Simon McNeill-Ritchie – författare

Battersea has grown to be a fashionable and vibrant district of south-west London. Referred to as Patricesy in the Domesday Book, Battersea was historically best known for market gardening, providing fruit, vegetables and flowers for the City of London. However, the area moved from rural to urban with the coming of the railways, industry and large-scale housing from the 1840s, provoking a population growth from 4,000 to 120,000 by the beginning of the twentieth century. Glimpses of the past can still be seen around modern Battersea, but much has changed over the years. Using a selection of old and new photographs, local historians Simon McNeill-Ritchie and Ron Elam trace Battersea's unique journey over the past century. Featuring landmarks such as Battersea Power Station, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Battersea Park, this book is essential reading for anyone who knows and loves this famous South London district.

The district of Wimbledon has become synonymous with its world-famous tennis tournament held here since 1922. This part of south-west London has been inhabited since the Iron Age and has developed over the centuries into two distinct parts: the ‘village’ and the ‘town’. The village developed first as it began to attract wealthy merchants from the city but the arrival of the London & South West Railway in 1838 saw the focus of subsequent developments shift away from the original village towards the town, which is now the main retail centre.Southfields, meanwhile, was still a largely an area of fields between the villages of Wimbledon and Putney until the coming of the railway in the late nineteenth century, connecting Wimbledon to Putney Bridge. Using a selection of old and new photographs, local historians Simon McNeill-Ritchie and Ron Elam trace the distinct journeys of these two suburban districts over the past century, making this book essential reading for anyone who knows and loves this famous part of south London.

This illustrated history portrays one of England’s finest cities. It provides a nostalgic look at Bath’s past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites.The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts.Founded in AD 60–70 by the Roman invaders, and named Aquae Sulis after the hot-water springs with their seemingly magical healing qualities, the town grew to become a popular health spa. It was, however, during the Georgian era that Bath flourished. Jane Austen lived here for a short period and used the city as the setting for Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Historic England: Bath shows the city as it once was, from its perfectly preserved Georgian streets to its sweeping crescents. Today, Bath is a major tourist destination, a World Heritage Centre and a city of international importance. This book will help you discover its remarkable 2,000 years of history.

This illustrated history portrays one of England’s finest cities. It provides a nostalgic look at Bristol’s past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites. The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts.Historic England: Bristol shows the city as it once was, from its streets, squares and parks to its famous old docks. Brycgstow, ‘the place at the bridge’, as the Saxon founders of Bristol once called it, is a city of destiny. Once the second port in the country and one of the wealthiest cities in Britain, it has enjoyed centuries of prosperity based on manufacturing, seafaring and trade. In their stead Bristol has become a thriving national centre for financial and business services, aerospace and advanced engineering, ICT media and creative industries. Bristol truly is one of the country’s greatest cities and this book will help you discover its colourful and fascinating history.

This illustrated history portrays one of England’s finest cities. It provides a nostalgic look at Cambridge’s past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites.The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts.Cambridge first grew as an important trading post during the period of Viking rule in the ninth century, and its position was enhanced in the early twelfth century when Henry I granted the town its first charter, giving Cambridge a monopoly of waterborne traffic and hithe tolls. But it was the founding of the university in 1209 that would change the town’s fortune and put Cambridge on the map. Historic England: Cambridge shows the city as it once was, from its streets and alleys to its famous university buildings. Today, Cambridge is home to one of the world’s top universities, as well as being a major tourist destination and a world-leading centre for scientific research and development. This books helps you discover its remarkable history.