Portillo's Hidden History of Britain

Portillo's Hidden History of Britain

Author: Michael Portillo

Publisher: Michael O'Mara Books

Published: 2018-11-01

Total Pages: 287

ISBN-13: 178929049X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Discover the hidden history of Britain through the stories of its 'lost' or abandoned places and buildings. Portillo's Secret History of Britain presents a compelling and wonderfully evocative history of Britain through the stories of its 'lost' or abandoned places and buildings. The chapters cover a variety of historical themes: Crime and Punishment, Health and Medicine, Defence and Warfare, and Entertainment and Leisure. Using a combination of his own investigations and archive research, plus memories and quotations from the contributors he interviewed for the series, Michael Portillo explains what the buildings were used for and by whom, why they were abandoned, and what they can tell us about our past. For example: * Learn what the ruins of London Road Fire and Police Station in Manchester reveal about the history of the emergency services in the last 100 years * How Bradford's art deco Odeon cinema encapsulates a century of film-making and movie-going With evocative text that brings each location vividly to life, Michael Portillo describes the building and its activities in its heyday and compares this past life with its faded grandeur or melancholic abandonment seen today. Filled with fascinating insights and observations, his narrative provides a compelling and original perspective on Britain's social and military history. Portillo's Hidden History of Britain features deserted villages, abandoned prisons, closed-down cinemas, empty hospitals, derelict military bases, sewers and much more. Complementing the text are 32 pages of atmospheric and informative photographs, including 'then' and 'now' images of the locations, which pointedly juxtapose their former glory with their present-day destitution.


Book Synopsis Portillo's Hidden History of Britain by : Michael Portillo

Download or read book Portillo's Hidden History of Britain written by Michael Portillo and published by Michael O'Mara Books. This book was released on 2018-11-01 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover the hidden history of Britain through the stories of its 'lost' or abandoned places and buildings. Portillo's Secret History of Britain presents a compelling and wonderfully evocative history of Britain through the stories of its 'lost' or abandoned places and buildings. The chapters cover a variety of historical themes: Crime and Punishment, Health and Medicine, Defence and Warfare, and Entertainment and Leisure. Using a combination of his own investigations and archive research, plus memories and quotations from the contributors he interviewed for the series, Michael Portillo explains what the buildings were used for and by whom, why they were abandoned, and what they can tell us about our past. For example: * Learn what the ruins of London Road Fire and Police Station in Manchester reveal about the history of the emergency services in the last 100 years * How Bradford's art deco Odeon cinema encapsulates a century of film-making and movie-going With evocative text that brings each location vividly to life, Michael Portillo describes the building and its activities in its heyday and compares this past life with its faded grandeur or melancholic abandonment seen today. Filled with fascinating insights and observations, his narrative provides a compelling and original perspective on Britain's social and military history. Portillo's Hidden History of Britain features deserted villages, abandoned prisons, closed-down cinemas, empty hospitals, derelict military bases, sewers and much more. Complementing the text are 32 pages of atmospheric and informative photographs, including 'then' and 'now' images of the locations, which pointedly juxtapose their former glory with their present-day destitution.

Bomb Girls - Britain's Secret Army: The Munitions Women of World War II

Bomb Girls - Britain's Secret Army: The Munitions Women of World War II

Author: Jacky Hyams

Publisher: Kings Road Publishing

Published: 2013-08-05

Total Pages: 197

ISBN-13: 1782197168

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

They were the unsung heroines of World War II; the wives, mums and teenage girls, all 'doing their bit' for the war effort, clocking in daily to work in cast munitions factories, helping make the explosives, bullets and war machines that would ensure victory for Britain.It was dangerous, dirty and exhaustive work. They worked round the clock, often exposed to toxic, lethal chemicals. A factory accident could mean blindness, loss of limbs - or worse. Many went home with acid burns, yellow skin or discoloured hair. Others were forced to leave their loved ones and move to live with total strangers in unfamiliar surroundings. Frequently, their male bosses were coarse and unsympathetic.Yet this hidden army of nearly two million women toiled on regardless through the worst years of the war, cheerfully ignoring the dangers and the exhaustion, as bombing, rationing and the heartbreak of loss or separation took their toll on everyone in the country.Only now, all these years later, have they chosen to tell their remarkable stories. Here, in their own words, are the vivid wartime memories of the 'secret army' of female munitions workers, whose resilience and sheer grit in the face of danger has only now started to emerge.These are the intimate and personal stories of an unforgettable group of women, whose hard work and quiet courage made a significant contribution to Britain's war effort. They didn't fire the bullets, but they filled them up with explosives. And in doing so, they helped Britain win the war.


Book Synopsis Bomb Girls - Britain's Secret Army: The Munitions Women of World War II by : Jacky Hyams

Download or read book Bomb Girls - Britain's Secret Army: The Munitions Women of World War II written by Jacky Hyams and published by Kings Road Publishing. This book was released on 2013-08-05 with total page 197 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: They were the unsung heroines of World War II; the wives, mums and teenage girls, all 'doing their bit' for the war effort, clocking in daily to work in cast munitions factories, helping make the explosives, bullets and war machines that would ensure victory for Britain.It was dangerous, dirty and exhaustive work. They worked round the clock, often exposed to toxic, lethal chemicals. A factory accident could mean blindness, loss of limbs - or worse. Many went home with acid burns, yellow skin or discoloured hair. Others were forced to leave their loved ones and move to live with total strangers in unfamiliar surroundings. Frequently, their male bosses were coarse and unsympathetic.Yet this hidden army of nearly two million women toiled on regardless through the worst years of the war, cheerfully ignoring the dangers and the exhaustion, as bombing, rationing and the heartbreak of loss or separation took their toll on everyone in the country.Only now, all these years later, have they chosen to tell their remarkable stories. Here, in their own words, are the vivid wartime memories of the 'secret army' of female munitions workers, whose resilience and sheer grit in the face of danger has only now started to emerge.These are the intimate and personal stories of an unforgettable group of women, whose hard work and quiet courage made a significant contribution to Britain's war effort. They didn't fire the bullets, but they filled them up with explosives. And in doing so, they helped Britain win the war.

Britain's Scenic Railways

Britain's Scenic Railways

Author: Julian Holland

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780007926718

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis Britain's Scenic Railways by : Julian Holland

Download or read book Britain's Scenic Railways written by Julian Holland and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Diver's Guide to Marine Life of Britain and Ireland

The Diver's Guide to Marine Life of Britain and Ireland

Author: Chris Wood

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2018-11-30

Total Pages: 312

ISBN-13: 1999581105

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"Completely revised and expanded this Second Edition covers almost 300 individual species and groups of species seen underwater, from tiny fragile sea spiders to the massive planktonƯfeeding Basking Shark"--Publisher's website


Book Synopsis The Diver's Guide to Marine Life of Britain and Ireland by : Chris Wood

Download or read book The Diver's Guide to Marine Life of Britain and Ireland written by Chris Wood and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2018-11-30 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Completely revised and expanded this Second Edition covers almost 300 individual species and groups of species seen underwater, from tiny fragile sea spiders to the massive planktonƯfeeding Basking Shark"--Publisher's website

Slow Adventures

Slow Adventures

Author: Tor McIntosh

Publisher: National Trust

Published: 2021-03-04

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 1911657356

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Why rush through life when you could stop, ponder and truly experience the world around you? This unhurried exploration of the great outdoors encourages you to engage all of your senses and fully appreciate the beauty of your surroundings. With the emphasis on experiencing, rather than simply passing through, Slow Adventures asks us to pause for a moment and reconnect with nature. Try willow weaving in Somerset, rock pooling in East Sussex, wild camping in Cambridgeshire, foraging in Herefordshire, spoon carving in Cumbria, fossil hunting in Yorkshire, lino printing in Monmouthshire, bushcraft in Northumberland, sea kayaking in Inverness-shire and many more memorable experiences. These immersive adventures will awaken your senses, revive your spirits and allow you to make the most of your time in our glorious countryside.


Book Synopsis Slow Adventures by : Tor McIntosh

Download or read book Slow Adventures written by Tor McIntosh and published by National Trust. This book was released on 2021-03-04 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why rush through life when you could stop, ponder and truly experience the world around you? This unhurried exploration of the great outdoors encourages you to engage all of your senses and fully appreciate the beauty of your surroundings. With the emphasis on experiencing, rather than simply passing through, Slow Adventures asks us to pause for a moment and reconnect with nature. Try willow weaving in Somerset, rock pooling in East Sussex, wild camping in Cambridgeshire, foraging in Herefordshire, spoon carving in Cumbria, fossil hunting in Yorkshire, lino printing in Monmouthshire, bushcraft in Northumberland, sea kayaking in Inverness-shire and many more memorable experiences. These immersive adventures will awaken your senses, revive your spirits and allow you to make the most of your time in our glorious countryside.

Locating the English Diaspora, 1500-2010

Locating the English Diaspora, 1500-2010

Author: Tanja Bueltmann

Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Published: 2012-05-25

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 1781387060

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This collection of essays is the first serious attempt to conceptualise the transplantation of English migrants and culture in the New World as a Diaspora.


Book Synopsis Locating the English Diaspora, 1500-2010 by : Tanja Bueltmann

Download or read book Locating the English Diaspora, 1500-2010 written by Tanja Bueltmann and published by Liverpool University Press. This book was released on 2012-05-25 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of essays is the first serious attempt to conceptualise the transplantation of English migrants and culture in the New World as a Diaspora.

Ruins

Ruins

Author: Jane Eastoe

Publisher: Rizzoli Publications

Published: 2019-09-03

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 1911358626

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A celebration of Britain's most wild and wonderfully atmospheric places: its ruins, including castles, follies, abbeys, and country houses. From romantic ruined castles to mysterious stone circles, from frivolous follies to crumbling towers by the sea, there is something about ruins that excites our imagination--and the National Trust has many of the best examples in Britain. Featuring more than 50 captivating sites, this is a superbly illustrated celebration of these wild and wonderfully atmospheric places across the country, dating from Roman times to the 20th century. From Cornwall to Scotland, the book is organized by region and includes overview maps, so you can plot your own journey around Britain's remarkable ruins.


Book Synopsis Ruins by : Jane Eastoe

Download or read book Ruins written by Jane Eastoe and published by Rizzoli Publications. This book was released on 2019-09-03 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A celebration of Britain's most wild and wonderfully atmospheric places: its ruins, including castles, follies, abbeys, and country houses. From romantic ruined castles to mysterious stone circles, from frivolous follies to crumbling towers by the sea, there is something about ruins that excites our imagination--and the National Trust has many of the best examples in Britain. Featuring more than 50 captivating sites, this is a superbly illustrated celebration of these wild and wonderfully atmospheric places across the country, dating from Roman times to the 20th century. From Cornwall to Scotland, the book is organized by region and includes overview maps, so you can plot your own journey around Britain's remarkable ruins.

Black Poppies

Black Poppies

Author: Stephen Bourne

Publisher: The History Press

Published: 2014-08-01

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 0752497871

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In 1914 Britain was home to at least 10,000 black Britons, many of African and West Indian heritage. Most of them were loyal to the 'mother country' when the First World War broke out. Despite being discouraged from serving in the British Army, men managed to join all branches of the forces, while black communities contributed to the war effort on the home front. By 1918 it is estimated that Britain's black population had trebled to 30,000, as many black servicemen who had fought for Britain decided to make it their home. It was far from a happy ending, however, as they and their families often came under attack from white ex-servicemen and civilians increasingly resentful of their presence. With first-hand accounts and original photographs, Black Poppies is the essential guide to the military and civilian wartime experiences of black men and women, from the trenches to the music halls. It is intended as a companion to Stephen Bourne's previous books published by The History Press: Mother Country: Britain's Black Community on the Home Front 1939–45 and The Motherland Calls: Britain's Black Servicemen and Women 1939–45.


Book Synopsis Black Poppies by : Stephen Bourne

Download or read book Black Poppies written by Stephen Bourne and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2014-08-01 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1914 Britain was home to at least 10,000 black Britons, many of African and West Indian heritage. Most of them were loyal to the 'mother country' when the First World War broke out. Despite being discouraged from serving in the British Army, men managed to join all branches of the forces, while black communities contributed to the war effort on the home front. By 1918 it is estimated that Britain's black population had trebled to 30,000, as many black servicemen who had fought for Britain decided to make it their home. It was far from a happy ending, however, as they and their families often came under attack from white ex-servicemen and civilians increasingly resentful of their presence. With first-hand accounts and original photographs, Black Poppies is the essential guide to the military and civilian wartime experiences of black men and women, from the trenches to the music halls. It is intended as a companion to Stephen Bourne's previous books published by The History Press: Mother Country: Britain's Black Community on the Home Front 1939–45 and The Motherland Calls: Britain's Black Servicemen and Women 1939–45.

Magical Places of Britain

Magical Places of Britain

Author: Rob Wildwood

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 140

ISBN-13: 9780957543300

DOWNLOAD EBOOK


Book Synopsis Magical Places of Britain by : Rob Wildwood

Download or read book Magical Places of Britain written by Rob Wildwood and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Secret Casualties of World War Two

Secret Casualties of World War Two

Author: Simon Webb

Publisher: Pen and Sword History

Published: 2020-02-28

Total Pages: 211

ISBN-13: 152674323X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This study of friendly fire on civilians during the London Blitz and the attack on Pearl harbor exposes the unknown horror behind these iconic WWII events. The London Blitz and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor have ascended to the level of myth for Britain and America. Yet both of these artfully constructed narratives of heroic resistance to aerial bombardment conceal the massacre of citizens by the very militaries charged with protecting them. In Britain, thousands of civilians were killed when the army shelled London and other cities to prevent residents from fleeing the German bombs. At Pearl Harbor, American warships fired their heavy guns at the city of Honolulu with devastating results. Simon Webb begins this volume with an overview of bombing and anti-aircraft guns from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 through to the First World War. He then reveals the casualties which friendly fire from heavy artillery inflicted upon British and American civilians during World War Two. In the case of the British, these deaths were a deliberate part of a shockingly cynical policy. There were times during the German bombing of London when more people were being killed by British shells than by enemy bombs.


Book Synopsis Secret Casualties of World War Two by : Simon Webb

Download or read book Secret Casualties of World War Two written by Simon Webb and published by Pen and Sword History. This book was released on 2020-02-28 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study of friendly fire on civilians during the London Blitz and the attack on Pearl harbor exposes the unknown horror behind these iconic WWII events. The London Blitz and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor have ascended to the level of myth for Britain and America. Yet both of these artfully constructed narratives of heroic resistance to aerial bombardment conceal the massacre of citizens by the very militaries charged with protecting them. In Britain, thousands of civilians were killed when the army shelled London and other cities to prevent residents from fleeing the German bombs. At Pearl Harbor, American warships fired their heavy guns at the city of Honolulu with devastating results. Simon Webb begins this volume with an overview of bombing and anti-aircraft guns from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 through to the First World War. He then reveals the casualties which friendly fire from heavy artillery inflicted upon British and American civilians during World War Two. In the case of the British, these deaths were a deliberate part of a shockingly cynical policy. There were times during the German bombing of London when more people were being killed by British shells than by enemy bombs.