Böcker av Stephen Jeffery-Poulter

It was in Hertfordshire, at Berkhamsted, that the English surrendered to William the Conqueror in 1066 - a turning point in the story of the kingdom. Ever since, the evolution of Hertfordshire has been influenced by the crown and capital. Proximity to London enabled its characteristic market towns to develop - to supply the inhabitants of the city with produce, and to provide sustenance and lodgings for those travelling to and from the provinces. This of course included the monarch, for as well as the royal residence at Berkhamsted there was a royal staging post at King's Langley. In more recent years, this close relationship has proved both a blessing and a curse. The level of urban development in Hertfordshire has rocketed as commuting has become the norm. However, this in turn led to the construction of the world's first garden city - Letchworth - putting the county at the vanguard of revolutionary social development. Furthermore, its unique position and character have also put it at the centre of popular culture, with Hertfordshire providing the setting for novels by Austen and Orwell, and more recently for blockbuster films such as Star Wars and Harry Potter, at the county's famous Elstree and Leavesden studios.

Having grown up as a small Roman settlement where Ermine Street crossed the River Lea, Ware came into its own in the Middle Ages as an important stopping place on the Old North Road to and from London. The booming inn trade was boosted by the Great Bed of Ware, mentioned by Shakespeare among others. This was replaced by a major new industry - the making of malt for the brewing industry - particularly brown malt that was used to make porter. The modern town still boasts a wealth of old buildings as well as the charming riverside gazebos which have recently been restored. The book contains over 90 period pictures which have been sourced from Ware Museum's image archive. The contrasting modern colour images provide an accessible and interesting way of seeing the many changes that have taken place in this attractive and historic town over decades of evolution, expansion and re-development.