Bøker av Tony Lancaster

Madeley parish is situated in the north-west corner of Staffordshire. It is set in an attractive landscape of hills and meadows. The present appearance of the parish is both revealing and deceptive in terms of its historical past. The medieval church and its surroundings, the Old Hall and Madeley Pool all suggest a parish that has developed over many centuries and is typical of rural Staffordshire. Based on the presence of coal and iron and helped by a network of railways, nineteenth century Madeley saw substantial changes. By the middle of the twentieth century there was little of that industrial activity left. Its hub, the coal mine, closed and the village of Leycett virtually disappeared. This book goes on a visual journey through the parish and attempts to illustrate both continuity and change.

Audley Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the country. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of Audley, its well-known streets and famous faces, and what they meant to the people of this town throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos, readers can see the historical context in which they are set, and through the author's factual captions for every picture, and carefully-selected choice of images, the reader can achieve a reliable view of this village's history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of Audley, as Tony Lancaster guides us through the local streets. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in the area all their lives, or whether they are just visiting for the first time. Audley Through Time also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever changing society.

At first sight, nothing seems to distinguish the North Staffordshire villages of Knutton, Silverdale and Chesterton. They all have the appearance of residential, dormitory areas of that town. However, within the pages of this book, a rich store of photographs and information detailing the past point to a fascinating history. These three villages in fact played a major part in the development of North Staffordshire's industrial strength in the nineteenth century. The area, once rich in the essential ingredients of industrial change - coal and iron - has developed in many ways over recent years. Almost all this heavy industry has now disappeared, but it is by no means forgotten. A detailed insight into the local history of this area, coupled with old and new photographs, enables the reader to understand the rich industrial past once experienced by the people of the three communities in their everyday lives.

At the northern end of the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Kidsgrove and Butt Lane were quiet and rural areas of scattered settlements that became an industrial centre of great importance in the economy of North Staffordshire. Today, the areas are largely residential, with housing belonging mainly from the post-war era onwards. Coal mines and ironworks changed the landscape and population and housing increased; development by the Trent and Mersey Canal and the arrival of the railway allowed the area to flourish. Nowadays, most of the heavy industry has declined and many once-familiar sights have been swept away. However, it is possible to recreate something of the atmosphere of this industrial past and its social consequences through the illustrations and detail that accompany them. Drawing on a rich store of photographs and historical information, this book reveals a fascinating past for readers to enjoy as local author Tony Lancaster guides us through the streets, revealing the changing faces of Kidsgrove and Butt Lane.