Series: Shire Library

With over two-thirds of the globe covered by water, the ability to navigate safely and quickly across the oceans has been crucial throughout human history. As seafarers attempted longer and longer voyages from the sixteenth century onwards in search of profit and new lands, the tools of navigation became ever more sophisticated. The development of instruments over the last five...

The oldest keys known to exist date from around 4,000 BC in Ancient Egypt. These were simple wooden cylinders that were part of a mechanism to secure doors. By the time of the Roman Empire, metal keys were in common usage and had begun to adopt the recognisable pattern of keys today. Keys tells the complete story of the key,...

Perhaps more so than any other decade, the sixties had the broadest impact on the twentieth-century Western world. Across society, culture, and the arts, youth voices rose to prominence and had a significant influence on new trends. Mature polished elegance was replaced by young liveliness as the fashionable ideal. Although only the most daring young followers of fashion wore the...

The 1970s was a decade of style contrasts: every extreme of fashion was met by an equally trendy opposite reaction. Ankle-length maxi skirts vied for attention with super-short hot-pants. Outfits in vibrant prints and obviously man-made fabrics contrasted with subtly-coloured ensembles in wool jerseys and silky crepes. Delicate floral cottons, hand-knits and hand-tooled leather came up against boldly synthetic and...

Victorian pumping stations are colourful cathedrals of utility. Their imposing and striking exteriors enclose highly decorative cast-iron frames, built to encage powerful steam engines. They are glorious buildings which display the Victorians’ architectural confidence and engineering skills. More than that, they represent a key part of the story of urban development and how our towns and cities were shaped in...

A concise illustrated biography of the famous composer, from a leading expert. Elgar was one of Britain's greatest composers, but his fame was hard-won. The son of a modest piano-tuner, born in a tiny cottage in rural Worcestershire, brought up as a Roman Catholic in Protestant England and denied the benefits of wealth, university education, and formal music training, he...

Gypsies have been a part of the British and European social fabric for centuries and have faced prejudice and oppression for nearly as long, since at least the time of Henry VIII. Theirs is a peripatetic existence, dwelling in tents and in caravans and living often precariously at the edges of towns and villages, moving on in search of opportunities...

The steam shovel was the forerunner of all powered, single-bucket, 'dry land' excavators and was the first machine successfully to replace the hand shoveller in loading wagons on construction sites. Steam Shovels by Peter Manktelow explains the workings of the machine and its application to the tasks demanded of it.

The drastic railway closures of the 1960s led to the slow decay and re-purposing of hundreds of miles of railway infrastructure. Though these buildings and apparatus are now ghosts of their former selves, countless clues to our railway heritage still remain in the form of embankments, cuttings, tunnels, converted or tumbledown wayside buildings, and old railway furniture such as signal...

The railway was one of the main modes of long-distance travel for Victorian Britons, and its processes – checking the timetable, buying a ticket, taking a seat – were central to both the industry and leisure of the period. David Turner here tells the story of travelling by rail between 1830 and the First World War: the development of stations,...

The 00 gauge train set was the ultimate ‘boy’s toy’ of the 1950s and ’60s. Electric 00 gauge trains were introduced by Trix and Hornby Dublo in the mid-1930s, but the Second World War quickly halted production. However, they burst back onto the post-war scene with great success, and 00 quickly became the dominant scale in Britain, and was taken...

Coopers and Coopering by Ken Kilby seeks to preserve the memory of the cooper's skills, tracing the history of the craft and describing and illustrating how a barrel was made.

Developments in microelectronics in the early 1970s meant that computers at home seemed about to become commonplace: the kitchen computer would hold all of the family's recipes and keep a record of food in the larder; the study computer would manage the family finances; and the kids' computers would educate and entertain them. Engineers, enthusiasts, and budding entrepreneurs set about...

A compact, pocket history of the use and production of flax for textile making. Flax and Linen gives an account of the processes and tools involved in the production of linen from flax. Flax has been cultivated for thousands of years to produce the fibre to make linen. The book describes the traditional methods, when the work was done by...

Growing up as a child during the Second World War could be a frightening, strange, or even an exciting experience. For many city children, the war brought evacuation to the countryside and a way of life very different from the one they were used to. For children who remained in areas that suffered from German air strikes, escaping to bomb...

Royal Coronations by Lucinda Gosling offers an exploration of coronations from before the time of William the Conqueror through to Elizabeth II’s glorious coronation in 1953. The monarchy has made many concessions to the modern age, but the affirming rituals of the coronation – the pageantry, the theatre and the symbolism – are centuries old. Looking at the British coronation...

An illustrated introduction to the death penalty and the means of capital punishment in England since Tudor times. Executions have played a crucial—if grisly and controversial—part in British history and provided the bloody climax to many a life, from Mary, Queen of Scots, Charles I, and Dick Turpin to untold thousands of anonymous wretches whose names are now forgotten. With...

Fox Talbot is universally recognised as the father of modern photography. His 'calotype' or 'Talbotype' process was the first working photographic process to use the now familiar format of negatives and positives. He was an ambitious man, but his interests spread far beyond the confines of photography. As a mathematician, he was awarded first Membership and then Fellowship of the...

William Richard Morris, later Lord Nuffield, rose from humble beginnings to become one of Britain's leading industrialists and philanthropists. It is to his career that Oxford's industrial standing can largely be attributed. Having established his own cycle business nine months after leaving school at fourteen, he quickly developed plans for a small, high-quality car that could be mass-produced. Thus, the...

Throughout the course of the Second World War, many millions of animals were enlisted to serve. Though they had no choice, yet they demonstrated loyalty, determination, and bravery as they shared the burden of war with their human companions both on active service and on the Home Front. From the dogs trained to locate air-raid victims buried under rubble, to...

Bletchley Park, known to those who worked there as Station X, was the scene of one of the greatest Allied triumphs of the Second World War. The breaking of the Nazi Enigma cyphers by Britain's wartime code-breakers continues to fascinate, with well over 100,000 people visiting the scene of their successes every year. Bletchley Park provided the intelligence that ensured...

In the early years of the Industrial Revolution, canals formed the arteries of Britain. Most waterways were local concerns, carrying cargoes over short distances and fitted into regional groups with their own boat types linked to the major river estuaries. This new history of Britain’s canals starts with the first Roman waterways, moves on to their golden age in the...

The hop has been intimately involved in social history for many centuries: it has caused controversy due to its role in the brewing process and was for centuries the centre of a social phenomenon, with thousands descending on hop-producing regions during harvest. It is a branch of agriculture requiring intensive labour and great skill, and this book examines its history...

Mazes and Labyrinths explores the fascinating history of mazes, a preoccupation that has captivated mankind for thousands of years. This text traces the development of mazes across the world from the earliest known examples. Additionally, the book describes the mazes that have been artfully created in Britain's gardens, parks, and landscapes, highlighting their cultural and historical significance.

The number of wounded in the First World War was unprecedented, and inadequate military planning presented the medical and voluntary community with huge and daunting challenges. Yet in the face of tremendous adversity, both tackled their work with resourcefulness, courage and great humanity. Medical Services in the First World War is the illustrated story of those who risked their lives...

Old Cinemas by Allen Eyles examines the rise and fall of the picture house in Britain before the advent of the dreary and unadventurous multiplex. This insightful exploration delves into the history of these iconic entertainment venues, illustrating their cultural significance and architectural beauty during their heyday.

Whether they are still operational or long-abandoned, quarries are often dismissed as eyesores. Despite this, they can be fascinating to visit, and provide an interesting link to a once-powerful and necessary industry. Although the Romans worked quarries, it was not until the Middle Ages that the industry became established on a large scale. It then achieved its height during the...

Over three hundred years ago, the first steps were made towards the use of steam power. Most of these steps went beyond the boundary of available technology. The reliable drainage of metal and coal mines was the incentive. Thomas Newcomen, using contemporary technology in his beam engine, was the first to achieve success in 1712. Improved by James Watt, the...

The radio has been part of home entertainment for over 75 years, and generations of listeners have enjoyed their favourite music or programmes, or sat enthralled as a historic event unfolded through the radio's loudspeakers. Old Radio Sets explores the development of the radio from the late Victorian era until the late 1960s, including photographs of rare and unusual styles....

One of the most basic of agricultural operations, ploughing enriches and aerates the soil, producing a fertile seed bed ideal for the germination and growth of a new crop. The technology of ploughs has progressed a long way from the primitive prehistoric ard to the tractor-mounted power-controlled multi-furrow reversible plough of today, but the process of ploughing remains essentially the...

Model Steam Engines by Bob Gordon offers an intriguing glimpse into the world of model steam engineering. The book delves into the history of early model makers and explores how model engineering was popularised through the efforts of pioneering steam enthusiasts.

Canal Narrowboats and Barges is a new addition to the Shire Album. This book serves primarily as an introduction to narrowboats, offering readers an insightful journey through the modern world of these iconic vessels. The book is richly illustrated with modern colour photographs, capturing the beauty and diversity of boats navigating the inland waterways today. It is an excellent guide...

In the popular mind, the history of the railway begins in 1830 with the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. In fact, by that time the concept of the railway in Britain was already more than 250 years old. The interim is a fascinating but little-known period of experimentation, improvement, and invention which included such remarkable oddities as an...

This book examines those railways in Britain that served industry and had a track gauge smaller than the British ‘standard gauge’ of 4 feet 81/2 inches. Whether they were temporary contractor’s lines or more permanent installations, these meandering, often poorly maintained railways have a special fascination. Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways deals in turn with the locomotives, the rolling stock, and...

Sir William Lyons enjoyed a seemingly unstoppable rise to fame and fortune in the motor industry, and the Jaguar brand that he introduced became world-famous. Yet it did not happen overnight. In the 1920s, he was in Blackpool, styling motorcycle sidecars, and in the 1930s in Coventry developing the SS motor car, with the stand-alone Jaguar company not appearing until...

In the aftermath of the Second World War, the long-established Rover company of Solihull was fighting to survive. It needed a vehicle that would give it an advantage over its rivals. Taking the American Willys Jeep as inspiration, Rover designers came up with a four-wheel-drive utility vehicle that would become an all-time classic. The Land Rover has undergone a number...

From lumbering house-shakers on solid tyres to smooth turbo-power in the 1970s, the lorry has come a very long way in a remarkably short time. In the early competition between steam, petrol and electricity, the internal combustion engine had more or less won by the 1920s, after proving itself in the First World War, when all-wheel-drive arrived in quantity and...

Erected to inform travellers how far they have come and how far they still have to go, milestones are a relic of a time when life moved more slowly. This book tells the story of milestones, as well as road measurement. It uses the great variety of designs to argue the importance of conservation and to illustrate the compelling fascination...

Motor Car Mascots and Badges provides an extensive survey of the diverse types of motor vehicle mascots and badges. The book introduces readers to the talented designers behind these creations and outlines the manufacturers responsible for producing them. In addition to exploring the historical and artistic significance of these automotive adornments, the book also discusses the presence of forgeries and...

Narrow Gauge Railways, so well suited to difficult, mountainous terrain, were built in many of the UK’s most scenic locations. Their genesis was in mines and quarries where they replaced man- or horse-pulled wagons, but their adaptability meant that by the 1860s they were also carrying passengers, in some cases over quite considerable distances. Today a good proportion of all...

In 1967, Beaulieu held the first autojumble in the United Kingdom, and collectors of anything remotely connected with motoring discovered they had a huge marketplace. Now, anything to do with petrol retailing has become a collectable item, and Petroleum Collectables outlines some of the thousands of pre-Second World War items.

Austin, Hillman, Morris, Standard, and Wolseley are just a few of the myriad marques that once constituted Britain's indigenous motor industry. Born in 1896 into the high summer of Victorian prosperity, the industry survived until the collapse of MG Rover in 2005. Jonathan Wood chronicles its century-long life, from the production of hand-made bespoke automobiles for the fortunate few to...

For over a century, no surviving marque so accurately charted the triumphs and tribulations of the British motor-manufacturing industry as Rover. The Rover traces the history of the company, starting with the cycle-making precursors of the Rover Company Limited. Covering the struggle through the Depression of the 1930s, and the expansions, mergers, and contractions of the post-war period—the time of...

It is generally accepted that Karl Benz was the inventor of the motor-car in 1885 – what is less well known is that his car was a three-wheeler. In the motor industry's early years, the three- and four-wheeled types were developed side by side, but the latter began to take precedence as its greater stability, and the three-wheeler's severe bodywork...

Steam, and then cumbersome motor, tractors existed in small numbers before 1914. After this period, the need to produce more foods using less horse and manpower saw the origins of the machine we know today. Thanks to mass production, Ford brought the price down to suit average farmers. In the 1920s to 1940s, numerous rivals introduced novelties such as diesel...

In the 1950s and 1960s, British sports cars ruled the road, and their charge was led by Triumphs. From the TR2, its first modern sports car, Triumph went on to produce a host of classic sports designs such as the Spitfire, GT, and Stag, as well as more TR models, ending with the TR7 in the late 1970s. These represented...

The source of tremendous power and the focus of incredible devotion, throughout history notions of beauty have been integral to social life and culture. Each age has had its own standards: a gleaming white brow during the Renaissance, the black eyebrows considered charming in the early eighteenth century, and the thin lips thought desirable by Victorians. Beauty has ensured good...

An illustrated introduction to the Art Deco pottery by Clarice Cliff, written by an expert in the field. There are few pieces of pottery more recognisable than those designed by Clarice Cliff. For many, the epitome of Art Deco is characterised by bold colour and lines, geometric shapes, and stylised representations of the countryside. Clarice Cliff's bizarre pottery is collected...

The broader Regency period from 1795 to 1820 stands alone as an incredible moment in fashion history, unlike anything that went before it. For the first time, England became a fashion influence, especially in menswear, and became the toast of Paris, as court dress became secondary to the season-by-season flux of fashion as we know it today. Sarah Jane Downing...

Gargoyles are an architectural feature designed to throw rainwater clear of the walls of a building. Widely used on medieval churches, these water spouts were often richly decorated and fashioned as serpents' heads and grotesque demons. Today, the term gargoyle is also popularly applied to any carved decorative head or creature high up on a building, and this book is...

Mechanical Music covers the history, development, use, and fall from favour of many types of exotic instruments. These range from pocket-sized musical boxes to roll-playing pipe organs and everything else in between. This book describes pianolas, organettes, roller organs, orchestrions, nickelodeons, carillons, and more.

Britain is a treasure trove of medieval architecture. Almost every village and town in the land has a church that was built during the period, whose history is legible – to those who know how to look – in every arch, capital, roof vault, and detail of window tracery. By learning how to identify the stylistic phases that resulted from...

England's most prolific architect since Sir Christopher Wren, he designed the Cenotaph in Whitehall, country houses, and the memorials to commemorate the dead of the First World War. In Sir Edwin Lutyens by Michael Barker, the author delves into the life and works of this renowned architect, showcasing his profound impact on architecture. The book provides an insightful exploration of...

The slate industry has left an indelible mark on the history of our society. Slate quarries and the associated masses of waste have an awe-inspiring impact. It was a phenomenon of the nineteenth century, a product of the industrial revolution. The Slate Industry explains what slate is, its uses, and how its exploitation progressed in the late nineteenth century. It...