Bøker av John Bradburn

Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south of Widnes across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn. Upstream and 8 miles to the east of Widnes is the town of Warrington, and downstream 16 miles to the west is the city of Liverpool. Historically part of Lancashire, prior to the Industrial Revolution Widnes consisted of a small number of separate settlements on land which was mainly marsh or moorland. In 1847 the first chemical factory was established and the town rapidly became a major centre of the chemical industry. Widnes continues to be a major manufacturer of chemicals and there has been a degree of diversification of the town's industries. Widnes lies on the southern route of the Liverpool to Manchester railway line. The Sankey Canal (now disused) terminates in an area of Widnes known as Spike Island.

Explore the Cheshire town of Macclesfield in this fully illustrated A-Z guide to its history, people and places.

Despite its size the Cheshire town of Knutsford is full of history, beautiful Italianate architecture and quirky buildings. It is also surrounded by stately homes built by the landed gentry, including Tabley House and Tatton Park. According to legend its name was derived by King Cnut fording the river here; however, this has been disputed by historians as the River Lily is really no more than a brook. Knutsford has an established place in literary history as it provided the inspiration and setting for Elizabeth Gaskell's novel Cranford, in which she describes its characters with gentle humour and affection. Gaskell lived in the town for many years and is buried in the churchyard of Brook Street Unitarian Chapel. In A-Z of Knutsford local authors Jean and John Bradburn take readers on an alphabetical tour of the town's heritage to discover the stories behind its streets and buildings. Interesting facts and intriguing tales are revealed, and the authors introduce some of the town's famous sons and daughters. Local events such as the May Day celebrations, which started in the 1860s, are highlighted together with the Penny Farthing Museum, which organises a three-hour race around the town every ten years. Readers will also learn more about well-known people with connections to Knutsford, including the Second World War US General George Patton, the mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing and Sir Henry Royce of Rolls-Royce fame. Fully illustrated throughout, this book will be of interest to residents, visitors and those with links to the town.

Like many cities in the UK, Manchester has changed dramatically over the years and continues to do so. The 'Second City of Empire' was a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution, especially in textile manufacture, and for a time was the most productive centre of cotton processing in the world. The boom ended as dramatically as it had begun, with the death of the textile industry and waning of the city's role as a major inland port, and the post-war decades were marked by industrial decline, urban decay and mass unemployment as factories and warehouses lay dormant and derelict. By the end of the twentieth century, however, Manchester's fortunes had changed as a massive programme of inner-city regeneration saw the city successfully transform itself into a thriving post-industrial centre of arts, culture and commerce. Lost Manchester describes this remarkable transformation in words and pictures, highlighting the many well-known buildings that are no longer part of the city's landscape. This is a book that will appeal not only to the city's residents but also the many visitors who come here every year to savour its delights.

Explore the fascinating history of Manchester in this fully illustrated A-Z guide to the city's people and places.

A guided tour of Manchester's historic city centre, showing how it has changed and developed over the past century and more.

A guided tour of the historic town of Widnes, showing how it has changed over the past few centuries.

Opened on 17 July 1761, the canal has a special place in history as the first to be built in Britain without following an existing watercourse, and so became a model for those that followed. Affectionately known as the 'Duke's Cut', the Bridgewater Canal revolutionised transport in this country and marked the beginning of the golden canal age, which lasted from 1760 to 1830. However, as the rail network surpassed the canals as a method of transporting goods, the canal fell into disuse and in 1963, just before the great canal revival, the impressive Runcorn locks were filled in. We may still see them again as there are new plans to restore the locks, but the canal remains popular with walkers and pleasure boaters. In this new book, authors Jean and John Bradburn take the reader on a fascinating journey, and show just how the Bridgewater Canal has changed and developed through time.

With a proud history of industry and creativity, Manchester is one of the world's greatest cities. In 2015 it was designated 'The Northern Powerhouse' but, of course, being the home of the Industrial Revolution, it always was. Manchester gave the world technological innovation as well as manufacturing strength. By the second half of the nineteenth century Manchester was home to more than 100 mills and well over 1,000 warehouses. It was in Manchester that Whitworth devised a standard for screw threads in 1841. Here John Dalton developed modern atomic theory, Rutherford split the atom and Alan Turing and colleagues developed the world's first computer. It also has a great cultural heritage, from the Halle Orchestra, founded in 1858, to the first regional repertory theatre set up by Annie Horniman in 1908. 'Madchester' was at the centre of the UK music scene in the '80s. 2015 saw the opening of HOME - a major new million arts centre. The skyline of Manchester is again being transformed. The Victorian men of Manchester would be surprised to see the vast modern buildings that now sit side by side with the old. Here we tell Manchester's story from Roman Britain through to the twenty-first century.