June and Vernon Bull – författare

Peterborough grew up around its cathedral, originally founded as an Anglo-Saxon monastery, but it was only in the nineteenth century that this city on the edge of the Fens started to grow to its present size as one of the largest cities in the east of England. The arrival of the railways and development of new industries in the early nineteenth century brought large numbers of people to Peterborough, and the expansion continued with its designation as a New Town in the 1960s, which led to a large programme of house building and redevelopment of the city centre.A–Z of Peterborough reveals the history behind the city’s streets and buildings, industries, and the people connected with it. Alongside the famous historical connections are unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are less well known. Readers will discover tales of the importance of brickmaking, the tragic accident of a Victorian lady balloonist and parachutist, a pioneering eighteenth-century botanist and riots during the First World War among many other fascinating facts in this tour of Peterborough’s history. It is fully illustrated throughout and will appeal to all those with an interest in this city in the east of England.

Peterborough is a modern city with an ancient past. The settlement grew around a monastery founded by the Anglo-Saxons, which became an important abbey church in Norman England and would go on to become the city’s famed cathedral. The Industrial Revolution and the arrival of the railways transformed the market town into an industrial centre. After being designated a New Town, Peterborough was further transformed in the 1960s and 1970s with a massive new building programme. From a past that includes Victorian election riots and a mythical black hellhound, the modern, diverse city is one of the fastest-growing areas of the country.Drawing on archive material as well as their own extensive local knowledge, June and Vernon Bull present a fresh look at the city of Peterborough – from a slightly different angle – as they delve into lesser-known but fascinating tales from the city’s past. Quirky Peterborough celebrates the unusual and often strange history of Peterborough and its characters over the years. This intriguing insight into Peterborough will be of interest to all those who want to know more about the city’s quirky history.