THE ENGLISH VILLAGE EXPLAINED
English villages conjure up images of rural harmony, continuity and tradition; their history woven into the broader pageant of England's past. Existing histories written about villages however are usually lists of lords of the manor and the memories of living residents, all relevant details but what we are really interested in is how the village began, what it looked like through the centuries and what clues to the past are still there today?
In this book I use my own colour photos, drawings and diagrams to show how villages have changed through the centuries and the features which you can see around them from the different periods. There is even a series of views of Exemplar Village illustrating how a village may have appeared through the ages. It then looks at the village in detail, explaining how the landscape, transport and buildings changed and the details which can help the reader understand and date them. The final part gives an outline of a method on how to trace the history of your own village.
A5 softcover/ 128 pages/ 167 colour and a few B/W drawings, diagrams and photos
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£9.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
In this book I use my own colour photos, drawings and diagrams to show how villages have changed through the centuries and the features which you can see around them from the different periods. There is even a series of views of Exemplar Village illustrating how a village may have appeared through the ages. It then looks at the village in detail, explaining how the landscape, transport and buildings changed and the details which can help the reader understand and date them. The final part gives an outline of a method on how to trace the history of your own village.
A5 softcover/ 128 pages/ 167 colour and a few B/W drawings, diagrams and photos
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£9.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
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Narrowboats Explained
Have you ever hired a narrowboat? Are you thinking of buying one? Have you thought what it’s like to live on one? Dreams of life on a traditional narrowboat conjure up images of locks, rustic arched bridges, peaceful waters, wildlife and the beautiful British countryside. If you are considering hiring, buying or just want to discover more about the craft you see on canals then this easy to understand book packed with colour drawings and photographs will explain their history, construction and how to use and cruise them.
The first section tells the story of why narrowboats first appeared, how they changed as canals declined and the different types of boat which could be found. There are details and drawings of how they were pulled by horses, legged through tunnels and broke through ice in winter as well as a list of heritage museums where old boats and fittings can be seen. The second part looks in detail at the construction of the hull, the different types of engines, the fitting out of the cabin and the colourful decoration which characterises them. There are drawings and information on all the parts of the boat, old and modern diesel engines and how the castles and roses were painted. The final section explains about hiring, buying and living on narrowboats including details and illustrations showing how to cruise them, operate locks and things to look out for when purchsing one. There is also a list of useful contacts, a list of likely costs you could incure and a glossary of unfamiliar terms.
A5 softcover/96 pages / 153 Colour drawings, diagrams and photos
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£ 7.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
The first section tells the story of why narrowboats first appeared, how they changed as canals declined and the different types of boat which could be found. There are details and drawings of how they were pulled by horses, legged through tunnels and broke through ice in winter as well as a list of heritage museums where old boats and fittings can be seen. The second part looks in detail at the construction of the hull, the different types of engines, the fitting out of the cabin and the colourful decoration which characterises them. There are drawings and information on all the parts of the boat, old and modern diesel engines and how the castles and roses were painted. The final section explains about hiring, buying and living on narrowboats including details and illustrations showing how to cruise them, operate locks and things to look out for when purchsing one. There is also a list of useful contacts, a list of likely costs you could incure and a glossary of unfamiliar terms.
A5 softcover/96 pages / 153 Colour drawings, diagrams and photos
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£ 7.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
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Gravestones, Tombs and Memorials
Did you know that gravestones and tombs only appeared in mass around a church in the late 17th century and that before that the churchyard was quite bare and used for markets and fairs? Or that the headstone used to face away from the burial and could have had additional stones over the body and foot? Or do you know what the skull and cross bones means when you find it on a gravestone? There are many surprizing and fascinating facts about churchyards, cemeteries and the memorials within them and the way burial practises have changed over the centuries, which can also give the family historian additional information about ancestors buried there. This illustrated book explains how the graveyard has changed over the centuries, the differnent styles of memorial and the meaning behind the symbols and epitaphs carved on them.
The first chapter tells the history of burial, explaining that most churchyards will be older than the building which stands upon them, and illustrates some of the features you can still see today like stone coffins and ancient crosses. The next two show how gravestones and tombs have changed over the centuries, from humble stones with just initials to ostentacious displays of carving which are now being listed as outstanding pieces of sculpture. The final parts explain the meaning behind the symbols, phrases and epitaphs carved upon them and how they can tell you more about the ambitions and wealth of those buried beneath. There are also details on bodysnatchers, christian burials, and latin inscriptions along with a glossary of unfamiliar terms and a list of notable churchyards to visit.
A5 softcover/ 64 pages/ 113 drawings, diagrams and photos (B/W)
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£5.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
The first chapter tells the history of burial, explaining that most churchyards will be older than the building which stands upon them, and illustrates some of the features you can still see today like stone coffins and ancient crosses. The next two show how gravestones and tombs have changed over the centuries, from humble stones with just initials to ostentacious displays of carving which are now being listed as outstanding pieces of sculpture. The final parts explain the meaning behind the symbols, phrases and epitaphs carved upon them and how they can tell you more about the ambitions and wealth of those buried beneath. There are also details on bodysnatchers, christian burials, and latin inscriptions along with a glossary of unfamiliar terms and a list of notable churchyards to visit.
A5 softcover/ 64 pages/ 113 drawings, diagrams and photos (B/W)
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£5.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
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Bridges Explained
Bridges are our most impressive pieces of engineering. From small arched packhorse bridges to massive suspension structures, each of the hundreds of bridges which can be found in every county demonstrate the ingenuity of past generations. There are the great works of Victorian engineers like Brunel and Stephenson, famous monuments like the Forth Rail and Tower bridges and ancient arched structures some over seven hundred years old and still carrying pedestrian today. This book sets out to explain how bridges, viaducts and aqueducts were built , the problems that engineers faced and the changing styles of the bridges they constructed. It is packed with pictures of examples from all across the country and interesting facts and details to look out for.
The first section uses drawings and photos to show the basic principals of bridge building, the forces that they have to counter and the reasons why some fell down including the story of the Tay Bridge disaster and the faults that led to its collapse. The second part looks at arched bridges, divided up into periods including the earliest Roman structures and where they can be seen today, rustic medieval types and how to date them, and elegant Georgian bridges and how they pushed this form to its limits. The third section covers girder, suspension, cantilever and moving bridges with details of many famous examples like the Forth Rail bridge, Tower bridge, the Clifton suspension bridge and Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash. The final part covers railway viaducts and canal aqueducts with a ten page list of bridges to visit in each county and a glossary of unfamiliar terms.
A5 softcover/ 160 pages/ 295 photos, drawings and diagrams (B/W)
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£ 9.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
The first section uses drawings and photos to show the basic principals of bridge building, the forces that they have to counter and the reasons why some fell down including the story of the Tay Bridge disaster and the faults that led to its collapse. The second part looks at arched bridges, divided up into periods including the earliest Roman structures and where they can be seen today, rustic medieval types and how to date them, and elegant Georgian bridges and how they pushed this form to its limits. The third section covers girder, suspension, cantilever and moving bridges with details of many famous examples like the Forth Rail bridge, Tower bridge, the Clifton suspension bridge and Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash. The final part covers railway viaducts and canal aqueducts with a ten page list of bridges to visit in each county and a glossary of unfamiliar terms.
A5 softcover/ 160 pages/ 295 photos, drawings and diagrams (B/W)
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£ 9.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
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What the Victorians Got Wrong
While my Father and I were researching various books about engineering and architectural wonders from the Victorian age we came across situations when it all went wrong! It was not until we sat down and related to each other what we had come across, with one of us stating "...you should hear about this disaster..." followed by the other saying " ..if you think thats bad what about this one...", that we realised there was more than enough to make an entertaining and surprizing book.
One of the worst was a dam burst which sent a wall of water down through Sheffield killing hundreds, another involved a clown, a barrel and suspension bridge while the locking of a door resulted in the most tragic loss of children in history. There are great fires in Newcastle and Exeter, an explosion down Tottenham Court Road, and more humble problems with range cookers blowing up! Railways, bridges, tunnels, mines and dams are some of the other areas covered with even great engineers like Brunel not free from a few failures of their own.
There are numerous drawings, diagrams and photos illustrating the individual stories and the reasons for the failure or disaster. We also try and show what you can still find today from signs of where a structure once stood to the memorials raised in memory of those that died from the Victorian thirst for new technology.
A5 softcover/ 96 pages/ 94 drawings, diagrams and photos (B/W)
£ 7.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
One of the worst was a dam burst which sent a wall of water down through Sheffield killing hundreds, another involved a clown, a barrel and suspension bridge while the locking of a door resulted in the most tragic loss of children in history. There are great fires in Newcastle and Exeter, an explosion down Tottenham Court Road, and more humble problems with range cookers blowing up! Railways, bridges, tunnels, mines and dams are some of the other areas covered with even great engineers like Brunel not free from a few failures of their own.
There are numerous drawings, diagrams and photos illustrating the individual stories and the reasons for the failure or disaster. We also try and show what you can still find today from signs of where a structure once stood to the memorials raised in memory of those that died from the Victorian thirst for new technology.
A5 softcover/ 96 pages/ 94 drawings, diagrams and photos (B/W)
£ 7.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
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Thames Valley Illustrated Walks
This illustrated walking book uses hand-drawn, detailed maps to guide you around the route. They are arranged as strip maps in a large scale with easy to understand symbols and with key features you can see on the route highlighted. It includes 20 circular walks of about 3 to 5 and half miles in length. There are routes around Oxford, Blewbury, Mapledurham, Stanford Dingley, Cookham Dean and Englefield Green. Pubs and places for refreshment are listed and there is one at the end of most of the walks.
A5 softcover/ 96 pages/ 153 maps, drawings and photos
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£ 7.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
A5 softcover/ 96 pages/ 153 maps, drawings and photos
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£ 7.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
___________________________________________________________________________
Peak District Illustrated Walks
This illustrated walking book uses hand-drawn, detailed maps to guide you around the route. They are arranged as strip maps in a large scale with easy to understand symbols and with key features you can see on the route highlighted. There are 20 circular walks range from 2 1/2 up to 5 1/2 miles long with contours on the map showing the few routes which have steep sections and those which are easier. Pubs and other places for refreshments are also listed and most walks end near to one of these. The routes range over the whole Peak District from Bradfield in the north to Ilam in the south and Beeley in the east and Danebridge in the west, with popular features like Dovedale, Chatsworth House, Castleton and The Roaches included.
This is designed to be an attractive book which can be enjoyed as much at home as on the ground.
A5 softcover/ 96 pages/ 167 maps, drawings, diagrams and photos (B/W).
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£ 7.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
This is designed to be an attractive book which can be enjoyed as much at home as on the ground.
A5 softcover/ 96 pages/ 167 maps, drawings, diagrams and photos (B/W).
MORE PICTURES THAN PAGES!
£ 7.99
Available from www.countrysidebooks.co.uk (discounts for online purchases)
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THE PUBLISHER AND RETAILERS MAY CHANGE THE PRICE OF BOOKS FROM THOSE QUOTED HERE.