In the sweltering summer of 1858 the stink of sewage from the polluted Thames was so offensive that it drove Members of Parliament from the chamber of the House of Commons. Sewage generated by a population of over two million Londoners was pouring into the river and was being carried to and fro by the tides. The Times called the crisis "The Great Stink." Parliament had to act - drastic measures were required to clean the Thames and to improve London's primitive system of sanitation. The great engineer entrusted by Parliament with this enormous task was Sir Joseph Bazalgette. This book is an...

A fascinating reference to the history of the Cathedrals and Abbeys of the UK and Ireland.

A unique collection of surprising revelations, heroic deeds and other quirky pieces of trivia from the conflicts that have shaped London's fascinating past. From British wartime commanders and other characters who called London their home, through the privations of war and their social impact, to the devastation caused by the Blitz.

Whether you want to learn about the teenager's skeleton from 1550 BC found at Stonehenge, explore the history of Britain's favourite beverages, tea and coffee, or discover how taxation on windows coined the expression `daylight robbery', there is something for every enthusiast to dip into.