Pitkin – författare

This charming little book provides a feast of original recipes from Victorian times, which are still perfectly reliable today. How about spring soup or mayonnaise of chicken in shells to start? Followed by toad in the hole made with steak and kidney, maybe served with asparagus pudding? And for dessert there could be canary pudding with a sweet sauce, or perhaps the exotic pears à l’allemande? Interspersed with delightful illustrations, Victorian Recipes is sure to make a welcome addition to the recipe collection of any keen cook, and a nostalgic and thoughtful gift for those who love all things from the Victorian era.

WELLS CATHEDRAL - GERMAN

Textus Roffensis was written out by a scribe in 1122 - he was copying out a code of law that had first been issued by Ethelbert, the first Christian King of Kent, in about 607. These were the first laws to be written in English for Englishmen. Today, this manuscript remains in the care of Rochester Cathedral. Following the Norman Conquest, at a time of great change, the monks of Rochester felt their independence and financial security were under threat. To defend themselves and secure their future they wrote Textus Roffensis. It provided the monks with an effective legal code with which to reinforce their claims to privileges and possessions. The book is made up of two parts and it is not known why they were bound together - an expensive process. One theory is that the monks were attempting to hide evidence of forged manuscripts. Produced by Rochester Cathedral, and including images of the pages themselves, this book outlines the intriguing history of Textus Roffensis.

The Victorians gave us many of the Christmas traditions we enjoy today, from putting up Christmas trees to pulling crackers.This handy, pocket-sized colouring book embodies these customs in 45 unique illustrations. Colour in Victorian fireplaces adorned with stockings, St Nicholas with his sack full of presents, and scenes from the nativity. Why not de-stress and take a break over the Christmas period?

Sir Robert Hunter (1844–1913) is one of three figures regarded as the principal founders of the National Trust. It was he who came up with the idea for the organization, paved the way for its legal creation and served as its first Chairman. Hunter was never one to crave public attention; nevertheless he was a highly influential figure behind the scenes of the late-Victorian movement for landscape and building preservation in Britain. His love of nature, of open spaces, and of the infinite pleasures to be had from countryside resulted in the saving of open landscapes – including preventing the enclosure of Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest¬ – along with the protection of footpaths and ancient monuments. Hunter’s death aged 69 in 1913 was a tragic loss. A century later we remember the many achievements of this ‘faithful servant of the people’.