The other books
This is the eclectic assortment of books produced to date. Some stories have been given to the author, some are offshoots of other books, but as usual they are original, thought provoking and beg the question why didn't anyone else find them? Some, such as the bridge book seem to ask as many questions as they answer, so their research is ongoing. Enjoy.
Victoria Park, The Peoples' Park £4 incl. £1 to VPAG
19th century Bristol was well supplied with open spaces such as The Downs and Brandon Hill, but they were up to an hour's walk from the crowded working class suburbs to the east and south of the city. So repeated requests were made to provide open spaces for recreation, but in the absence of wealthy benefactors, it was the workers themselves who campaigned for these amenities. Victoria Park and its contemporary St Georges' Park, were opened in 1891 to provide this need.
This book describes the background to the need for open spaces, the problems with obtaining land, and the effect the park had on the region. It also provides details on the changing patterns of use, from bowling greens and playgrounds, to wartime allotments and barrage balloons, to post war decline.
This book is recommended by the Victoria Park Action Group which liaises with the council to improve facilities and provide activities in the park. £1 from each sale is donated to them.
ISBN NO. 9789-09551010-6-9
On sale Stanfords, Corn St, or can be ordered from any bookshop
or send a cheque to PO Box 2460 Bristol BS3 9WP
or by PayPal: UK only £4 incl. P&P
This book describes the background to the need for open spaces, the problems with obtaining land, and the effect the park had on the region. It also provides details on the changing patterns of use, from bowling greens and playgrounds, to wartime allotments and barrage balloons, to post war decline.
This book is recommended by the Victoria Park Action Group which liaises with the council to improve facilities and provide activities in the park. £1 from each sale is donated to them.
ISBN NO. 9789-09551010-6-9
On sale Stanfords, Corn St, or can be ordered from any bookshop
or send a cheque to PO Box 2460 Bristol BS3 9WP
or by PayPal: UK only £4 incl. P&P
Outside UK: £4.00 plus £1.00 P&P
Bombs & Burgesses - A History of Castle Park £6.49
From the back cover:
"Castle Park in Bristol covers the historic heart of the city. Home to the earliest settlements and now a popular park, dotted with ancient monuments and modern sculpture. The region was home to soem of the wealthiest merchants, to themost wretched of the poro and a wide range of important industries. It has seen rebellions, wars and celebrations, adn was for centirues a favourtie centre for shopping and socialising before suffering massive bomb damage in the last war before the post war planners and local councillors became involved. "
This complements "A Green Thumbprint on a Smudge of a City - A Walking Guide to Castle Park" - see Bristol walks page.
ISBN NO. 978-09551010-9-0
On sale Stanford's, Corn St or ask for it in any bookshop
Or by PayPal: UK only £6.49 incl. P&P
"Castle Park in Bristol covers the historic heart of the city. Home to the earliest settlements and now a popular park, dotted with ancient monuments and modern sculpture. The region was home to soem of the wealthiest merchants, to themost wretched of the poro and a wide range of important industries. It has seen rebellions, wars and celebrations, adn was for centirues a favourtie centre for shopping and socialising before suffering massive bomb damage in the last war before the post war planners and local councillors became involved. "
This complements "A Green Thumbprint on a Smudge of a City - A Walking Guide to Castle Park" - see Bristol walks page.
ISBN NO. 978-09551010-9-0
On sale Stanford's, Corn St or ask for it in any bookshop
Or by PayPal: UK only £6.49 incl. P&P
Outside UK: £6.49 + £1.00 P&P
Eyebrows on Fire - Bristol and Abolition £4.50
This book complements 'The Bristol Slavery and Abolition Trail', as major weapons in the battle against Bristol's passion for bashing their dead forebears.
The city is widely condemned for its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, but was also home to many who opposed it.
The Wesleys and the Quakers are well known in this, and were well represented in this city, but from the 1750s there was active opposition to the trade, both on moral and financial grounds. The copver photo shows John Weeks, extrovert publican who campaigned for many good causes. Also featured was local poet Mary Robinson who wrote of womens rights whilst carrying on a long term affair with beligerant Liverpool slaver Banastre Tarleton. Elizabeth Blackwell the world's first female doctor whose family was active in many human rights activities, was also born here. the book also considers the role of early explorers, the Royal Navy, and considers the campaign in the wider field of human rights.
ISBN No. 978-09551010-3-8
On sale Arnolfini Gallery Bookshop, or ask for it in any bookshop
or mail order
or PayPal : UK only £4.50 incl. P&P
The city is widely condemned for its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade, but was also home to many who opposed it.
The Wesleys and the Quakers are well known in this, and were well represented in this city, but from the 1750s there was active opposition to the trade, both on moral and financial grounds. The copver photo shows John Weeks, extrovert publican who campaigned for many good causes. Also featured was local poet Mary Robinson who wrote of womens rights whilst carrying on a long term affair with beligerant Liverpool slaver Banastre Tarleton. Elizabeth Blackwell the world's first female doctor whose family was active in many human rights activities, was also born here. the book also considers the role of early explorers, the Royal Navy, and considers the campaign in the wider field of human rights.
ISBN No. 978-09551010-3-8
On sale Arnolfini Gallery Bookshop, or ask for it in any bookshop
or mail order
or PayPal : UK only £4.50 incl. P&P
Outside UK: £4.50 plus £1.00 P&P
Dead Cats in Conduits- Bristol's Drinking Water £6.49
From back cover:
"In 1847 Captain John Paty, future admiral of the Hawaiian navy was living in Yerba Buena, the future San Fancisco, USA when he was almost killed by contaminated water in his local hostelry. when its well was cleared, it was found to contain a drowned Russian sailor.
History books are littered with near misses that could have changed the course of history, bur few are as banal as that of choosing the wrong mixer with an alcoholic beverage. Yet water is essential to human life, and the battle to ensure safe, secure sources is one that continues today.
Water determines the site of settlements, and controls the size of them over time. It is increasingly a source of friction between countries as our population soars.
This book is about Bristol in England, from its earliest conduits built by friars to the mdoern system. It is a story fo neglect and surprisingly fast improvements. It is an important story fo urban life which has relevance far beyond this city."
ISBN NO. 978-0-9562900-5-2
On sale Arnolfini Gallery, The Architecture Centre and Stanfords in Bristol or ask for it in any bookshop.
Or by PayPal: UK only £6.49 Incl. P&P
"In 1847 Captain John Paty, future admiral of the Hawaiian navy was living in Yerba Buena, the future San Fancisco, USA when he was almost killed by contaminated water in his local hostelry. when its well was cleared, it was found to contain a drowned Russian sailor.
History books are littered with near misses that could have changed the course of history, bur few are as banal as that of choosing the wrong mixer with an alcoholic beverage. Yet water is essential to human life, and the battle to ensure safe, secure sources is one that continues today.
Water determines the site of settlements, and controls the size of them over time. It is increasingly a source of friction between countries as our population soars.
This book is about Bristol in England, from its earliest conduits built by friars to the mdoern system. It is a story fo neglect and surprisingly fast improvements. It is an important story fo urban life which has relevance far beyond this city."
ISBN NO. 978-0-9562900-5-2
On sale Arnolfini Gallery, The Architecture Centre and Stanfords in Bristol or ask for it in any bookshop.
Or by PayPal: UK only £6.49 Incl. P&P
Outside UK: £6.49 + £1.00 P&P
Death and the Bridge - The Georgian Rebuilding of Bristol Bridge £5.00
From Back cover:
"Bristol Bridge was built in the 13th century to unite the main port of Bristol with the southern parishes. But by the mid 18th century the roadway had become far too narrow for the increasing traffic, with accidents, sometimes fatal, increasingly common. What should have been an important civic project became a drawn out farce. After years of delays and disputes, the surveyor James Bridges fled, and the bridge completed but the debts and tolls continued for 30 years till ended with a riot and the murder of innocent bystanders. Instead of unitng the city, the bridge served to further divide it."
A book about buildign a bridge should be a very boring thing. But this story is at the very heart of the city's history, full of mystery and intrigue, but the biggest mystery is why it has never before been told. The story is about local politics, but also about the dawning rays of the English Enlightenment and the early skills of civil engineering.
It also provides a warning of the problems to come when the far more famous local bridge, Brunel's suspension bridge at Clifton was built in the mid 19th century. It also explains why the city's first riot of locals only was the result of the bridge building. Most sources blame this on greedy exploitation of the poor. But reality is, as usual, far more complicated, and far more interesting.
The story also involves a giant musical clock called the microcosm which travelled more extensively than this author.
ISBN NO. 978-09551010-5-2
It can be ordered from any bookshop
or by PayPal:
UK only £5.00 incl. P&P
"Bristol Bridge was built in the 13th century to unite the main port of Bristol with the southern parishes. But by the mid 18th century the roadway had become far too narrow for the increasing traffic, with accidents, sometimes fatal, increasingly common. What should have been an important civic project became a drawn out farce. After years of delays and disputes, the surveyor James Bridges fled, and the bridge completed but the debts and tolls continued for 30 years till ended with a riot and the murder of innocent bystanders. Instead of unitng the city, the bridge served to further divide it."
A book about buildign a bridge should be a very boring thing. But this story is at the very heart of the city's history, full of mystery and intrigue, but the biggest mystery is why it has never before been told. The story is about local politics, but also about the dawning rays of the English Enlightenment and the early skills of civil engineering.
It also provides a warning of the problems to come when the far more famous local bridge, Brunel's suspension bridge at Clifton was built in the mid 19th century. It also explains why the city's first riot of locals only was the result of the bridge building. Most sources blame this on greedy exploitation of the poor. But reality is, as usual, far more complicated, and far more interesting.
The story also involves a giant musical clock called the microcosm which travelled more extensively than this author.
ISBN NO. 978-09551010-5-2
It can be ordered from any bookshop
or by PayPal:
UK only £5.00 incl. P&P
Outside UK: £5.00 + £1.00 P&P
Fine Ships & Gallant Sailors - The Sydney Emden Battle, 9 November 1914 £6.49
This is based on the journal of Edward Bunkin, employed as a shipwright to help deliver the Australian Navy's first light cruiser. But en route the first world war broke out and the Sydney was to escort the first contingent of ANZACs to Gallipoli. The fleet had been much delayed by the German raider SMS Emden which had turned pirate and was raiding shipping.
But when the Emden broke up the telegraph station at the Cocos (Keeling) Islands the Sydney engaged it in battle.
This is the story of the Sydney, the battle with the Emden, and the aftermath, using other sources to produce a detailed and lively account of an important but little known battle, the only ship to ship battle of the RAN in world war I.
ISBN NO. 978-0562900-4-5
On sale: Cocos Keeling Tourism Association, Cocos (Keeling) Islands or ask for it in any bookshop
Or by PayPal: UK only £6.49
But when the Emden broke up the telegraph station at the Cocos (Keeling) Islands the Sydney engaged it in battle.
This is the story of the Sydney, the battle with the Emden, and the aftermath, using other sources to produce a detailed and lively account of an important but little known battle, the only ship to ship battle of the RAN in world war I.
ISBN NO. 978-0562900-4-5
On sale: Cocos Keeling Tourism Association, Cocos (Keeling) Islands or ask for it in any bookshop
Or by PayPal: UK only £6.49
Outside UK: £6.49 + £1.00 P&P
Losing El Dorado - Scots in Latin America £4.99
There is much published on the Engllish colonies in the New World, but much less on the Scots who were largely left out of the race. This book describes 2 colonies, of the Darien disaster which was so important in the making of Scotland, but it little known outside that country. Also the colony of Topo in Venezuela, one of many disasters formed by the British in the wake of the collapse of the Spanish empire.
Can be ordered from any bookshop
Or by PayPal :
UK only £4.99 incl. P&P
Can be ordered from any bookshop
Or by PayPal :
UK only £4.99 incl. P&P
Outside UK: £4.99 + £1.00 P&P
The Lost Village of Dumbleton by Jeronomy Fortescue-Ponsett £5.00
The famous pioneering anthropologist set off in search of this village, described by Sir Walter Raleigh but largely thought to be mythical. Ms Fortescue Ponsett was found several years later in a very confused state on a bus stop in Western-super-Mare. This may or may not be the account of her discoveries which may or may not be too strange to be true.
ISBN No. 978-09562900-3-8
Can be ordered from any bookshop
or by PayPal
UK only £4.99 incl. P&P
ISBN No. 978-09562900-3-8
Can be ordered from any bookshop
or by PayPal
UK only £4.99 incl. P&P
Outside UK: £4.99 + £1.00 P&P