At Work

Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales and since 1996 has been the centre of the county borough. There is evidence of settlement and industry in the county borough since before Roman times. Significant later development took place in the fourteenth century with the growth of a small town and establishment of a market. The county borough has a rich heritage of industry, including coal and lead mining, iron and steel production, and brick and tile making, which developed in the Industrial Revolution. Wrexham town's main industries in the past were brewing and leatherwork, but today it is an administrative, commercial and educational centre. Wrexham at Work explores the county borough's industrial heritage and the working life of its people from its preindustrial beginnings to the present day. The author examines how the massive changes in the patterns of work have affected the area. During the late eighteenth century much of the county borough was heavily industrialised. In the last century Wrexham entered the post-heavy industrial world and the author looks at how the county borough adapted to these changes. Illustrated throughout, with colour and archive material, this book will appeal to local people and those interested in the industrial heritage of North Wales.

The market town of Petersfield lies on the edge of the beautiful South Downs, and it has much to thank its idyllic location for. From medieval origins its prosperity was based on the rural economy of sheep farming, hop growing and cottage industries. It was also an important stagecoach stop on the route from London to Portsmouth.Like many small towns, it was transformed by the railway, which arrived in 1859 and brought trade, industry and a surge in both people and buildings. Building expansion in the Victorian era included the Corn Exchange, schools, a courthouse, churches and a cottage hospital.In a fascinating series of contemporary photographs and illustrations, Petersfield at Work explores the life of this Hampshire town and its people, from its pre-industrial beginnings, through two world wars, and into the twenty-first century.

The small market town of Bungay, situated close to the River Waveney on the Norfolk-Suffolk border, has been continuously settled by Iron Age, Roman and Saxon communities. The town achieved considerable prominence and prosperity when the wealthy Bigod family, Earls of Norfolk, established a castle fortress here in c. 1165. By the eighteenth century it had grown into a thriving market town and became known as 'Little London'. The river navigation increased with the supply of timber, coals, malt, and dairy products to British troops during the Napoleonic Wars. Brewing became an increasingly important trade and in the nineteenth century a local printing business flourished, benefitting from innovations in technology and the production of affordable Bibles. In 1877 it was taken over by the London firm of Clay's, and continues today as one of the world's largest producers of books. A silk factory provided work for 300 employees. Rail goods and passenger transport commenced in 1860, but had partly an adverse effect, encouraging locals to shop in the larger towns, and by the early twentieth century agricultural depression brought economic decline. With the outbreak of war and conscription, pubs also suffered and many closed – only eleven of the original thirty-three survived at the end of the century. The Waveney silted up, so navigation and contact with the Broads and local ports ceased. In a fascinating series of contemporary photographs and illustrations, Bungay At Work explores the life of this East Anglian town and its people, from its pre-industrial beginnings, through two world wars and into the twenty-first century as Bungay reinvents itself as a tourist destination.

Workington has long been a producer of coal and steel. The huge Cumbrian iron ore field lies to the south of the town and with the local coalfield providing energy for steel production, the world's first large-scale steelworks was opened in the Moss Bay area of the town. The Moss Bay Steelworks closed in 1982, followed by the closure of the last local coal mine in 1986. After the loss of the two industries on which Workington was built – coal and steel – Workington and the whole of West Cumbria became an unemployment blackspot. Today, many of Workington's residents are employed outside the town in the nuclear industry, located in and around Sellafield, West Cumbria's dominant employment sector.Workington at Work explores the life of this West Cumbrian town and its people, from pre-industrial beginnings through to the present day. In a fascinating series of contemporary photographs and illustrations, it looks at the impact that the Industrial Revolution had on the population and the consequences of rapid urbanisation, the changes in the industrial landscape during the Victorian era, and the impact of war and the post-war decline of its heavy industries. It takes us through the years of depression and decay to twenty-first-century regeneration and projects such as the £50-million Washington Square shopping centre and mixed use complex, named as the 'best commercial project' in north-west England.

Bradford is rightly proud of its industrial heritage. This West Yorkshire city rose to prominence during the nineteenth century as an international centre of textile manufacturing, particularly worsted. It was a boomtown of the Industrial Revolution, becoming known worldwide as 'Worstedopolis'. The area's access to a supply of coal, iron ore and soft water facilitated the growth of Bradford's manufacturing base, which, as textile manufacturing grew, led to an explosion in population. Bradford at Work explores the life of the city and its people, from pre-industrial beginnings through to the present day. In a fascinating series of photographs and illustrations it takes us from the city's early days as a major steel town and then a growing centre of the wool trade, through the Industrial Revolution, the traumas of the war years, post-war industrial decline and into the technologically advanced world of today. It shows how Bradford has transformed itself from a textile town into a centre of education and innovation, as well as a burgeoining tourist destination, becoming the first UNESCO City of Film with attractions such as the National Media Museum, Bradford City Park, and the Alhambra Theatre. The book also covers industry in neighbouring Saltaire and Shipley, chapters on the often forgotten local cotton industry, the industrial village of Ripley Ville and Leeds Bradford Airport.

The popular north Wales seaside resort of Llandudno has a surprisingly long and intriguing history that predates the development of the present town, though its influence is still very apparent today. In the mid-nineteenth century major changes saw a new town emerging, one dominated by services for holidaymakers and visitors. Founded by Lord Mostyn and his family, this multifaceted industry embraced hotels, stagecoaches, traditional Punch and Judy, postcard kings, museums, the lifeboat, Bronze Age copper mines and colourful characters such as the famous 'birdman' of the early 1900s, to name but a few of those people who have worked – and continue to work – in many and varied ways to serve the tourist industry and the town. Illustrated with a fascinating series of contemporary and rare historical photographs, local author Peter Johnson explores the life of the 'Queen of the Welsh Resorts' from its earliest days, through two world wars and into the twenty-first century as Llandudno continues to evolve and thrive as a popular holiday destination.

The London commuter town of Amersham, in Buckinghamshire, is made up of two distinct areas: Old Amersham, set in the valley of the River Misbourne, which contains the thirteenth-century parish church of St Mary's and several old pubs and coaching inns; and Amersham-on-the-Hill, which grew rapidly around the railway station in the early part of the twentieth century. Old Amersham grew around trade in agricultural produce, mainly grain, much of which was sold to London merchants. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries a key industry in the town was brewing. In addition, tanning, lace manufacture and brick-making all had a prominent place in the manufacturing past of the town. During the Second World War, the Radiochemical Centre, a scientific research establishment, arrived in the town. This became Amersham International, then Amersham plc, and now, after a number of changes of ownership and name, is part of GE Healthcare. In a fascinating series of photographs and illustrations, Amersham at Work explores the life of this Chilterns town and its people, from its pre-Industrial beginnings, through two world wars and into the twenty-first century.

Doncaster has always benefited from its location. It stands on the Great North Road, superseded by the A1, the primary route for all traffic from London to Edinburgh, and due to its strategic geographical importance it emerged as an industrial centre in the mid-nineteenth century. Beneath the town lies a huge coal seam and it was this that prompted Doncaster's exponential population growth. In the early part of the twentieth century Doncaster became one of the largest coal mining areas in the country, with the industry becoming one of the most significant local employers. Doncaster at Work explores the life of the town and its people, from pre-industrial beginnings through to the present day. In a fascinating series of photographs and illustrations it takes us through the rise of the coal industry and the town's role as a major railway engineering centre, the closure of several collieries in the mid-1980s and subsequent loss of many other tertiary industries, and into the twenty-first century as the town's fortunes have changed with the redevelopment and rejuvenation of its centre.

Manchester is a city with an unparalleled industrial heritage. It gave the world technological innovation as well as manufacturing strength. The city's wealth came from textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution. The great majority of cotton spinning took place in south Lancashire and north Cheshire, and Manchester was for a time the most productive centre of cotton processing in the world, earning it the sobriquet 'Cottonopolis'. Manchester's population grew at an astonishing rate in the early nineteenth century as people flocked there for work from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and other parts of England. The firms that made machines for the cotton trade diversified into general manufacture, the chemical industry expanded into other areas, financial service industries such as banking and insurance began to flourish and its transport and distribution infrastructure expanded in order to sustain booming trade and agrowing population. Manchester at Work explores the life of the city and its people, from pre-industrial beginnings through to the present day. In a fascinating series of contemporary photographs and illustrations, it takes us through the dramatic rise and fall of the textile industry and the town's role as a major inland port, the trauma of high unemployment between the wars, post-war industrial decline and late twentieth-century regeneration, and into the twenty-first century, showing how this erstwhile 'Second City of Empire' has rediscovered its swagger and successfully transformed itself into a thriving post-industrial centre of arts, culture and commerce.

- The latest title in Amberley's exciting new 'At Work' series - Potential review coverage in local press and media

The history of Greenwich in South East London is defined by its location on the Southbank of the River Thames and its proximity to central London. Since its foundation, the people of Greenwich have worked in maritime industries and served the great metropolis, as well as everyday occupations and trades in the town. Greenwich Palace was the home of the Tudor monarchs, later becoming the Royal Naval Hospital then the Royal Naval College, and at the other end of the social scale the Greenwich peninsula has been home to many of those who worked in London's industries and in the docks nearby, accessible through the foot tunnel under the river. Greenwich Power Station was built to power London's trams and underground railways and today the old industrial area of North and East Greenwich is home to the O2 Arena and the Millennium Village built on the site of a submarine cable manufacturer. The centre of Greenwich is today a mixture of old and new, the centuries-old market continuing to attract many new visitors. Greenwich at Work explores the working life of this South East London town and its people, and the industries that have characterised it. The book will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of Greenwich.

The city of Newport, lying on the River Usk in South Wales, has been an important port serving Wales since medieval times. The Industrial Revolution brought enormous wealth to Newport, when it became the centre of coal exports from the Welsh Valleys, and although the docks have declined in recent years, large areas of Newport are being regenerated and the city still retains significant industries. Newport at Work explores the history of the city through the work and industries that have characterised it. The docks have played a vital role in the history of Newport, with its many ancillary industries that grew up with the docks, including the railways from the valleys. During the US Civil War many blockade runners came to Newport. The city was also the home of the Mole Wrench, Pell's Mint Humbugs and Lovell Confectionary's Milky Lunch, and the author includes the story of other businesses and shops since the late Victorian period. Recent industries include microbreweries and specialised crafts. This book will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of Newport.

Despite its remote location, surrounded by the high ground of the North York Moors, Whitby has featured significantly in history throughout the years. One of the earliest records of Whitby is from AD 656, when Oswy, a Christian king of Northumbria, founded the first abbey there. In AD 664, the town was the setting for the famous Synod of Whitby. It was the town's coastal location that would ensure its success as it grew to become a major fishing port and an important base for the whaling industry. The town's jet jewellery industry flourished in the second half of the nineteenth century after Queen Victoria made the famous black gemstone fashionable as a mourning accessory. Whitby has been a popular tourist destination ever since the Victorian period and today continues as a major attraction, helped in no small part by its associations with Dracula and the hugely popular Goth Weekend, when people come from far and wide to pay homage. Whitby at Work explores the life of this picturesque Yorkshire coastal town and its people, from pre-industrial beginnings through to the present day, in a fascinating series of photographs and and informative text.

The Shropshire town of Shrewsbury grew first as a major wool trading centre. Later this was replaced by a trade in woven Welsh cloth, which continued until the eighteenth century when more efficient production was introduced with the coming of the Industrial Revolution. The town played its part in the Industrial Revolution when ironmaster William Hazledine created his ironworks in Coleham and manufactured the bridges designed by civil engineer Thomas Telford. With the coming of the railways markets opened up for Shropshire's agricultural products and agricultural engineers such as Thomas Corbett could also get their products to a far wider market. The Sentinel Steam Wagon Company relocated to Shrewsbury from Glasgow in 1915, and after diesel replaced steam they made diesel engines for lorries and buses.In a fascinating series of contemporary photographs and illustrations, Shrewsbury at Work explores the life of this Shropshire town and its people, from its pre-industrial beginnings, through the Second World War when Bren gun carriers and diesel engines for British Army tanks were manufactured in the town, into the technologically advanced world of today as manufacturing and specialist engineering continue to be important employment sectors.

Peterborough's origins can be traced back to ancient settlements on dry land by the River Nene after the building of the medieval cathedral. Its main growth period started in the nineteenth century when it became a railway city and a major industrial centre. It was particularly known for brickmaking and the London Brick Company's factory supplied bricks for the whole country, but other industries were also important, including prominent names such as Perkins Engines. Other historic industries reflected Peterborough's location at the edge of the Fens, such as British Sugar Ltd and barge transporters along the waterways. Today, light industry and services predominate, but the city remains one of the fastest growing areas in the country. Peterborough at Work explores the working life of this East Anglian city and its people, and the industries that have characterised it through the ages. This book will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of Peterborough.

Leicester is proud of its industrial heritage. The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the city's population grow rapidly with the construction of the Grand Union Canal and the arrival of the railway, which not only provided a supply of coal to the town from nearby collieries but also linked the town to the national network. These developments encouraged and accompanied a process of industrialisation that intensified throughout the Victorian era; hosiery, textiles, and footwear became the major industrial employers. Leicester at Work explores the life of the East Midlands' largest city and its people, from pre-industrial beginnings through to the present day. In a fascinating series of contemporary photographs and illustrations it takes readers through the city's dramatic industrial growth, the steady decline in Leicester's traditional manufacturing industries during the post-war years and their replacement by new jobs in the service sector, particularly in retail. It takes us into the technologically advanced world of today, showing how Leicester has reinvented itself as a major distribution centre and how the city has managed to attract new service and manufacturing businesses through its academic-industrial connections with the engineering departments at Leicester University, De Montfort University and nearby Loughborough University.

The island of Anglesey, lying off the coast of north-west Wales, has experienced waves of invasions over the centuries. Its inhabitants have worked on the land, surrounding waters and local industries through the many changes that have taken place on Anglesey up to the present day. Agriculture has played an important role on the island, but its natural resources have also been exploited and harnessed, from copper and coal mining, iron extraction, stone quarrying, to wind and tidal mills and the now decommissioned nuclear power station at Wylfa. Maritime activities have included shipbuilding, fishing, whaling, lighthouses and lifeboat stations and the island has also been an important militarily home of the Catalina factory and RAF Valley. The port of Holyhead has long been important for people travelling between Britain and Ireland, and roads, railways and bridges built on the island by Telford and Stephenson during the Industrial Revolution onwards still facilitate the tourism trade today, which is a significant element of Anglesey's economy. Anglesey at Work explores the working life of this island in North Wales. This book will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of Anglesey.