Christopher Vine a Treasury clerk working in solitary piety in the Painted Chamber of the Palace of Westminster is not alone. A killer waits in the draughty hall to ensure Vine will not live to see in the New Year. & Vine is not the only government official to die that season. The Lord Chancellor fears his enemies will skew any investigation to cause him maximum damage so he decides to commission his own inquiries into the murders & with his suspicions centred on Greene another clerk he instructs Thomas Chaloner to prove that Greene is the killer. Chaloner can prove otherwise but unravelling the reasons behind his employer's suspicions is as complex as discovering the motives for the killings. His search for the real murderer plunges him into a stinking seam of corruption that leads towards the Royal apartments & to people determined to make Christmas 1663 Chaloner's last.. . ...

This is the remarkable story of Westminster a royal capital that became the birthplace of parliamentary government & the centre of a world power. It is about the place its people & their close relationship. They have made & shaped one another. The ancient heart of Westminster is only the size of a village yet it boasts world famous buildings: the Abbey the Houses of Parliament & Number 10 Downing Street. As befits a village Westminster is rich in folklore & gossip yet its story is central to Britains history & anywhere that has parliamentary government. This biography of Westminster traces the extraordinary transformation of a secluded island on the banks of the Thames into a spiritual centre a royal ceremonial stage & a political capital. It brings to life the monarchs & prime ministers for whom Westminster has been home the architects & writers whom it inspired & the protestors & rebels whom it provoked. It is a tale of inspiration intrigue power protest & terror. ...

This magnificent book presents a detailed portrait of the buildings the landmarks & the scenery of the old county of Westmorl&. First published in 1975 to mark the incorporation of the county into Cumbria it has been in demand ever since as both a record of a lost county as an informed & engaging record of one of the loveliest & least spoiled parts of Britain where nature culture & history have combined to leave a memorable & exhilarating legacy. Every single parish is included with its notable buildings or landscapes mapped & illustrated & its historical or other features of interest discussed & described. Though written by an amateur for amateurs" the authors deep knowledge of & close familiarity with the countryside pervade & illuminate the text & the two thousand line drawings." ...

Perfect for day trips & short breaks the OS Landranger Map series covers Great Britain with 204 detailed maps. Each map provides all the information you need to get to know your local area &

Includes:: places of interest tourist information picnic areas & camp sites plus Rights of Way information for England & Wales.

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OS Explorer Map is the Ordnance Surveys most detailed map & is recommended for anyone enjoying outdoor activities like walking horse riding & off-road cycling. Providing complete GB coverage the series details essential information such as youth hostels pubs & visitor information as well as rights of way permissive paths & bridleways. ...

Beginning in the fictional seaport of Bideford Quay in Devon during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I Charles Kingsleys monumental novel follows the fortunes of Amyas Leigh a young man who sets sail on a life of adventure on the high seas. After battling pirates & treasure-hunting in the Caribbean & setting out to rescue his beloved Rose Salterne Amyas joins Sir Francis Drake as he prepares to face Englands greatest threat
- the Spanish Armada. Packed with drama excitement & romance Westward Ho!" is a magnificent celebration of an age of exploration discovery & conquest. More than this however the novel also draws parallels between Elizabethan England & mid-nineteenth century Britain when many feared imminent invasion by the French under their Catholic emperor Louis Napoleon. Included is an insightful introduction by historical writer Malcolm Day."
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This fascinating collection of old & new views explores the histories of Weymouth & Portl&. Edwin Seward was a pioneer in news photography recording many dramatic scenes long before photographs were even a feature of newspapers. This book draws upon his postcard views & reveals both towns as they appeared at the dawn of the age of the motorcar. Many of the scenes in this book have changed dramatically over the last century but many others will be instantly recognisable today. Accompanied by informative & entertaining captions exploring the histories of Weymouth & of the Isle of Portland this nostalgic collection will delight both residents & visitors alike. ...

Along with Wolf Solent" "A Glastonbury Romance" & " Maiden Castle" this modern classic originally published in 1934 forms the quartet that are just about the only novels produced by an English writer that can fairly be compared with the fictions of Tolstoy & Dostoyevsky"
- George Steiner " The New Yorker. Drawing on his vivid childhood memories of the seaside town of Weymouth Powys tells the story of Jobber Skald
- a large somewhat brutish man obsessed with the urge to kill the local magnate of the town because of the mans contempt for the workers of the local quarry
- & his redeeming love for Perdita Wane a young girl from the Channel Islands. " Weymouth Sands" boasts a striking collection of human oddities including a famous clown & his mad brother a naive Latin teacher a young philosopher & an abortionist. Against the mysterious & haunting background of the sea the sands & the stones of Dorset coast Powys weaves together his characters ever-fascinating patterns of behaviour into an epic tale which depicts the power of Eros the inscrutability of the universe & the nature of madness while highlightling Powys deep sympathy for the variety eccentricity & essential loneliness of human beings."


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With Weymouth & Portland hosting the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games sailing events the profile of the area will be raised considerably in the years leading up to the Games. Weymouths seaside history & heritage will be a focus of attention & will contribute significantly to the regeneration of the town in the coming years. Weymouth has been a popular seaside resort for over 250 years. Likened to Montpelier & Naples for its natural beauty & healthy climate it received the endorsement of King George III. His presence helped the town to expand rapidly in the late 18th & early 19th centuries resulting in a stunning legacy of seafront terraces that continue to provide accommodation for thousands of holidaymakers each year. Weymouth boasts an eclectic mix of medieval town planning harbour-side industry & former military sites that have had an impact on the towns development as a seaside resort. Many of the buildings associated with declining brewing & maritime industries have now been redeveloped & serve as amenities & accommodation for residents & visitors. An English Heritage opinion poll in 2007 found that seventy-five percent of respondents felt that the historic character of seaside towns is what makes them beautiful & enjoyable. This book describes the colourful story of Weymouths seaside history & the buildings & open spaces that survive to tell this story. It also demonstrates how the historic environment can play an important part in the future development of the town. ...