysts and air mechanics, generations of women have served in the Wrens (Women's Royal Naval Service or WRNS). The Royal Navy was the first of the UK armed services
The midwife: a medical professional, a friend in a woman's hour of greatest need, and a potent social and cultural symbol. Though the role of midwife has existed since time immemorial, it is only sinc
In the 1950s and 1960s, British sports car ruled the road, and their charge was led by Triumphs. From the TR2, its first modern sports car, Triumph went on to produce a host of classic sports design
The 00 gauge train set was the ultimate "boy’s toy" of the 1950s and ’60s .Electric 00 gauge trains were introduced by Trix and Hornby Dublo in the mid-1930s, but the Second World War quickly halted p
In the early years of the Industrial Revolution, canals formed the arteries of Britain. Most waterways were local concerns, carrying cargoes over short distances and fitted into regional groups with t
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
From the Houses of Parliament to the Midland Hotel at St Pancras and Strawberry Hill House, Gothic Revival buildings are some of the most distinctive structures found in Britain. Far from just copying
After Dunkirk and the fall of France in 1940, it was obvious it would be years before the British army could mount conventional military operations on land in Europe. Prime Minister Winston Churchill
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
