The story of the Queensway and Kingsway road tunnels, together known as the Mersey Road Tunnels, is a story of progress and growth as the area around them developed and changed. No tunnel of comparable diameter had been built before, and nothing matched its length or its complexity. Once completed, despite fierce opposition from the powerful and persuasive rail industry, this incredible feat of engineering was dubbed ‘the eighth wonder of the world’ in some corners. Work started on the tun...

An epic account of how a new world order under Tamerlane was born out of the decline of the Mongol EmpireBy the mid-fourteenth century, the world empire founded by Genghis Khan was in crisis. The Mongol Ilkhanate had ended in Iran and Iraq, China's Mongol rulers were threatened by the native Ming, and the Golden Horde and the Central Asian Mongols were prey to internal discord. Into this void moved the warlord Tamerlane, the last major conqueror to emerge from Inne...

Did you know?In 1884 the Circle Line opened and was described in The Times as 'a form of mild torture which no person would undergo if he could conveniently help it.'According to one psychologist, Tube commuters can experience greater levels of stress than a police officer facing a rioting mob or even a fighter pilot going into a dogfight.Underground trains have only twice been used to transport deceased people in coffins: William Gladston...

The Sunday Times BestsellerA glorious insight into Britain over the last 150 years – its history, landscape and people – from the window of Britain’s many and magnificent railway journeys.Inspired by George Bradshaw, a 19th-century cartographer who mapped Britain’s railways as they sprung up around him, Charlie Bunce and Michael Portillo take a journey along nine classic British railway routes and surround themselves with the history, the charm and the people at the heart o...

THE SECRETS OF SITE RESEARCH FINALLY REVEALED…Now you can quickly learn how to put your metal detector's search-coil in the right place every time.Find productive sitesIf nothing much ever happened where you search, then all you can expect your finds bag to contain is — nothing much. So to bring home the finds you need to search sites where human activity took place in the past. But how do you locate such sites? You could try your local library but you can't go into a ...

A charming history of one of the long closed rural branch lines on the Great Western Railway. The Lambourn Valley was one of the most quintessentially English branch lines in the days of steam.The Lambourn Valley Railway was born as an independent little railway that ran from Newbury up Berkshire's scenic Lambourn Valley to Lambourn. On the way it passed through 9 rural stations and ran through beautiful countryside.In this book we learn when the line was built and why. The...

A fascinating account of how the railways came to Surrey and the impact they had on the people who lived in the countyThe book the great days of the steam railways in the county. It shows how and why the lines were built, giving an account of the people who laid the lines and built the stations.

From the author of ‘Britain BC’, ‘Britain AD’ and ‘Britain in the Middle Ages’ comes the fourth and final part in a critically acclaimed series on Britain's hidden past.The relevance of archaeology to the study of the ancient world is indisputable. But, when exploring our recent past, does it have any role to play? In ‘The Birth of Modern Britain’ Francis Pryor highlights archaeology’s continued importance to the world around us.The pioneers of the Industrial Revolution wer...

The Forest of Dean is one of the largest areas of mixed woodlands in the UK with broadleaves and conifers of several species, flora and fauna, streams and ponds all masquerading the industrial remains of the Forest’s heavy industry - iron mines, furnaces, scowles and disused mines. Today it's an area for leisure, bordered by the River Wye to the west and Severn to the east.This book gives an insight into the industrial history and heritage of the area through to the present day wit...

A glorious insight into the history, landscape and people of Britain, from The Sunday Times bestseller.The late nineteenth century brought railway fever to Ireland, and Victorian travellers were keen to explore a country rich in myth and mystery. Starting in the beautiful city of Dublin, Michael Portillo travels to the fishing port of Balbriggan, crosses the spectacular Boyne viaduct, and learns about the tragic Armagh rail disaster en route to Belfast, home of the Irish shipbuildi...

A travel guide book with a difference which gives a well planned 4 day, 2 location tour (by car) through the spectacular scenery of the English Lake District. This illustrated ebook gives directions, maps, location information & travel tips.This tour takes the reader through the Lake District National Park and visits: Kendal, Lake Windermere, Hawkshead, Coniston Water, Coniston, Duddon Valley, Broughton-In–Furness, Ulverston, Dalton-In-Furness, Furness Abbey, Barrow –In-Furness, Swi...

The nineteenth century was an era of scientific advance like no other in history. And no nation gained more from its forward momentum than Britain and her Empire. Railways were built, bridges constructed, rivers tamed and electricity harnessed, to the great benefit of all But progress was only achieved at high cost. Impatience for achievement too often resulted in catastrophe and disaster. In 1879, the Tay Bridge was the longest in the world and a wonder of its age. But on a stormy night i...