London
Canals and Waterways
Price: £7.99
ISBN: 978 0 85263 878 1 / Shire Library SLI 543 / 88 pp
This book traces the history of the canals and waterways, from Roman days through to the decline of the commercial traffic in the 1950s. I covers the building of the canals, the structures, their maintenance and the boats that travelled on them.
Discovering London Ceremonials and Traditions
Price: £6.99
ISBN: 978 0 74780 408 6 / Shire Discovering SDI 281 / 72 pp
This book not only describes London's many ceremonial occasions but also provides the background story.
Discovering London for Families
Price: £9.99
ISBN: 978 0 74780 505 2 / Shire Discovering SDI 293 / 128 pp
Discovering London Statues and Monuments
Price: £10.99
ISBN: 978 0 74780 495 6 / Shire Discovering SDI 42 / 128 pp
This book explains some of the reasons for London's sculpted gallery and describes the subjects, the donors the sculptors and the results. This completely revised edition, now extended to include memorials throughout Greater London, has over six hundred entries.
Discovering London Street Names
Price: £6.99
ISBN: 978 0 74780 309 6 / Shire Discovering SDI 225 / 136 pp
Discovering London’s Guilds and Liveries
Price: £8.99
ISBN: 978 0 74780 559 5 / Shire Discovering SDI 180 / 120 pp
The City of London has one of the strongest unbroken traditions of livery companies in the world. Over one hundred companies, some six centuries old, maintain strong, colourful, beneficial, traditional and independent lives, and many of them have beautiful halls. This book traces the history of the guilds and liveries in various countries and shows their influence on the Government of the City, on which the Westminster model is based, on the actual trades, on royalty and on the history of Britain and other lands. The author compares the guilds of Britain with those of Europe and describes each of the City guilds, their halls, history, tradition, work and influence.
John Kennedy Melling was Master of the Poulters in 1980/81, by patrimony, his father being a liveryman and his grandfather a freeman. He is also a Baker a Farrier (for which company he edited a history) and a Constructor. Former editor of ‘The Liveryman’ magazine, and author of ‘London and the Guilds of Europe’ and ‘The Poulters of London’, he is a lecturer, historian, broadcaster and critic, playwright and author on subjects from antiques to crime fiction. A fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, former committee member of the Crime Writers’ Association, member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and of various chivalric orders, he is an International Life President of the American Federation of Police. He is a member of the NACOP Drug Task Force. A bachelor chartered accountant, he was born in Westcliff-on-Sea and lives in Blackheath and Westcliff.
Discovering Off-Beat Walks in London
Price: £4.99
ISBN: 978 0 74780 703 2 / Shire Discovering 63 / 80 pp
The busy streets of London have been traversed for centuries and many a Londoner or tourist may feel that they are familiar with all the capital has to offer. Yet the eight walks described in this volume reveal more than even the most seasoned commuter or visitor may be aware of. The author leads the reader through the most historic parts of London, down city byways, past unsuspected treasures, to exciting discoveries that are omitted from the standard tours or are inaccessible from an open-topped bus. Detailed instructions, clear maps and photographs of points of interest en route make this sixth edition a tried and trustworthy companion through the streets of London.
London's Bridges
Price: £12.99
ISBN: 978 0 74780 679 0 / Shire History SHI / 160 pp
Every day many thousands of Londoners and foreign visitors cross London’s bridges and, although some may stop to admire the wonderful views, very few will spare a thought for the bridges themselves. The Thames bridges in London vary widely, from the traditional arched stone bridges in Richmond and Kingston, to the suspension bridges at Hammersmith and Chelsea, the modern concrete bridges at Chiswick and Waterloo, and, of course, the unique ‘Gothic’ Tower Bridge. Each bridge has its own unique story, and this book tells the histories of all 33 Thames bridges within Greater London, from Hampton Court Bridge in the west to the iconic Tower Bridge in the east, including all the previous bridges at each location. Packed with photographs of the present bridges, paintings and engravings of the earlier ones and describing architectural details, how the bridges were constructed and listing famous historical occurrences that were witnessed on each of the bridges, this is an absorbing history, perfect for a Londoner who wants to learn more about their city – or indeed for tourists visiting the capital..