The A Z Of Curious Suffolk

This book romps through the rolling countryside and along the shingled coastline of Suffolk, unearthing the curious along the way. Sandwiched between ecclesiastical penances handed down to adulterers and fornicators, and the odd porcelain incendiary bombs commemorating the Zeppelin raids, is an alphabetical cornucopia of strange, spooky and mysterious facts about the county. Is the supposedly ancient game of dwile flonking quite so old? What did writers like Pepys and Defoe say about Suffolk cheese? Which tower was probably just built to curry favour with the monarch? And who was the unknown, self-taught archaeologist who made one of the most significant finds of all time? The A-Z of Curious Suffolk is a book to dip into, unless of course you can't wait to turn the page and read more!

This book romps through the rolling countryside and along the shingled coastline of Suffolk, unearthing the curious along the way. Sandwiched between ecclesiastical penances handed down to adulterers and fornicators, and the odd porcelain incendiary bombs commemorating the Zeppelin raids, is an alphabetical cornucopia of strange, spooky and mysterious facts about the county. Is the supposedly ancient game of dwile flonking quite so old? What did writers like Pepys and Defoe say about Suffolk cheese? Which tower was probably just built to curry favour with the monarch? And who was the unknown, self-taught archaeologist who made one of the most significant finds of all time? The A-Z of Curious Suffolk is a book to dip into, unless of course you can’t wait to turn the page and read more!

Norfolk's spectacular coastline, quaint villages, historic houses, bustling market towns and meandering rivers all provide the perfect backdrop for some of the most curious tales from across the centuries. Which eccentric cleric's final words were 'Did I make the front page?' Which annual race's participants only eat lettuce? Why on earth is there an elephant on one Norfolk village sign? Where is the most accident-prone church in the county? How did a single feather save a monarch? Which of Norfolk's heroes gives his name to an unlucky sporting score? Enthralling to both residents and visitors alike, The A-Z of Curious Norfolk is a perfect book to dip into – unless, of course, you can't wait to turn the page and read more!

If we scratch beneath the surface of the Suffolk we know today, there are numerous surprising, touching and alarming tales which bring to life the rich history of this county. The Little History of Suffolk reveals the devastating effect of the dissolution of the monasteries, the decline of the once-booming cloth trade, drastic erosion of the coastline, and the disappearance of large country houses and estates. Here you will also find the rise of the chic Victorian seaside resorts, the captains of the brewing and iron industries who put Suffolk firmly on the post-industrial revolution map, and the key wartime role the county played over many centuries. No corner of Suffolk is left unturned in this small book with a huge punch.

John Shipley takes the reader on a grand tour of the curious and bizarre, the strange and the unusual from Shropshire’s past. Here you will find out where an African Prince is interred; which pub is reputedly haunted by the ghost of John (Mad Jack) Mytton of Halston Hall; and which village lays claim to the oldest cottage in Europe. Along the way you will read about earthquakes and floods, giants and witches, highwaymen and bandits, scandalous residents and inventors. Richly illustrated, The A-Z of Curious Shropshire is great for dipping into, but can equally be enjoyed from cover to cover.

Spooky, gruesome, weird but true things about one of the world’s greatest cities come alive in The A-Z of Curious London. Discover London’s tiniest house, a 4,000-year-old mouse made from Nile clay, and have a giggle at things people leave on London’s transport (including false teeth, a human skull and a park bench - yes, really.) Why did a dentist keep his dead wife on view in a shop window? Where did a shopkeeper murder 150 customers? Which Queen showed her bosom to an Ambassador? Why was a man arrested for wearing a top hat? In the City proper, why is no thoroughfare called a road? To sum up, eccentrics, legends, folklore, murders, scandals, ghosts, incredible characters and oodles of wow factor, it’s all here.

Bristol's history is packed with peculiar customs and curious characters. This book explains why the vicar in one church goes on an annual trek to peer down a manhole; why captains of industry sing an eighteen-verse song in memory of Queen Elizabeth I; and how the Flower of Bristol got its name. You will meet some unusual contraptions, like the bed with in-built exercise equipment, or the thrashing machine for naughty boys. You will also discover why a public clock still runs to Bristol time. This compendium of the weird and wonderful will surprise even those Bristolians who thought they really knew their city.

'Curious' is perhaps not the first word you would use to label Essex. But 'curiouser and curiouser' it becomes when you dig below the surface. Forget the popular image of Essex boy and girl. Come and meet larger-than-life characters, including the one-time fattest man in England, whose waist was wider than the height of an average man. And talking of big, discover the origin of children's favourite Humpty Dumpty. Did you know that explorer David Livingstone, who trekked across Africa, got lost in Essex; that Essex villain Dick Turpin was only identified because a relative refused to pay the cost of a 'stamp', or that St George saw off his dragon here? Shocking, creepy and bizarre tales abound if you dig a little deeper. And if you literally look below the surface in Essex - 100ft underground to be precise - you'll discover one of the most incredible Government 'secrets' of all time.