In the skies above south-east England in 1940, battle was waged between men and machines of the Royal Air Force and Hitler's Luftwaffe. This title looks at the origins and events of the battle, but focuses especially on the men and women of the RAF and on the ordinary people of the nation, above whose heads the great battle for freedom was waged.

The evolution of beekeeping can be traced in the changing shape of the beehive and in the various structures used to house and protect it. However, these older structures gradually fell into disuse. This book discusses these forgotten beehives, and explains the important role they played in the development of beekeeping.

Begun by John Christie in 1934, the Glyndebourne Festival saw professional performances of opera in a purpose-built opera house adjoining the historic house on the site, near Lewes in East Sussex. The Festival quickly became a magnet for music lovers across the south of England and beyond. This book tells the story of the opera house on the Downs.

The source of tremendous power and focus of incredible devotion, throughout history notions of beauty have been integral to social life. Each age has had its own standards: a gleaming white brow during the Renaissance, the black eyebrows considered charming in the early eighteenth century, and the thin lips thought desirable by Victorians.

This book traces the history of delftware tiles, describes how they were made and explains the differences between Dutch and English delftware tiles.

Traditional Building Materials .

For thousands of years peat was the main fuel that warmed houses all over the British Isles, and the mark of the peat cutter is written deep in the landscape. This book celebrates a cultural history that extended from the Iron Age to the twentieth century. It tells the story of the use of peat for fuel in the British Isles.

The mechanical anniversary clock, also known as the 400-day clock or torsion pendulum clock, is one of the most popular clocks ever invented. Anniversary clocks are recognizable by the decorative balls beneath the dial that rotate one way and then the other.

Through a collection of coloured holiday photographs covering all the major - and several minor - resorts around England's coast, linked to selected written commentaries from Charles Dickens and many others, this book celebrates the heyday of the seaside holiday.

A picture can say a thousand words and the images caught on camera during the Victorian and Edwardian periods provide a fascinating insight into the lives of Britons during this time. This book lets you take a step back between 1840 and 1910 and explore the world of work and working conditions experienced by the Victorians and Edwardians.

A picture can say a thousand words and the images caught on camera during the Victorian and Edwardian periods provide a fascinating insight into the lives of Britons during this time. This book lets you explore the pastimes, hobbies, sports and other entertainments enjoyed by the Victorians and Edwardians.

Featuring black and white photos of some of the old buildings that claim to be haunted and locations of where ghosts can be seen, this book reveals some British ghost stories.