Bøker av David Elder

Secret Tewkesbury explores the lesser-known history of the town of Tewkesbury through a fascinating selection of stories, unusual facts and attractive photographs.

The life of Dr Edward Thomas Wilson of Cheltenham has never been told. Overshadowed both by his son, the Antarctic explorer who perished with Captain Scott at the South Pole, and his brother, renowned for his heroic attempt to rescue General Gordon at Khartoum, his story is intriguingly complex. A municipal pioneer of Victorian and Edwardian Britain, he instigated modern medical practices, such as isolation fever hospitals, district nursing and clean drinking water. A supporter of science and art he opened the museum which now bears his family's name, and promoted libraries and the local School of Art. A founder of the local camera club (the sixth oldest in the country) he pioneered photomicrography as an amateurs' pursuit, and contributed to numerous associations, not least as President of the Cheltenham Natural Science Society. 'No man has done so much as he to stimulate and promote the intellectual life of the town' proclaimed one of his obituaries in 1918, while the epitaph on his gravestone reads simply, 'He went about doing good'. Drawing on previously unpublished material and sources, this is the first in-depth biography of one of life's 'quiet' heroes.

Cirencester is one of the most remarkable towns in Britain. From its Roman beginnings around AD 75, when it was classed second only in importance to London, to its current status as the 'Capital of the Cotswolds', it has always punched well above its weight. The 'A-side' of its history as a small market town which developed at the centre of the Cotswold wool trade is well documented, but what about its ' ip-side'? Much of the town's fascinating history has either been overlooked or lies hidden below the surface. Well-known local author David Elder delves deep into Cirencester's lost, forgotten and hidden histories, recounting some remarkable stories. Learn, for example, about some of Cirencester's minor celebrities and local characters, including the Victorian female astronomer who became a national expert in sunspots and solar eclipses. He also unearths fascinating facts, celebrating, for example, the town's accolade of having the UK's oldest public outdoor swimming pool in continuous use, and explaining why it was important for passengers travelling on the railways around the mid-nineteenth century to understand that Cirencester time was 7 1/2 minutes earlier than London time. With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, Secret Cirencester will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this town in Gloucestershire.