Liquid History

Author: Stephen Croad
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 220

Book Description
The London Stone at Staines marks the ancient western boundary of the jurisdiction of the City of London. The Lord Mayor and Corporation’s conservancy of the Thames extended east from there as far as Yantlet in Kent. This is the stretch of the river documented in 'Liquid History'. Drawing on the resources of English Heritage’s unrivalled photographic archives, the book records a journey along the length of the tidal river and over almost 150 years. We see the rural Thames as it approaches London, riverside towns, the civic and commercial development of the riverbanks, the working docks and warehouses, the development of the web of bridges that now links north and south, barges, sailing ships and warships, the great flood defences and a tiny beach that flourished briefly at the Tower of London. Featuring the work of pioneers of photography and some of the great topographical photographers of the 20th century, and with a fascinating commentary by Stephen Croad, 'Liquid History' chronicles the ebb and flow of the life of the river.

Thames Mudlarking

Author: Jason Sandy
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1784424331
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 97

Book Description
A beautifully illustrated introduction to mudlarking which tells the incredible, forgotten history of London through objects found on the foreshore of the River Thames. Often seen combing the shoreline of the River Thames at low tide, groups of archaeology enthusiasts known as 'mudlarks' continue a tradition that dates back to the eighteenth century. Over the years they have found a vast array of historical artefacts providing glimpses into the city's past. Objects lost or discarded centuries ago – from ancient river offerings such as the Battersea Shield and Waterloo Helmet, to seventeenth-century trade tokens and even medals for bravery – have been discovered in the river. This book explores a fascinating assortment of finds from prehistoric to modern times, which collectively tell the rich and illustrious story of London and its inhabitants - illustrated with and array of photographs taken of the items in situ in the mud and gravel of the Thames estuary, at the same time both gritty and glimmering.

Mudlarking

Author: Lara Maiklem
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 140888920X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 347

Book Description
_______________ WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR NON-FICTION THE TOP 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK AN OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR _______________ Mudlark (/'mAdla;k/) noun A person who scavenges for usable debris in the mud of a river or harbour Lara Maiklem has scoured the banks of the Thames for over fifteen years, in pursuit of the objects that the river unearths: from Neolithic flints to Roman hair pins, medieval buckles to Tudor buttons, Georgian clay pipes to Victorian toys. These objects tell her about London and its lost ways of life. Moving from the river's tidal origins in the west of the city to the point where it meets the sea in the east, Mudlarking is a search for urban solitude and history on the River Thames, which Lara calls the longest archaeological site in England. As she has discovered, it is often the tiniest objects that tell the greatest stories. _______________ 'Enchanting' - Sunday Times 'Driven by curiosity, freighted with mystery and tempered by chance, wonders gleam from every page' - Melissa Harrison 'Brilliant. No one has looked at these odd corners since Sherlock Holmes' - Sunday Telegraph 'The very best books that deal with the past are love letters to their subject, and the very best of those are about subjects that love their authors in return. Such books are very rare, but this is one' - Ian Mortimer 'Fascinating. There is nothing that Maiklem does not know about the history of the river or the thingyness of things' - Guardian 'A treasure. One of the best books I've read in years' - Tracy Borman

Thames: Sacred River

Author: Peter Ackroyd
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 0099422557
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Just as Peter Ackroyd's bestselling London is the biography of the city, Thames: Sacred River is the biography of the river, from sea to source. Exploring its history from prehistoric times to the present day, the reader is drawn into an extraordinary world, learning about the fishes that swim in the river and the boats that ply its surface; about floods and tides; hauntings and suicides; miasmas and malaria; locks, weirs and embankments; bridges, docks and palaces. Peter Ackroyd has a genius for digging out the most surprising and entertaining details, and for writing about them in the most magisterial prose; the result is a wonderfully readable and captivating guide to this extraordinary river and the towns and villages which line it.

River Thames

Author: Steve Wallis
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781445657974
Category : Thames River (England)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
The Thames is the longest river that runs entirely through England and its valley contains not only Britain's capital but also many other large settlements. There are also a great many historic features that bear testament to the river's historic and continuing importance for the surrounding areas, and indeed Britain and the world.

Thames

Author: Peter Ackroyd
Publisher: Anchor
ISBN: 0385528477
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 514

Book Description
In this perfect companion to London: The Biography, Peter Ackroyd once again delves into the hidden byways of history, describing the river's endless allure in a journey overflowing with characters, incidents, and wry observations. Thames: The Biography meanders gloriously, rather like the river itself. In short, lively chapters Ackroyd writes about connections between the Thames and such historical figures as Julius Caesar and Henry VIII, and offers memorable portraits of the ordinary men and women who depend upon the river for their livelihoods. The Thames as a source of artistic inspiration comes brilliantly to life as Ackroyd invokes Chaucer, Shakespeare, Turner, Shelley, and other writers, poets, and painters who have been enchanted by its many moods and colors.

The City on the Thames

Author: Simon Jenkins
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1643135538
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 304

Book Description
By the former editor of the London Times, a vivid, evocative, and deeply knowledgeable history of this unique world capital. London: a settlement founded by the Romans, occupied by the Saxons, conquered by the Danes, and ruled by the Normans. This transformative place became a medieval maze of alleys and courtyards, later to be checkered with grand estates of Georgian splendor. It swelled with industry and became the center of the largest empire in history. And having risen from the rubble of the Blitz, it is now one of the greatest cities in the world. From the prehistoric occupants of the Thames Valley to the preoccupied commuters of today, Simon Jenkins brings together the key events, individuals and trends in London's history to create a matchless portrait of the capital. He masterfully explains the battles that determined how London was conceived and built—and especially the perennial conflict between money and power. Based in part on his experiences of and involvement in the events that shaped the post-war city, and with his trademark color and authority, Simon Jenkins shows above all how London has taken shape over more than two thousand years. Fascinating for locals and visitors alike, this is narrative history at its finest, from the most ardent protector of British heritage.

The Thames

Author: Derek Pratt
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472947002
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 162

Book Description
The Thames is unique, emerging as a small stream in idyllic countryside and growing into the country's largest river, passing through some of the world's most iconic urban environments. Linking London to the countryside and the sea, the Thames is the heart of the capital and its waters the lifeblood of England. This beautiful book celebrates the entire river from source to sea, and with wonderful photography and quirky text follows it on a voyage through Britain's history. London has so often been the beginning and the end of the Thames story, and whilst it forms a major part, this book gives an altogether more complete and unexpected view of one of the most remarkable and well-loved rivers in the world. We see the famous views and also learn lesser-known facts, such as Dick Turpin's secret hideaway (complete with an underground stable for Black Bess), the home of the notorious Chancellor Sir Francis Dashwood (the only Chancellor to have delivered his budget speech drunk) and the scene of the Monty Python fish-slapping dance. First published in 2007, this gorgeous coffee table book has been updated for its second edition with new text and photography (including the Jubilee pageant), and continues to be the perfect gift for anyone living near, visiting or enjoying this magnificent river, with its visual variety, hidden secrets and fascinating history.

Sodom on the Thames

Author: Morris B. Kaplan
Publisher: Cornell University Press
ISBN: 9780801436789
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 340

Book Description
Morris Kaplan examines three episodes involving sex between men in late 19th century England, drawing on court records, newspaper accounts and personal correspondence and diaries. He aims to deepen our understanding of late Victorian attitudes toward urban culture, masculinity and male homoeroticism.

Pleasure Boating on the Thames

Author: Simon Wenham
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0750958626
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 243

Book Description
The River Thames above London underwent a dramatic transformation during the Victorian period, from a great commercial highway into a vast conduit of pleasure. Pleasure Boating on the Thames traces these changes through the history of the firm that did more than any other on the waterway to popularise recreational boating. Salter Bros began as a small boat-building enterprise in Oxford and went on to gain worldwide fame, not only as the leading racing boat constructor, but also as one of the largest rental craft and passenger boat operators in the country. Simon Wenham's illustrated history sheds light on over 150 years of social change, how leisure developed on the waterway (including the rise of camping), as well as how a family firm coped with the changes brought about by industrialisation – a business that, today, still carries thousands of passengers a year.