May 1941: over 43,000 civilians had been killed, and over a million houses destroyed following endless nights of bombing raids. Yet London and other cities that had been targeted survived, their spirit undaunted, their people resilient.
Revisionist historians have sought to dampen the notion of the 'Blitz spirit', but the writings and surviving records all point to a resilience that would remain unbroken, despite the death toll rising to almost 52,000 from bombing alone. Illustrated with archive photographs and other materials, and illuminated by first-hand recollections of the...
May 1941: over 43,000 civilians had been killed, and over a million houses destroyed following endless nights of bombing raids. Yet London and othe...
For 150 years, district nurses have been taking care of the sick in their own homes, providing health care, moral support, and wise advice to people of all ages and classes, in rural areas, towns and cities the length and breadth of the country. Begun in 1860s Liverpool by philanthropist William Rathbone, the District Nursing Movement was founded to care for the poor who had no access to medical care. This illuminating book shows how the role of the district nurse has moved on greatly since Queen Victoria's Jubilee, expanding and developing to provide a broad range of invaluable health care...
For 150 years, district nurses have been taking care of the sick in their own homes, providing health care, moral support, and wise advice to people o...
The fourth Olympic Games of the modern era, in 1908, were set to be held in Rome, but when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 1906, Italy needed all her resources to rebuild Naples. London stepped up to the plate and with only two years to prepare the British Olympic organisers pulled off a successful Olympic Games. Miraculously, they managed to do so while shunning all municipal and government assistance and using only private enterprise for the arrangements.
In under a year, the White City stadium was built on the site of the forthcoming Franco-British exhibition, with a running track,...
The fourth Olympic Games of the modern era, in 1908, were set to be held in Rome, but when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 1906, Italy needed all her res...
Toys have been made in Britain for hundreds of years, but it was in the twentieth century that the British toy industry reached its peak. Names such as Meccano, Chad Valley, Dinky, Scalextric, Bayko and Hornby dominated the trade at home and abroad. It was not to last, however, and foreign competition became too much for an industry that began to lose its way. This book is the story of the British toy industry and its products, and not to be missed by toy collectors, those interested in British industry, and anyone for whom the great names of the British toyshop bring back happy memories.
Toys have been made in Britain for hundreds of years, but it was in the twentieth century that the British toy industry reached its peak. Names such a...
In 1838 Thomas Edmondson, an employee of the fledgling Newcastle & Carlisle Railway, revolutionized the ticket issuing process in Britain and left an enduring legacy: the Edmondson ticket. Purchased as proof of the contract between passenger and railway company, the ticket was a receipt, travel pass and an ephemeral record of almost every train journey ever taken in the British Isles, reflecting the nostalgia of the railways and a period of history when the movement of millions of people brought together England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The railways printed millions of tickets for every...
In 1838 Thomas Edmondson, an employee of the fledgling Newcastle & Carlisle Railway, revolutionized the ticket issuing process in Britain and left an ...
Sixty years after a disparate group of railway enthusiasts came together in a remote corner of rural Wales to run a train service - a true story that inspired the Ealing comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt - 'heritage railways' are a serious matter, bringing visitors, employment and a sense of local identity to regions throughout Britain. Bob Gwynne tells the story of this phenomenon and looks at the range of challenges that have been overcome to create the vibrant world of the Heritage railway that we enjoy today. The book ranges from the origins of railway preservation through to 'new build'...
Sixty years after a disparate group of railway enthusiasts came together in a remote corner of rural Wales to run a train service - a true story th...
When the first Women's Institute was formed in Llanfair, Wales in October 1915, no one could have foreseen how this small-scale experiment would grow to become, by the early twenty-first century, an organisation with a membership of approximately 205,000 in 6,500 branches in towns, cities and villages across Britain. The organization instilled a new and enterprising spirit into the life of villages and their womenfolk, and gave them unique opportunities to share activities. This book traces the story and evolution of the WI: through the decades punctuated by two world wars, where food...
When the first Women's Institute was formed in Llanfair, Wales in October 1915, no one could have foreseen how this small-scale experiment would grow ...
In the skies above south-east England in 1940, battle was waged between the men and machines of the Royal Air Force and Hitler's Luftwaffe. At stake was air superiority, and the Germans intended this to be a first step in the invasion of Britain. Squadrons of Hurricanes and Spitfires, then among the best and most modern fighter aircraft in the world, took on the threat and defeated the Luftwaffe. This extensively illustrated history of the battle looks at the origins and events of the battle, at the men and women of the RAF who prepared for and fought in it, and at the ordinary people of...
In the skies above south-east England in 1940, battle was waged between the men and machines of the Royal Air Force and Hitler's Luftwaffe. At stake w...
The strategic importance of railways was recognized almost from the beginning of their development, but it was not until the end of the nineteenth century that their real value was appreciated by the military. In both the First and Second World Wars, railways were crucial in the transportation of men, munitions and coal, whilst on the Continent British forces operated railways to support the war effort. The heroic story of railways at war was confirmed in the months before and after the 'D' Day landings in 1944 when literally thousands of trains were run to support the Allied invasion,...
The strategic importance of railways was recognized almost from the beginning of their development, but it was not until the end of the nineteenth cen...
Portmeirion pottery evolved from gift shop designs for the Portmeirion holiday village in north Wales to a global business thanks to the design flair of Susan Williams-Ellis. She captured the sprit of the kitchens and dining rooms of the 1960's and 70's, with bold new shapes, and designs that could be both modern and traditional. 'Botanic Garden', introduced in 1972, used old flower prints with contemporary shapes and high quality manufacture, and has remained in production for 40 years. In the 21st century the company moves vigorously forwards with a new generation of designers and a...
Portmeirion pottery evolved from gift shop designs for the Portmeirion holiday village in north Wales to a global business thanks to the design flair ...
