For generations, the villages of Ryton, Crawcrook and Greenside shared the same Parish, the same Coal Company and the same Urban District Council. Traditionally picturesque and rural, the area boasted an historic centre and pretty riverside as well as a cluster of colliery communities. Central Ryton supported early commuting via the railway, but most revenues came from the coal trade, which dominated the local economy.Using a series of old images in the Ryton, Crawcrook and Greenside areas...

Blaydon and Winlaton are closely linked both geographically and historically. In the past these towns were key industrial centres, and are associated with some of the most famous Tyneside industrialists. In recent years both shared the same fate, their industries have declined and the towns have a new image but both continue to thrive as residential and shopping centres serving the local community. Using a selection of old photographs of key locations in Blaydon and Winlaton, local histori...

The towns and villages of Whickham, Sunniside, Marley Hill, Lobley Hill, Swalwell, and Dunston have long been linked, not just geographically and politically, but also by their long association with the coal-mining industry. 'Black gold' mined in Marley Hill and beyond was carried though Sunniside by the world famous Tanfield Way. Using a set of old photographs of these locations, Nick Neave has taken a series of new photographs in the same places to show the changes that have taken place ...

Gateshead was once described as the dirty lane leading to NewcastleA", and over the years it has often been portrayed as the 'poor relative' in comparison to its larger and more glamorous neighbor Newcastle, across the river Tyne. In fact Gateshead has a long and proud industrial and social history, much of which has sadly gone, but in recent years there has been a revival in Gateshead's social and cultural infrastructure which has placed it firmly on the tourist map. Nick Neave has taken ...

A glorious insight into the history, landscape and people of Britain, from The Sunday Times bestseller.The railway line between Brighton and London bridged the gap between capital, countryside and coast, fostering the rise of the new middle classes created by the Industrial revolution and transforming Brighton from a royal playground into a busy resort. Travelling through London, Michael Portillo visits Sydenham, site of the Crystal Palace, and the Burlington Arcade in Piccadilly, ...

This walk is one of twelve walks in John Wilks' Walks Through History - Birmingham series which contains twelve walks within the city. The whole book is available as an ebook or physical book or you could try this one out first. The book is a celebration of the beauty and poetry of the county. Each walk in this book has been chosen not only because it is a pleasant walk in its own right, but also because it goes past sites which reveal the rich and varied history of the county. Each walk i...

Stevenage Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the country. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of Stevenage, the famous streets and the famous faces, and what they meant to the people of this area throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos, readers can see the historical context in which they are set and through the author's factual captions for every picture...

Wednesbury Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the West Midlands. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of the well-known streets and famous faces, and what they meant to the people of this area throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos, readers can see the historical context in which they are set, and through the author's factual captions for every picture, a...

The name Chislehurst literally means a stony place in the woods. These woods are very much apparent today. Chislehurst is surrounded by National Trust woodland, Scadbury Park and the unique central feature of the Chislehurst Commons, which is conserved as open space in perpetuity by Acts of Parliament. The Chislehurst Caves, where many thousands of Londoners sheltered during the Blitz of the Second World War, are also a key tourist attraction. The arrival of the railway in 1865 sparked the...

Guildford History Tour provides a unique insight into the country town of Surrey. Complete with a map of the town’s most notable places, readers are invited to see the changing face of the town as the authors guide you through the streets on a circular route. There is something for everyone in this book, whether you have lived in Guildford all your life, or whether you are just visiting this fabulous town. Take a journey through the bustling town centre and the quaint riverside that reveal...

Salford is often seen as the smaller twin of Manchester, its neighbour across the River Irwell. In fact, Salford was a borough long before Manchester achieved that status, but even in the 1530s John Leland described it as 'a large suburb to Manchester'. However, during the Industrial Revolution, Manchester grew more rapidly than Salford, although together they were the first 'shock city' of the industrial age, described in graphic detail by writers such as de Tocqueville and Engels. While ...

Langport is an ancient market town in the heart of the Somerset Levels. Set in a rural landscape of rivers, moors and hills, it owes its historical importance to its strategic position at a crossing point on the River Parrett. The town is encircled by the river on one side and the more populous parish of Huish Episcopi on the other. The medieval Hanging Chapel and the former buildings of Kelways Nurseries illustrate the area's religious and commercial roots. The area's quiet atmosphere bel...