A Z Of Curious Devon

The lifestyles of the people of Devon have traditionally been as diverse as its spectacular scenery. Little wonder then that the county’s curious stories are so numerous and so varied. Including a train trapped in a giant snowdrift in Devon’s worst blizzard; Lapford’s murderous parson; Devon’s ill-fated involvement in D-Day at Slapton Sands; black magic on Dartmoor; visitations by the Devil in South Devon; as well as witchcraft; heroes; piracy; record breakers; villains and eccentrics, this cornucopia of the peculiar and marvellous elements of Devon’s history will surprise and delight everyone who knows and loves this county

The lifestyles of the people of Devon have traditionally been as diverse as its spectacular scenery. Little wonder then that the county's curious stories are so numerous and so varied. Including a train trapped in a giant snowdrift in Devon's worst blizzard; Lapford's murderous parson; Devon's ill-fated involvement in D-Day at Slapton Sands; black magic on Dartmoor; visitations by the Devil in South Devon; as well as witchcraft; heroes; piracy; record breakers; villains and eccentrics, this cornucopia of the peculiar and marvellous elements of Devon's history will surprise and delight everyone who knows and loves this county

Traditionally, Devon was seen as unimportant because of its distance from London and its bad roads – lesser, it was thought, than the historical capital or culturally rich home counties. How wrong could non-Devonians have been? The county is all about its splendid prehistoric and historic remains, its myths, and its maritime legacy. That's not to forget the tenacious people who have lived there for thousands of years: wreckers, misbehaving clergymen, eccentrics and determined women who bucked the trends. From stories of early man right up to modern times and every period in-between, Devon (and this book) has it all.

Explore the wonderful city of Exeter in this fully illustrated A-Z guide to its history, people and places.

Flintshire, the northern gateway to Wales, is a county rich in heritage. It is home to ancient artefacts, medieval buildings and country houses, and has had many fascinating residents such as the grand old man of politics, W.E. Gladstone, and the famous naturalist and writer, Thomas Pennant. As with much of Wales, Flintshire is also a place of myth and legends, from missing monks to maids in wells. This wonderful compendium of curious anecdotes and curiosities relates tales from the county's rich history. Beautifully illustrated, it is great for dipping into, but can equally be enjoyed from cover to cover.

Kent is well-known for hops, oysters, the Channel Tunnel and Chatham Dockyard, but sandwiched between these are towns and villages that each have a story to tell. The A-Z of Curious Kent takes you off the beaten track, to a world of daddlums and hufflers, gavelkind and grotters. While kingsand queens travelled the highways on their way to and from the continent, the people of Kent quietly defined the new order, defended the nation and left teasing reminders of a past that may never be fully understood.

Weird, spooky, gruesome, humorous, and strange but true stories come alive in The A-Z of Curious Nottinghamshire. 'Curious' is perhaps not the first word you would use to label Nottinghamshire. But 'curiouser and curiouser' it becomes when you dig below the surface. Here the reader will meet highwaymen and hangmen, saints and martyrs, flying cars and bedsteads. To sum up, eccentrics, legends, folklore, murders, scandals, ghosts, incredible characters and oodles of wow factor, all may be found within the pages of this book.