Liquid History

Author: Stephen Croad
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 206

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: 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.

The Thames

Author: Mick Sinclair
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited
ISBN: 1908493186
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 271

Book Description
It may not be the longest, deepest or widest river in the world but few bodies of water reveal as much about a nation's past and present, or as suggestive of its future, as England's River Thames. Tales of legendary lock-keepers and long-vanished weirs evoke the distant past of a river which evolved into a prime commercial artery linking the heart of England with the ports of Europe. In Victorian times, the Thames hosted regattas galore, its new bridges and tunnels were celebrated as marvels of their time, and London’s river was transformed from sewer to centrepiece of the British Empire. Talk of the Thames Gateway and the effectiveness of the Thames Barrier keeps the river in the news today, while the lengthening Thames Path makes the waterway more accessible than ever before. Through quiet meadows, rolling hills, leafy suburbia, industrial sites and a changing London riverside, Mick Sinclair tracks the Thames from source to sea, documenting internationally-known landmarks such as Tower Bridge and Windsor Castle and revealing lesser known features such as Godstow Abbey, Canvey Island, the Sandford Lasher, and George Orwell’s tranquil grave.

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

I Never Knew That About the River Thames

Author: Christopher Winn
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1407080601
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 292

Book Description
Bestselling author Christopher Winn takes us on a captivating journey out of London along the banks of the River Thames to discover the secrets and stories of England's most famous waterway. Discover the Thames's literary heritage at Pangbourne, near Reading, famous as the home of The Wind in the Willows's Kenneth Grahame, then explore Mapledurham House, the inspiration for its famous Toad Hall. Explore Henley-on-Thames, where the first Oxford and Cambridge boat races were held, then marvel at Southend Pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world. As he follows the river from source to sea, visiting its towns, villages and places of interest, Winn unearths a fascinating array of facts, folklore, landmarks and legends that are guaranteed to have you exclaiming 'I Never Knew That!'. Illustrated with line drawings this charming gem of a book is guaranteed to inform and delight in equal measure.

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.

Exploring the Thames Wilderness

Author: Richard Mayon-White
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1408181142
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 240

Book Description
The River Thames is an often undiscovered haven of stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife and brilliant natural beauty. As well as the famous stretches passing through our biggest cities and towns, there is a hidden side to the river - wild and natural, but surprisingly accessible. This guidebook, compiled by the two major Thames charities, contains a wealth of information on over 150 of the best places to explore the real Thames wilderness, along with enjoyable walks and activities along its course. Organised geographically, the book gives information on the history and character of each stretch of the river and the featured sites within it, travelling from source to sea. Illustrated with maps and photos, the text highlights which plants and wildlife to watch out for, activities you can do, how to get there and nearby moorings, cycle paths and car parks. Each section features a circular walk, tying together several of the sites and accompanied by an enchanting hand-drawn map. An essential source of ideas for days out and handy for on the go, Exploring the Thames Wilderness opens up the beauty of the Thames to everyone.

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.

Mudlark: In Search of London's Past Along the River Thames

Author: Lara Maiklem
Publisher: Liveright Publishing
ISBN: 163149497X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 239

Book Description
“Engrossing . . . evokes the subculture of the ‘mudlarks,’ who scour the banks for fragments of London’s past.”—The New Yorker The international bestseller that mesmerizingly charts quixotic journeys through London’s past, Mudlark thrills Anglophiles and history lovers alike. Long heralded as a city treasure herself, beloved “Mudlark” Lara Maiklem tirelessly treks along the Thames’ muddy shores, unearthing a myriad of artifacts and their stories—from Roman hairpins and perfectly preserved Tudor shoes to the clay pipes that were smoked in riverside taverns. Seamlessly interweaving reflections from her own life with meditations on the art of wandering, Maiklem ultimately delivers a treatise “as deep and as rich as the Thames and its treasures” (Stanley Tucci).

The Thames Gateway

Author: Great Britain: National Audit Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780102945263
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 78

Book Description
The Thames Gateway stretches from Canary Wharf to the mouth of the Thames Estuary and is the most ambitious regeneration programme in Western Europe; by 2016 the Government wants there to be 160,000 new homes and 180,000 new jobs, all provided in an environmentally sustainable fashion. This report examines whether central government has laid solid foundations for the scheme, if risks have been properly identified and whether they are being properly managed. The project is assessed against a framework for best practice for successful regeneration based on both NAO research and research by the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment. The Department for Communities and Local Government already recognise the need to strengthen the management of the programme and have recently appointed a Chief Executive to achieve greater cross government influence. This report contains eight key recommendations to help the Department address the key risks, improve management and strengthen the coherence of the overall programme.