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This introductory guide outlines the techniques used by archaeologists to discover, excavate and interpret sites. It also shows how much archaeological finds have taught us about the past inhabitants of England and Wales, from the first appearance of Homo sapiens to the coming of the Normans. Sixth edition.

From King Alfred’s defeat of the Danes at Ashdown in 871 to the Duke of Cumberland’s victory at Culloden in 1746, this illustrated guide covers 69 battlefield sites in England and Scotland. John Kinross recounts the events of each battle and provides a plan, photograph and description of what remains today, with the OS map reference and practical information for visitors.

Here, the author considers how the BBC balanced its broadcasting output during the Second World War to include news reporting, morale boosting content, advice for the Home Front and government messaging, and why it chose to eschew propaganda.

This illustrated guide to all outdoor statues and busts in Greater London examines the significance, the sculptor and the story behind each piece, from Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square to the many monuments that have been erected in the suburbs. This revised second edition also features sculptures added between 2012 and 2017, including the controversial memorial to Mary Seacole at St Thomas’s Hospital and the life-size statue of Amy Winehouse in Camden.

Focusing on the everyday lives of British servicemen during the First World War, this trilogy of short, richly illustrated books comprises Peter Doyle’s account of daily life for the average British ‘Tommy’; David and Stuart Hadaway’s look at the pioneering young men of the new Royal Flying Corps; and an examination of life on board Royal Navy ships by Dr Quintin Colville.

The most successful of the many friendly and fraternal societies that sprung up in Britain from the 18th century was the Freemasons. At one time millions of people belonged to similar clubs such as the Oddfellows and the Ancient Order of Foresters but social changes and the welfare state reduced participation drastically in the 20th century. This illustrated guide uncovers the history of these orders and explores their elaborate regalia. Off-mint.

By the end of the 15th century, following the introduction of gunpowder and the cannon, it was clear that fortresses would need to be built very differently to withstand the assault of artillery. This review of the evolution of fortifications in Britain charts developments from Henry VIII's castles to the pillboxes of the 1940s and the underground bunkers of the nuclear age.

Mark Child provides a concise, illustrated history of English ecclesiastical architecture from the earliest stone buildings of the Anglo-Saxons to the end of the Victorian era, and explains the key architectural features that identify each period and style. Off-mint.