UK books and maps

Ancestral Trails: Complete Guide to British Genealogy and Family History

This second edition takes account the many changes in the field since "Ancestral Trails" was first published in 1997. A comprehensive and up to date guide to tracing British ancestry, the book guides the researcher through the substantial British archives with a detailed view of the records and published sources available. Research in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands is also covered, as are the latest developments in information technology applications on CD and through the internet.

Price: £21.00

Publication: January 28, 2004

   

Brewer's Britain and Ireland

Price: £18.00

Publication: May 19, 2005

   

Britain's Most Amazing Places

Discover Britain as you've never known it before, with Britain's Most Amazing Places. Header's Digest and a team of experienced travel writers, whose credits include the Sunday Times, Holiday Which? and the Daily Telegraph among many others, have specially chosen the 1,000 most amazing places in Britain to feature in this book. From castles, cathedrals, stately homes and natural wonders to power stations, bellfoundries and even a water lower; this book reflects the diversity of fascinating places that Britain has to offer. Read about some of the world's best early medieval stained glass, found in Canterbury Cathedral, and then turn to an entry on the ossuary at St Leonard's church in Hythe housing 2,000 human skulls, or the Donnington Grand Prix collection at Donnington Park. Britain's Most Amazing Places is a modern guidebook to Britain, and as such includes entries you won't find in most UK guidebooks. From the Umbrella Shop on New Oxford Street in London to the Oldbury Power Station on the River Severn and a Soviet submarine in Folkestone harbour this unique Conference guide will ensure that you'll never see Britain in the same way again. The book is arranged by county and region for easy reference and includes a regional map for each section pinpointing the places featured as well as giving all the information you need to help you plan your visit. In addition, there are 54 special features, providing extra information about a particular topic relevant to the section in which it appears. Learn the history of the Somerset levels, what prehistoric Uffington was like, or discover more about the diversity of ethnic Leicester. You'll also find walks, with accompanying maps, in Bath, along the Birmingham canals and in Constable's country. Whether you're looking for a place to visit or simply wanting to find out more about a region, you'll find plenty of inspiration in Britain's Most Amazing Places.

Price: £18.89

Publication: August 2002

   

British History for Dummies: UK Edition

Price: £10.49

Publication: November 14, 2003

   

England's Thousand Best Churches

Parish churches are England's glory. They enshrine the history of a people, most of whom have lived far from the capital, court and Parliament. These people - their art, architecture and faith - are seldom recorded or celebrated. The parish church is their public monument. Simon Jenkins has travelled the length and breadth of England to select his thousand best churches. They are of all periods and denominations, though most are mediaeval foundations. Organized by county, each church is described, often with delightful asides, and is given a star-rating from one to five. The four- and five-star churches are listed as the "hundred best". The county sections are prefaced by a map locating each church and illustrated with photographs by Paul Barker from the "Country Life" archive. These churches house a gallery of vernacular art without equal in the world. From the Norman grotesques of Kilpeck to the Quaker simplicity of Come-to-Good, from the painted saints of Ranworth to the mighty fan vault of Sherborne, from the rose Madonna of Willoughby to Sara Losh's Cumbrian homage to love, these works would rank in any national museum. Simon Jenkins has brought this museum, located in some of England's most beautiful places, to public attention and asks that we treasure it for the next millennium.

Price: £9.91

Publication: May 1, 2001

   

England's Thousand Best Houses

This volume presents an illustrated selection of the finest houses in the country. Jenkins does not limit himself to the great and famous houses and estates, though they are certainly included in full, but includes an eclectic mix from the very best towers, castles, halls, abbeys, cottages, private houses - even schools and prisons - in England, which are open to the public for at least some part of the year.

Price: £21.00

Publication: October 30, 2003

   

Hastings (Great Battles S.)

Few dates in history are so etched upon our consciousness as '1066', the date of the Battle of Hastings. And with good reason as the outcome was paramount in forming England's future fate. It was a battle fought on a knife edge, and it is questionable whether the best man won. During Harold's short reign he consolidated the defence of his realm only to be asked to defend it against two foreign invaders at opposite ends of the country in three weeks. In a highly readable account, Peter Poyntz Wright analyses the causes of the battle, the strengths and weaknesses of both sides and ends with a blow-by-blow graphic account of the fighting.


Price: £6.39

Publication: October 6, 2005

   

How to Read a Church: A Guide to Images, Symbols and Meanings in Churches and Cathedrals

A unique, accessible guide to the common symbols and meanings in church art and architecture Churches and cathedrals play an essential part in our heritage. As community-centred places of worship and as important tourist attractions, they are visited by millions of people every year. But churches were originally built to be read, and so they are packed with images, symbols and meanings that often need explanation for visitors. How to Read a Church is a lively and fascinating guide to what a visitor to a church is likely to find there and how to interpret the common images and meanings in church art and architecture. It will explain how to identify people, scenes, details and their significance, and will explore the symbolism of different animals, plants, colours, numbers and letters - and what this all means. It will be an essential guide for anyone who has ever visited / is visiting a church or cathedral, and for those who want to know more about these incredible buildings and the art they contain.

Price: £7.00

Publication: July 2003

   

Hudson's Historic Houses and Gardens

Price: £6.96

Publication: November 28, 2003

   

Hudson's Historic Houses and Gardens: Castles and Heritage Sites 2005

Price: £9.95

Publication: November 21, 2004

   

Maritime Britain (Pitkin History of Britain S.)

This illustrated text gives an insight into our nautical heritage - from Julius Caesar's expedition to our shores in 55BC to the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005, encompassing the events, sea-going vessels and generations of seafarers who have shaped our history.

Price: £9.09

Publication: April 2005

   

Medieval England: From Hastings to Bosworth

A beautifully illustrated history of England during the tumultuous times of the Black Death, the Hundred Years War, the attempted conquest of Scotland and Wales, and the deposition of Richard III.

Price: £9.09

Publication: June 30, 2005

   

The Battle of Hastings (How Do We Know About? S.)

This is one of a number of books that ask how we know about prominent individuals and events. Each book in the series begins with a narrative that gives background details. This is then backed up by the presentation of historical evidence. The books include images and artwork.

Price: £5.00

Publication: June 1, 2004

   

The Complete War Walks: From Hastings to Normandy

This one-volume edition comprises both Richard Holmes' "War Walks" and "War Walks 2". Dates such as 1066 and names such as Dunkirk often strike a chord of nostalgia, but the details of the historic events associated with them are forgotten. In "The Complete War Walks" Richard Holmes takes us on a journey through time to visit 12 battlefields throughout Britain, Northern France and Belgium that mark crucial moments in Britain's bloody and turbulent history. From Hastings to Dunkirk, Agincourt to The Somme, Richard vividly recreates the atmosphere of these key battles in our history. With his expert knowledge of weapons and warfare and using specially commissioned maps, Richard Holmes provides a clear picture of the events which led up to each battle, the conflicts themselves, and the people who fought them. Using practical "views of the field", he travels the battlefields as they exist today, pointing out their places of interest, paying tribute to the men who fought there, and bringing history to life.


Price: £5.99

Publication: May 22, 2003

   

The Road to Hastings

The dramatic confrontation between Harold of England and William of Normandy at Senlac Ridge in 1066 was the result of almost a century of political and dynastic struggles. Paul Hill explores the prolonged death-throe of Anglo-Saxon England - a story of murder, treachery and ambition - and of a foreign predator with a talent for organisation.


Price: £12.59

Publication: March 18, 2005

   

The Tribes of Britain

The diverse peoples of Britain and Ireland are revealed not only by physical characteristics but also through structures and settlements, place names and dialects. Using the latest genetic and archaeological research, the author shows how different peoples traded, settled and conquered, establishing the 'tribal' and regional roots still apparent today. Its vast scope considers the impact of prehistoric peoples and Celtic tribes, Romans and Vikings, Saxons and Normans, Jews and Huguenots, as well as the increasing population movements of the last century.

Price: £12.00

Publication: May 26, 2005