Individuals history books

Book - James Brindley, Canal Pioneer h/b Ref: 812
by Christine Richardson.

From the time of the industrial revolution to the present day, misinterpretations and fables surrounding Brindley have become 'facts' that distort our picture of him. Yet original documents reveal the true Brindley - a man of integrity and a trusted figurehead of eight canal schemes.

In this book, Christine Richardson places Brindley's real story alongside that of the development of England's early inland waterway network in the mid-eighteenth century.

Hard back. 128 pages. 8¼" x 11" approx. Black & white photos and drawings, blue, black & white maps.
Price: £29.50

Book - James Brindley, Canal Pioneer p/b Ref: 1173
by Christine Richardson.

In this book, Christine Richardson places Brindley's real story alongside that of the development of England's early inland waterway network in the mid-eighteenth century.

Soft back. 128 pages. 8¼" x 10½" approx. Black & white photos and drawings, blue, black & white maps.
Price: £14.50

Book - James Brindley, First Canal Builder Ref: 1176
by Nick Corble, who also supplied the following text.

A FRESH LOOK AT JAMES BRINDLEY

Why is it that the exploits of Stephenson and Brunel are part of the history curriculum while the name of James Brindley, the man who laid down the basis for the first national transport system, is largely unknown?

A new biography written by Nick Corble attempts to redress this imbalance. Published by Tempus Publishing, and called 'James Brindley: The First Canal Builder' the book takes a fresh look at Brindley's achievements and asks the bigger question of what might have happened if Brindley hadn't come along.

Nick describes Brindley's story almost as if he was writing a thriller, focusing on the dramas behind the building of the canals and how close Brindley came to failure - failure that would have set Britain's industrial development back for a generation. He also focuses on the very human tale behind the man - how he was born into poverty, how he was barely literate and how he rose above all this to do things no one else thought were even possible.

The book suggests that Brindley was the man who put the 'united' in United Kingdom. In a compelling argument, Nick describes how Brindley's achievements pulled together a Britain of parts and kick-started the process which led to Britain becoming the world's first modern superpower.

This book is a 'must read' for anyone with an interest in how the canal system came about and is illustrated with dozens of original photos, many of them in colour.

Soft back. 160 pages. 6¾" x 9¾" approx
Price: £17.50

Book - Brunel Ref: 1608
by Robin Jones.

2006 was the 200th anniversary of Brunel's birth.and this commemorative book gives a guide to the life and achievements, including railways, ships, tunnels and bridges.

Soft back. 130 pages, 8¼" x 11¾" approx, Illustrated with colour and black & white photos.
Price: £6.99

Book - James Green Ref: 1556
by Brian George.

Canal Builder & County Surveyor (1781-1849). James Green worked in Devon as an assistant to the great John Rennie. Green was to design and construct canal systems at Bude, Torrington, Grand Western Canal and at Kidwelly and Llanelly in Wales. He was also the engineer at the commencement of the Chard canal and constructed the extension to the Exeter Canal.

Soft back. 189 pages. 8" x 8" approx. Illustrated with black & white photos and drawings.
Price: £9.75

Book - Charles Hadfield, Canal Man & More Ref: 402
by Joseph Boughey.

Charles Hadfield is well known for his accurate and detailed canal histories, but his contribution was more than that of a mere chronicler of waterways. This book combines a detailed critical study of Charles's work in making and developing canal history with his own selected memoirs of other aspects of a busy and complex life.

Hard back, 223 pages, 6½" x 9½" approx.

Normal retail price £20
Price: £9.75

Book - William Jessop, Engineer Ref: 415
by Charles Hadfield & A.W. Skempton.

This is the only full-length biography ever published of this important engineer, arguably more important than Telford, although less well-known. His work includes major docks (West India, Bristol Floating Harbour), canals (Ellesmere, Grand Junction, Rochdale, Caledonian, Grand Canal of Ireland), the Trent Navigation and two early railways (Surrey Iron, Kilmarnock & Troon).

Hard back, 315 pages, 5¾" x 8½" approx, 22 photos.

Currently out of print.
Price: £15.50

Book - L.T.C. Rolt, a bibliography Ref: 421
edited and revised by Mark Baldwin.

This is an extended edition of a book first published in 1986. Rolt, a professional writer for 30 years, wrote several dozen important historical works, and many ghost stories, book reviews, articles and published letters. It has 366 entries (78 more than its predecessor) from 1934 (the earliest is a published letter about steam cars) to the reprints and new editions of 1994.

Soft back, 55 pages, 5¾" x 8¼" approx, photos.
Price: £5.80

Book - Landscape Trilogy Ref: 1498
by L.T.C. Rolt.

This book combines the three volumes of his autobiography, Landscape With Machines, Landscape With Canals and Landscape With Figures, and covers his early career running a garage specialising in veteran and vintage cars, through converting the narrowboat Cressy to finally his efforts to preserve historic railways.

Paper back, 246 pages. 5½" x 8½" approx. 26 black & white photos.
Price: £12.60

Book - The Last Number Ones Ref: 1735
edited by Hugh Potter.

Joe & Rose Skinner were the last Number Ones. This book brings together their story along with their long-serving horseboat 'Friendship'.

The book combines the transcripts of inteviews with Joe & Rose, with a history of 'Friendship' and its preservation at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port.

The book is accompanied by a CD-Rom of Brian Vaughton's interviews for a BBC radio documentary recorded in 1961.

Soft back. 96 pages. 6¼" x 9¼" approx, Illustrated with black & white and colour photos.
Price: £19.50

Book - Thomas Telford Ref: 1711
by L.T.C. Rolt.

The son of a shepherd from the Scottish borders, Thomas Telford rose to be the greatest engineer in Victorian Britain, whose bridges, aqueducts, roads and canals combined aesthetic grace with brilliant engineering.

His life spanned one of the most dynamic periods in British history, the decades of the industrial revolution, and no one contributed more to making Britain the 'workshop of the world'.

This book has been reprinted to coincide with the 250th anniversary of his birth.

Soft back, 268 pages, 6¼" x 9¼" approx,
Price: £9.75

Book - Thomas Telford's Temptation Ref: 417
by Charles Hadfield.

For many years Charles Hadfield had been puzzled by the fact that Telford's autobiography makes almost no reference to William Jessop, even though Jessop had been officially appointed as Telford's senior on both the Ellesmere and Caledonian Canals. Hadfield therefore carefully examined all the surviving evidence and made some intriguing discoveries.

All Jessop's personal papers have been lost and all the letters which Jesop wrote to Telford about these two canals have vanished from official archives. Why? The author unfolds a fascinating tale of detection and offers his evidence for the reader to judge.

Hard back, 205 pages, 6" x 9½" approx, 23 illustrations.
Price: £15.50