Böcker i Shire Library-serien

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, railway carriages steadily grew in sophistication so that by the end of the nineteenth century the railway passenger traveled in comfortable rolling stock of a design familiar to many until the 1960s. While modern trains look different from those built more than a century ago, even today the facilities are not so dissimilar from those enjoyed by our Victorian ancestors.This book describes the development of the railway carriage from those early days to the present, highlighting some of the key developments in the history, design and construction of carriages. It also looks at the innovations that made life easier for the passenger, such as the introduction of heating, lavatories, and restaurant and buffet facilities, as well as the differences in comfort between the various classes of traveler.

Guides the reader through the intricacies of identifying a piece of lace, listing and illustrating the points to look for in each lace. This book covers a range of lace from different parts of the world, selecting for examination of those major types which the collector or dealer is most likely to come across or hear about.

Surveys the history of bell production and the development of moulding and casting techniques. This book describes the intricate tuning process and the role of the bellfounder. It contains photographs that illustrate the production process of some of the famous foundries in Britain, such as those at Whitechapel and Loughborough.

With 16.5 million built between 1908 and 1927, the Model T Ford was, until overtaken in the 1970s by the Volkswagen Beetle, the most popular car in automotive history. Illustrated with photographs from the Ford archives, this album charts the model's 19 year evolution and explains how this quirky, ingenious motor car put the world on wheels.

The hop has been intimately involved in social history for many centuries. This book examines hop's history since the earliest times, describing the traditional tools of the trade, the growers, the pickers and those whose versatile skills have through the centuries made the hop industry a success.

Delightful, eccentric, capricious, bizarre - the English Rococo garden, an intriguing branch of eighteenth-century horticulture, was all these and more. This book relates the components of the Rococo garden to movements in art and architecture that had developed in Britain and in Europe, and shows its appeal to amateur designers and owners.

Heavy horses played a pivotal role in the development of western economies, toiling in mines and quarries, at mills, factories and docks, alongside canals and railway lines, in fields and pasture. This book examines the breeds and their qualities, their historical role, the industry that built up around them and the revival years.

Deals with the extraction methods of various types of stone and the rise and slow decline of quarrying across the UK. This book covers some of the most famous and notable quarrying sites.

The Victorian farmer occupied a pivotal role in rural society, paying rents to the landowner and providing employment for the labourer. This book explores the world of the farmer during Queen Victoria's reign, which was a period of considerable change on the farm as the forces of industrialisation made themselves felt.

Traces the history of the trolleybus since the first experiments in this mode of electric transport were conducted over a century ago.

After the close of the First World War, the British motorcycle industry rose to prominence as British motorcycles became almost unbeatable in competitions. However, a shortage of these new model bikes pushed prices to a premium and most people were forced to settle for pre-war designs.

Offers a typology of buckles detailing the types of buckles from different historical periods and listings of museums where they can be found. This book offers guidance for period costumes, and provides the collector or enthusiast with the information needed to continue or begin to learning about this object.

During WWII, German prison camps swelled with Allied Prisoners of War, captured during fierce conflicts, from the Battle of France in 1940 to the bomber offensives over Germany from 1943. This book looks at the life of average private soldiers.

Illustrated throughout with many black and white photographs, this book follows the development of the iconic London taxi, painting an image of the changing lifestyles of Londoners through the context of the growing cab trade and the many different styles of taxi that have served the people of London.

Worcester is the single most collected British porcelain manufacturer in the world. Produced since 1751, it is most notably renowned for several styles. This title takes you on a journey through the many periods of this highly respected manufacturer, illustrating and describing the diverse range of styles and designs produced over the years.

Monumental brasses became popular during the Middle Ages and were commonly mounted on the walls and floors of cathedrals to commemorate the great and wealthy. Often depicting knights and bishops, these representations are a major source of information concerning arms, armour and dress in the Middle Ages.

Originating in Europe, garden gnomes made the leap across the channel in the nineteenth century, where they were welcomed warmly by wealthy Brits who saw them as the must-have garden accessory. This title provides the intriguing story of gnomes and how they have come to reside in the flowerbeds of gardens across Britain.

The red double decker bus is one of the enduring images of London. Although now increasingly replaced by modern bendy buses, the classic rear-entrance double-decker still appears on postcards, keyrings, t-shirts and other tourist souvenirs. This title takes a trip back in time to explore the story of the London bus, from horse-drawn to bendy bus.

Before World War II, Brooklands was the most famous motor racing venue in the world, attracting large and glamorous crowds to its banked circuit to watch races being won and records being broken. This title helps you discover the history of this sporting site, from its heyday as a motoring treasure to its wartime service in aviation production.

A story of the road to Dunkirk, the development of Fortress Britain and the rearming of the army to open the 'Second Front' in Europe. It explains what it was like to serve in the desert, on the long road that led to victory in Alamein, and of the battles against the Japanese in the Far East.

Although tanks have become a symbol of military power, the first tanks were created as a temporary solution to the deadlock created by trench warfare. This book covers the design and development of tanks during the First World War, describing the types that were used in action and the most important battles in which they fought.

The mechanical anniversary clock, also known as the 400-day clock or torsion pendulum clock, is one of the most popular clocks ever invented. Anniversary clocks are recognizable by the decorative balls beneath the dial that rotate one way and then the other.

'The Potteries' is the name given to the industrial area in the English Midlands that was home to hundreds of pottery-making companies. This title presents an introduction to the industrial history of the Potteries, its major firms and the men and women who produced pottery for Britain and the world.

Offers a survey of the different kinds of toy steam engines of the stationary type, and especially those produced during the heyday of steam toys between 1900 and 1930. This book explains how the engines work, gives advice about operating and maintaining them, and contains useful information about identifying and dating vintage models.

The nineteenth century saw huge changes in design and technology. This book looks at the social history of rooms in the Victorian home and at how, thanks to industrialised mass production, people were empowered to make choices about how to decorate their homes.

Explores the world of Victorian children, and how their experiences changed as laws were introduced to stop child employment, and education became compulsory, how holidays became possible by train, and the introduction of mass-produced toys. This book includes photographs and illustrations of Victorian Britain.

In 1851 an event was organised in London that changed the world: The Great Exhibition. It was a spectacular showcase of technology manufacture and design from all over the world. Chronicling the first exciting spectacles, through to the much-maligned Millennium Dome, this title brings together the details and stories behind the great exhibitions.

With a network covering much of the West Country, Wales and the West Midlands, and a history and tradition stretching back more than a century, the Great Western has been seen by many railway historians and enthusiasts as the most famous railway in the world. This book summarises Great Western Railway's place in British history.

In 1917 a remarkable organisation came into being. Its brief was vastly ambitious: to commemorate the 1,100,00 men of the British Empire who lost their lives in the First World War. This book looks at the history of the war graves for British and Commonwealth servicemen and women.

Fern Fever was popular in Britain between 1837 and 1914. This book looks at the how the craze developed, the ways in which ferns were incorporated into garden and home, and the spread of the fern through Victorian material and visual culture.