On the night of June 17 - 18, 1239, Queen Eleanor, the consort of Henry the Third, presented her husband with a son, who was born in the Palace of Westminster, and who was instantly, says the old chronicler, named by the king, "Edward, after the glorious king and confessor, whose body rests in the church of St. Peter," immediately adjoining. The event was greeted by the nobles and by the people of London with great manifestations of joy: by the citizens...

The harmony between great castles and their ornamental grounds is rarely seen in such perfect form as at Johnstown Castle. The gardens and grounds were designed by Daniel Robertson, of Powerscourt fame, assisted by Martin Day. The castle itself was home to two prominent Wexford families, the Esmondes and the Grogans, who have between them occupied the grounds from the fifteenth century right up to 1945. Today the castle is owned by Teagasc, the Agricultural...

In this excellent small tome F. A. Bell delves into the mysteries of the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star including the role and history of the women who shaped and served the order. "The spirit of modernity now pervades even our Ancient Mysteries, so that they must bear the stamp of recent investigation. Too little has been written about the splendid Order of the Eastern Star. It is almost impossible to find any printed article bearing on its history,...

London is full of extraordinary, enigmatic and, above all, unexpected buildings: a pirate castle in Camden, an art gallery made of shipping containers, underground ghost stations, and much more. Here David Long reveals the very best of the capital's extraordinary buildings, some of which are passed by every day, hidden in plain sight.

The word 'REGENCY', although strictly covering the decade from 1811 when George III fell ill until his death in 1820, is used to refer to the latter years of the 18th century up until 1837, when Queen Victoria came to the throne. The era saw a good deal of change. The industrial revolution marked the end of working at home and the spread of factories; there were rapid developments in transport and trade as well as groundbreaking legislation, including...

Along with its rich history and spectacular scenery, Dumfries and Galloway is home to a great many curious and unusual buildings, objects and landscape features that have survived the centuries. This well-illustrated book is a guide to 100 of these remarkable sights, including Scotland's highest village, the world's narrowest hotel, and even the statue of a rhinoceros on top of a bus shelter. “Dumfries & Galloway Curiosities” will encourage readers...

Oxford is one of the jewels of European architecture, much loved and much visited. The city offers an unparallelled collection of the best of English building through the centuries. Matthew Rice's Oxford is a feast of delightful watercolour illustrations and an informed and witty text, explaining how the city came into being and what to look out for today. While the focus is on architectural detail, Rice also describes how the city has been shaped...

The older buildings, which nestle within the streets of Britain's cities, towns and villages, are sometimes obvious, but often quite unnoticed. Yet, they give their communities a reassuring permanence and form an emotional link with the past. From the humble black and white Tudor cottage with contorted timbers to the colourful Victorian town hall with patterned brickwork, they inspire investigation and query. Who built them and why? Who lived there...

In 1277, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Gwynedd, met with Edward I of England in Aberconwy to finalise a treaty that would change the fate of both nations. His hand forced by Edward's invasion earlier that year, Llywelyn's acceptance of the terms confirmed not only short-term peace but also that the rule of Wales would pass to Edward on his death. To augment his rising dominance, the English king embarked on a building project that saw the rise of...

Originally published in 1905, this work contains a wealth of information on various aspects of the history of London and its buildings. Beautifully illustrated, the author takes the reader on a tour of the buildings that began to vanish from the city at the turn of the 19th century. The following passage is taken from the preface: 'The writer, for many years, has employed his spare time in examining those older portions of London which have now been...