Secret (Bull)

The seaside town of Broadstairs lies on the Isle of Thanet in East Kent. Situated on the cliffs above the bay, the town gained its name from the stairs that were cut into the chalk cliffs down to the shore. Fishing and smuggling were the mainstays of Broadstairs until much-improved transport connections to London in the nineteenth century led to the development of Broadstairs as a modern seaside resort, though still retaining its historical character. In this book author Andy Bull delves into the fascinating history of Broadstairs, including characters associated with the town such as the scandalous eighteenth-century politician Charles Fox, Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins and Oscar Wilde, as well as the creators of Billy Bunter and The Clangers. The tales of the town include the country's oldest lighthouse, the smuggler presented to Queen Victoria and the preserved German shell hole in the house of the proprietor of the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror, which was intended for Lord Northcliffe himself, and many more remarkable stories.Secret Broadstairs explores the lesser-known episodes in the history of the town through the years. With tales of remarkable people, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, it will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this seaside town in Kent.

The seaside town of Ramsgate in Kent developed as an important port in medieval England, associated with the Cinque Port of Sandwich. Close to the Continent, its harbour was a major embarkation point for the Napoleonic Wars and during the Dunkirk evacuation in the Second World War. In the nineteenth century Ramsgate became popular as a seaside resort, and was the home of architect A. W. Pugin, who built several buildings in the town, and later Vincent van Gogh lived and worked as a teacher in Ramsgate. Today Ramsgate is the major fishing port on the Kent coast and also attracts visitors to its large marina and beaches.In this book author Andy Bull reveals the hidden history of Ramsgate, from the landing of Roman invasion forces, St Augustine's mission to bring Christianity to this country, the famous writers who lived in or regularly visited the town such as Wilkie Collins, Jane Austen, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and how the future Queen Victoria almost died here and the crucial role of a Ramsgate doctor in saving her life, to the country's only royal harbour, the secret harbour built at Richborough to transport munitions during the First World War and the vast network of tunnels built to shelter 60,000 people during the Second World War. With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and buildings lost or hidden, and fully illustrated throughout, Secret Ramsgate will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this Kentish town.

Peterborough in Cambridgeshire is well known for its magnificent medieval cathedral and today is one of the UK's fastest-growing cities. Its history stretches back many centuries, from its status as the Soke of Peterborough, originally considered part of Northamptonshire, through to its development in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as the largest brick producer in the country. Much has been written about its historical past, but in this book local historians June and Vernon Bull explore the lesser-known episodes and characters in the city's history. They reveal how kings came to venerate St Oswald's arm, and how the city witnessed the last public execution and was the last place to have the Riot Act read. They look at the park made of bricks, the city's oldest business, the sexton who buried two queens, wartime visits by Hollywood legends and many more secret stories. With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked-away historical buildings, Secret Peterborough will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this fascinating city.