Anthony Poulton-Smith – författare

Some maintain that ley lines are the result of some 'earth force', others that they are the earliest routes marked out across the land. In his new book Anthony Poulton-Smith examines the origins and meanings of these ancient trackways, tracing them on foot and taking in markers that have been in existence for millennia to travel in a straight line from Shropshire and Gloucestershire in the west to Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire in the east. Whether they are tracked by dowsing or by a simple line on a map, Ley Lines across the Midlands is a fascinating read for walkers, historians, visitors and locals alike, and provides a very different view of the ancient history of the Midlands.

Anthony Poulton-Smith takes the reader on a fascinating A-Z tour of the haunted hotspots of Worcestershire. Contained within the pages of this book are strange tales of spectral sightings, active poltergeists and restless spirits appearing in streets, inns, churches, estates, public buildings and private homes across the area. They include tales from Worcester, Bewdley, Droitwich, Bromsgrove, Tenbury Wells and Stourport-on-Severn. This new collection of stories, a product of both historical accounts and numerous interviews conducted with local witnesses, is sure to appeal to all those intrigued by Worcestershire's haunted heritage.

From its earliest beginnings through to the last days of the Second World War, Staffordshire’s county town has seen more than its fair share of gore. Its history is filled with blood, disease, pestilence, poison, dismemberment, decapitation, suicides and hauntings. Featuring life – and death – at Stafford Gaol, the sanguineous siege of the castle and many other tragic true tales from history, you’ll never see it in the same way again!

Beneath the surface of the Potteries lies a little-known world that encompasses the history of the six towns that historically make up this area – Stoke, Burslem, Hanley, Fenton, Tunstall and Longton and the conurbation in North Staffordshire that has grown from these towns. The towns are closely linked geographically and also through their association with the ceramic industry, when the area became the biggest producer of pottery in the country during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Caves and underground tunnels can be found throughout the area and man-made excavations lie beneath the towns that were forged in the Industrial Revolution.In this book local historian Anthony Poulton-Smith takes readers on a tour of the Potteries towns and immediate surrounding area underground, exploring natural and man-made caves, canal and railway tunnels, hidden routes and cellars with a story to tell, passageways from houses, churches, hotels and pubs, and secret military installations. The stories include the bizarre and tragic, and this fascinating portrait of the Potteries underground will interest all those who know the area.

Birmingham is England’s second-largest city and it was the Industrial Revolution that kick-started its growth. The city grew rapidly in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as the area became home to a host of factories and workshops. Working conditions were hard and the population crowded in back-to-back houses with little sanitation. Disease ran alongside deprivation, and despite the city’s efforts at sanitation the canals became foul dumping grounds. Crime was harshly punished and prison conditions were fearful.In A Dark History of Birmingham author Anthony Poulton-Smith delves into the often lesser-known but darker stories from Birmingham’s past. This fascinating insight into Birmingham will be of interest to all those who want to know more about the city’s remarkable history.

A look at the history of crimes along Great Britain''s canal network, from the author of The Origins of English Pub Names. Throughout our islands'' history, we find tales of thieves, smugglers, thugs, and murderers. Books have been written retelling tales of bandits, footpads, highwaymen, et al, attacking the lone traveler, the horseman, the coachman, shipping line, locomotive engineer, lorry or van driver, and even pilot. Yet for almost two centuries, the majority of goods have travelled on Britain''s famed canal network. This also attracted felons of all kinds, and yet these many tales had been ignored, until now. Within these pages, all manner of crimes are covered. From murders to muggings, parental problems to pilfering, arson, assault, smugglers, counterfeiters, and even road rage (albeit canal-style). But it is not all morbid and misery. Humor also plays a significant part in these tales. Why would a hungry man steal the inedible? Follow the policeman on foot chasing down a thief on board the narrowboat. Discover what really does lie beneath the waters of the canal. Learn canal etiquette, the hardships, the kindness, and the cruelty. From an author whose fascination with etymology has produced many books on origins of place names, leading to an interest in the historical modes of travel across our islands, this book is the latest to follow old routes and those found along them.

Ever wondered why our towns and villages are so named? Were they a deliberate creation by our ancestors or did they evolve naturally over time? Which Somerset village was held by the Pope at the time of Domesday? Who was Tom Mogg? Which village was named after the plant which inspired the inventor of Velcro? In these pages we examine the origins of the names with which we are otherwise so familiar. Towns, villages, districts, hills, streams, woods, farms, fields, streets and even pubs are examined and explained.

This dictionary of Nottinghamshire place-names examines their origins and meanings. It includes not only towns, villages and hamlets, but also rivers, streams, Hills, fields and woods, as well as streets, buildings and public houses. A comprehensive description of the origin and evolution of each name is given, which brings to life the history of the place in a new and remarkably revealing way. Few are aware of the background of the names that are part of our everyday language, and Anthony Poulton-Smith brings this aspect of Nottinghamshire's rich history to life.