This fascinating insight into London's docklands is the result of extensive research into an part of London that has intrigued the author for many years. In its heyday, the area was dominated by the Port of London; a sprawling network of quays, ancient wharves, deep canals & high-walled basins that stretched along the river Thames from the City to Tilbury. Two or three generations ago, London Docks provided employment for over 100, 000 men, but the demise of London's docklands in the late 20th century ended a tradition of waterside industry that had existed in London since Roman times. Yet the Docks themselves still stand defiantly; too expensive (and expansive) to be attractive to property developers despite the fact that most are sited in prime real estate areas. For the foreseeable future, the Docks will remain part of London, a visual reminder that for a time, Britannia did indeed rule the waves. This splendid book chronicles the rise & fall of this most under-explored part of historical London by plundering the wealth of evidence left behind by the people who worked, lived & visited the area. From archaeological finds through to diaries, newspaper articles, census returns & personal interviews, the lost docks of London are rediscovered through fascinating tales of Medieval mercers, river pirates, shipbuilders, merchant adventurers, mud larks, Dockers, socialist agitators, brothel keepers & opium eaters to name but a few. London's docklands & its people were hugely influential not only in shaping the commercial destiny of the capital but also the development & social structure of the entire eastern side of the city. At this uncertain & precarious point in their history, it is important that their story is told before all remnants of their illustrious past are erased forever. ...

Every inhabitant of London & its satellites knows of the Underground (Tube) network; most have travelled on the system at least once in their lives. However, fewer are aware of the fascinating, multi-faceted story of the self-contained world constructed beneath London since the mid-Victorian era. This does not only include London Underground but also the forgotten Post Office railway, tunnels for underground rivers & waterways, foot tunnels, vast complexes of sewers & politicians' bunkers
- an entire subterranean world where large numbers of people have spent much of their lives. Following the often pioneering development of these structures, London's Labyrinth explores the visionary, groundbreaking & sometimes dark history of the world beneath London's streets. Following Joseph Bazalgette's construction of one of the first modern sewerage systems during the Victorian age, all manner of fascinating stories emerge. London's Labyrinth also exposes the sinister side of the subterranean city in Victorian times: from the shocking bomb attacks on the Metropolitan & District Lines in 1883 to the sad tale of unrequited love at Charing Cross, where a young man shot the object of his affections before turning the gun on himself. By its very nature, 'underworld' London has also been a popular resort of thieves & the book relates outrageous tales of robberies such as that of the unfortunate William Frost, shot during a mugging on the Metropolitan Line in 1910, & the severely injured robbery victim found wandering along the line between Gower Street & King's Cross in 1888. It has also witnessed some of the worst tragedies in London's history: from the Moorgate tube disaster & the King's Cross fire to mass deaths in underground World War 2 shelters & modern-day terrorist attacks. Such tragic tales are interspersed with the lighter but no less fascinating stories of London's numerous disused railways, its 'ghost stations', tunnels & bunkers. In the 21st century underground London remains an essential part of the capital's life, & this book will enrich any journey (real or imaginary) through the city's subterranean labyrinth, illuminating the lives of all who live in, work in or simply pass through London.
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London's Lost Tube Schemes by Anthony Badsley-Ellis published by Capital Transport describes the scramble for new tube lines in Victorian & Edwardian London, illustrating the various projects with maps & diagrams. As private & institutional finance was tempted by the promise of moneymaking schemes (shades of the dot.com bubble?) over forty unfulfilled projects were presented to Parliament between 1880 & the start of the First World War. The book describes these projects, as well as proposed variations to the lines which were eventually constructed. The accompanying list of over 90 abbreviations of railway company names, from B&PRC (Brompton & Piccadilly Circus Railway) through L&PECC (London & Provincial Electric Construction Company) or MARC&CS (Marble Arch, Regents Circus & City Subway) & SK&K&MAS (South Kensington & Knightsbridge & Marble Arch Subways) to W&WR (Waterloo & Whitehall Railway) gives some glimpse of the problems! ...

London's Overground by John Glover from Ian Allan Publishing describes the history of the network, first called by this name in 2007, which covers a significant number of surface railway lines within the Greater London area. The book traces the history of these previously unrelated lines & demonstrates how they have been brought together, as well as examines other projects & how they relate to the London Overground network: High Speed Rail, Crossrail, etc. Illustrated with over 180 mono & colour photos & maps, each with a detailed caption, the books deals with the transformation of what in places was one of the capital ...

Map of Greater London's passenger rail network, with the tube lines in background grey & the mainline railway networks into & out of the city fore grounded in legend-coded colours. Due to the privatisation of the rail network in the 1990's, many new passenger & freight train operators now serve London. Current services are identified on the fold out map, as produced by London's Transport Museum, which is of particular benefit to businesses, professional planners & map enthusiasts. ...

Following in the bestselling footsteps of the Strangest series, London is now available in a beautiful special gift format
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London's Theatres is a lavishly illustrated book covering more than 50 of Central London's most famous & historically significant theatres. The text combined with images of the theatres helps to honour London's glorious theatrical heritage & also offers the reader an accessible source of reference. Suitable as a souvenir for visitors, for theatre-going Londoners or anyone with an interest in British history & architecture, the guide features specially commissioned photographs & a foreword by Zoe Wanamaker CBE. From the Savoy Theatre's spectacularly restored Art Deco auditorium to the Donmar Warehouse's whimsical conversion of a beer & bananas warehouse, London's rich cultural heritage is revealed from a new & dynamic perspective. ...

London's Underground by John Glover from Ian Allan Publishing, published regularly for over half a century & now in its fully updated & re-illustrated 11th edition, is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive general histories of the network. The current edition, published in 2010, updates the previous 2003 version to take account of the more recent developments & challenges for the future. The book is vividly illustrated with photos of stations, rolling stock & important junctions, all accompanied by informative captions. ...

Victoria Embankment, known simply to Londoners as ' The Embankment' has been a feature of the metropolitan scene since 1889 when it was built concurrently with the District Railway. This book provides a history of the thoroughfare, its transport links & its bridges. There is also a chapter on various unrealised schemes for a Charing Cross road bridge. ...

” Amazing & Extraordinary Facts: London” is a unique collection of strange laws, heroic deeds, surprising revelations & other quirky stories that have shaped the unique history of Britain`s capital. London`s long history is an extraordinarily rich source of amazing facts, whether your interest is political, social, architectural or historical, you will find a variety of topics in this alternative guide to London. Brief, accessible & entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip in to. The amazing & extraordinary facts series presents interesting, surprising & little-known facts & stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb & entertain in equal measure. ...