Arts & Skills Books

Ancient Wire: An Illustrated Guide to Making Jewelry in The Manner of The Vikings And Other Ancient Cultures - $30.00
Helene Jacobs. This book will not only show you how to create chains in the manner known as Viking Knitting, Viking Wire Weaving or Viking Chain Knitting, but how to finish them, and also how to create other items such as rings and hollow ovals. Chapters include: Tools and Materials, The Handle, Basic Technique-Through Two Handle Loops, Basic Technique-Through One Handle Loop, Single Loop Handle, Double Technique, Adding a New Piece of Wire, Estimating the Length of the Finished Chain, Drawing the Chain, Finishing, Tips and Tricks, Clasps, Connecting Rings, Rings, Wire Caged Glass Bead, Hollow Oval, Leather Cord Center Necklace or Bracelet, Twisted Wire Center Bracelet. 79pp. SB.

Ancient Wire II: An Illustrated Guide to Making Jewelry From Viking, Roman And Other Ancient Cultures, Including Example Artifacts - $30.00
Helene Jacobs. This book will show you how to make jewelry designs that have been around for over 1000 years - timeless items that are still beautiful today. Photographs of artifacts owned by the author, along with detailed measurements of them are included in this book. Very helpful to those wishing to recreate historical jewelry. No heat or flame is required for any of these designs and most of the tools are portable. Pieces include: Beaded oval earrings from the Viking culture, Coiled end earrings from Luristan, Iran 1000 BC and the Viking culture, Double spiral ring from the Etruscan, the Celt, the Roman, the Saxon and the Viking cultures, Knot ring from the Viking culture, C bracelet from the Sumarian, the Germanic, the Celtic, the British, the Roman, the Turkish, and the Scottish civilizations (beginning about 2100 BC), S Link chain and folded dangles from the Viking culture, Glass bead pendant from the Viking culture, Triple loop pin from the Macedonian culture. The designs presented in Ancient Wire II are created using different methods than those taught in the first book, Ancient Wire. 94pp. SB.

The Art & Craft of Handmade Paper - $17.00
Vance Studley. Profusely illustrated guide clearly outlines the procedure for making attractive and useful papers in vast number of sizes, shapes, textures and colors — all from vegetable fibers. Clear, easy-to-follow introduction to necessary materials, tools and equipment; step-by-step description of papermaking process, plus project suggestions. Instructions and over 160 illustrations. 112pp. Pb.

Beaded Chainmail Jewelry - $39.00
Dylon Whyte. Chain mail is one of the hottest jewelry trends out there; add beads and the style positively sizzles. Bestselling author and chain mail expert Dylon Whyte presents his time-tested, time-saving techniques with more than 30 breathtaking projects, ranging from extremely simple to challenging. A thorough introduction, illustrated with computer-generated pictures, covers the basics of chain mail techniques. Then Whyte reveals his patented, perfected beading method: rather than using difficult wire-wrapping, he threads the beads directly onto the rings before they’re fashioned into chain mail. The exciting collection of 30 projects includes a delicate Persian patterned anklet, embellished with tiny silver bells; an amethyst opera-length necklace; and silver earrings shaped like inverted peacock feathers, edged with rings and turquoise beads. 144pp. Hb.

Blacksmithing Projects - $18.00
Percy W Blandford. 24 projects for novices and experts include door latches, garden tools, tables, fences, weather vanes, and more. A book of ideas and suggestions, rather than an instruction manual, this volume features 80 figures and includes lists of materials, step-by-step instructions, and suggestions for variations in design. 144pp. Pb.

Bookbinding: Its Background and Techniques - $33.00
Edith Diehl. This mammoth book by one of the world's foremost practitioners is two of her previous volumes bound as one. It is both an historical survey emphasizing decorated bindings, and an eminently practical guide to hand bookbinding. 93 plates, 242 figures. 748pp. Pb.

Bulgari - $75.00
Amanda Triossi & Daniela Mascetti. Readers who may be too intimidated to browse in one of the elegant international shops of this renowned Italian jeweler will linger long over the merchandise on display in this book, with 450 color illustrations of such fidelity that one can almost caress the necklaces, rings, silverware and other pieces that for more than 100 years have emerged from the firm's design workshops. Sotheby jewelry experts Daniela Mascetti and Amanda Triossi relate the history of this family-owned chain and educate readers in the jewelers' art as perfected by Bulgari craftsmen. 319pp. HB with slipcover.

Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction - $20.00
George Bain. Discusses the mathematical structure of knotwork. Bain leads the artist through construction of numerous elaborate designs and calligraphy. Pb.

Celtic Design Coloring Book - $8.00
Ed Sibbett Jr. Children and adults alike will enjoy adding their own hues to an array of interesting interlacings, geometric-animal combinations, decorative initials, and much more. Each design has been culled from authentic Celtic sources including Book of Kells. Captions accompany each illustration. 37 illustrations. 48pp. Pb.

Color Your Own Book of Kells - $6.00
One of the colouring books in the Dover range, it has line drawings of some of the famous and not-so-famous pages from the Kells Bible. Pb.

Cosmetics and Perfumes in the Roman World - $45.00
Susan Stewart. How widely did women use make-up in ancient Rome and what evidence exists? In this pioneering study, the author draws on literary, visual, and archaeological evidence to show the importance of cosmetics and perfumes for health, ideas of beauty, social status, as a demonstration of wealth and luxury, and as an expression of gender within the Roman Empire. Covering the 300 years from the writings of Ovid to the Price Edict of Diocletian in AD 301, the study acts as a survey of the perception and reality behind the use of cosmetics and perfumes in the Roman Empire.

Creating Handmade Books - $27.00
Alisa Golden. Take one piece of paper, a pair of scissors, and you have the tools to make a book! Add just a few other basic materials - glue, a needle and thread, a brush - and the possibilities become nearly endless. Cut and folded books, simple sewn structures, hanging scrolls, pocket books, and one based on a Jacob's Ladders! 160pp. Pb.

Cut & Assemble: A Medieval Castle - $15.00
A G Smith. Authentic full-color replica of Caernarvon Castle built in Wales (ca. 1285–1322) comes with complete instructions for cutting, folding, and assembling parts. Includes historical text. 48pp. Pb.

Easy-To-Make Castle - $9.00
A G Smith. Educational, inexpensive, fun-filled learning aid for children. Full-color three-dimensional model of a medieval castle comes complete with walls, towers, gate house, great hall, kitchen, drawbridge, other features, plus 10 armored knights ready for battle. Simple instructions, easy-to-follow diagrams enable youngsters — ages 4–10 — to assemble their very own castle. 16pp. Pb.

English Stained Glass - $9.00
Painton Cowen. Showcases the masterpieces of England's golden age of stained glass, from 1100 to 1530AD. Stained glass is one of the glories of medieval art, and much of the finest glass can be found in England. Intensely moving in its beauty, startling in its colors, and fascinating in its imagery, stained glass has for centuries captivated visitors to churches and cathedrals. This book reveals in detail more than one hundred English windows and panels. After an introduction explaining the history and techniques of the art form, as well as the significance and meaning of the windows, the book is organized into four sections: The North, The Midlands, East Anglia, and The South & Southwest. The most important monuments, including the cathedrals of Canterbury, Wells, Gloucester, and York, are covered in depth, while extensive captions explore the specific background stories of the glass. 200 color illustrations. 128pp. Hb.

Fragrant Candles - $11.00
Rhondda Cleary. A practical guide to making candles for the home and garden. Pb.

Great Medieval Churches and Cathedrals of Europe - $26.00
Jules Gailhabaud. This splendid collection of illustrations, selected from a rare 19th-century French work, documents in 120 plates of fine-line illustrations the exteriors, interiors, and details of 163 churches and cathedrals located primarily in Europe. Included are superbly drawn views of the Basilica of St. Clement in Rome, the Church of St. Front in Périgueux, France, much more.

Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction - $21.00
Aldred A Watson. Expert guide to creating fine books by hand. Thorough, detailed instructions, with over 270 helpful illustrations, cover materials, tools and equipment, making a slipcase, rebinding an old book, and more. Also, 8 specific projects: dust jacket; blank book, single signature; folio; manuscript binding, music binding, and three more. 160pp. Pb.

Holbein Portrait Drawings - $9.00
Hans Holbein. Superb reproductions of 44 of Holbein's finest portrait drawings: Sir Thomas More, Jane Seymour, the Prince of Wales, Anne Boleyn, dozens more personalities from the court of Henry VIII. 48pp. Pb.

How To Build a Medieval Woodenworks Clock - $24.00
David Swann. This book will show you how to design and construct a verge & foliot clock, typical of the late Medieval period. This is not a kit and it is not "cut out, paste on" plans. It is, however, an instructional book that will get you thinking like a medieval wood worker and will show you how to build the tools that you'll need to build a clock. 51pp. Pb.

The Illuminated Alphabet - $10.00
Theodore Menten. 50 great initials of the Middle Ages, all with remarkable, ready-to-color illuminations built into them: Biblical scenes, knights, martyrdoms, grotesque animals, geometrical ornament, scenes of war and play, musicians and much else from the treasury of medieval manuscripts. 48pp. Pb.

Kaleidoscope Artistry - $9.00
Cozy Baker. "A new dawn is always breaking inside a kaleidoscope," quotes expert collector Cozy Baker, and Kaleidoscope Artistry is a stunning, full-color look at this awe-inspiring art form. Packed with over 300 glorious photographs of fabulous kaleidoscopes-beloved favorites as well as the latest innovations-this mesmerizing guide also features entertaining profiles of the world's top kaleidoscope artists and designers as well as a surprising research report about the health benefits of kaleidoscopes. A never-ending visual feast! 144pp. Hb.

Kaleidoscopes: Wonders of Wonder - $9.00
Cozy Baker. This guide to the world of kaleidoscopes features more than 200 photographs including interior views. It includes a source list for kaleidoscope mirrors and lenses, a "who's who" of kaleidoscope artists, and profiles of kaleidoscope galleries and shops across the US. 144pp. Hb.

Left-Handed Calligraphy - $9.00
Vance Studley. From an award-winning calligrapher and well-known arts educator and author: a generously illustrated text offering full coverage of the art of calligraphy from the left-handed writer’s point of view, presenting every facet of the subject, from correct hand, pen and nib positions to composition and page layout. 64pp. Pb.

Making Drums - $21.00
Dennis Waring. The intent of this book is not so much a step-by-step set of instructions on how to build drums, but rather an overview of principlesabout drum making. The information comes from two small drum manufacturing companies, five independant drum makers, a myriad of drummers and several drum collections. For those who wish to build a drum, there is more than enough information. Techniques include from framed and staved to carved and clay versions. 96pp. Pb.

Making Glass Beads - $24.00
Cindy Jenkins. Discover the art of glass beadmaking and learn many of the secrets that were guarded for centuries by Venetian glassmakers. Begin with basic methods for making and decorating beads, and go on to dozens of techniques described in step-by-step detail. Lavishly illustrated. 112pp. Pb.

Mastercrafts - $29.00
Tom Quinn. This is an exploration of traditional British craftsmanship, accompanying the BBC2 6-part television series. It celebrates all aspects of rural crafts including woodcraft, thatching, weaving, stone masonry, metalwork and glass making. It showcases some of Britain's leading master craftsmen and explains the techniques at the heart of their trades. It reveals the fascinating history of British craftsmanship, inspiring interest and involvement in these valuable and rewarding crafts. 256pp. Pb.

Masterpieces of Medieval Open Timber Roofs - $23.00
Raphael & J. R. Brandon. A magnificent illustrated guide to Medieval English architecture and construction, for woodworkers and admirers of authentic traditional craftsmanship. This volume uses full-page illustrations and construction details to reveal a wealth of information on the major roof styles of Medieval English churches. There is background information on the religious and secular concerns addressed by the artisans. Included are more than 50 illustrations of 34 major and minor English cathedrals and churches. The drawings are the authors' own geometrical and perspective renderings of the timber construction. Republication of the London, 1849 edition. 112pp. Pb.

Medicinal Plants in Folk Tradition: An Ethnobotany of Britain & Ireland - $24.00
David Allen and Gabrielle Hatfield. Assembled by two of the most distinguished botanical and ethnological scholars in Britain, this book chronicles the medicinal uses of more than 400 species used by the plain folk of Britain and Ireland. The history of these plants' usages has been mined from firsthand accounts from more than 1000 manuscript volumes of the Irish Folklore Commission, and from close to 300 other published and unpublished sources. The book includes chosen illustrations from herbals such as those by Bock, Fuchs, and Brunfels, and a selection of color photographs by Deni Bown. 432pp. Hb.

Medieval Craftsmen: Builders and Decorators - $19.00
Nicola Coldstream. 56pp. Pb.

Medieval Craftsmen: English Tilers - $22.00
Elizabeth Eames. Brightly coloured tiles, often decorated with enchanting scenes or designs, are among the most common and fascinating survivals from the medieval period. When decorated floor tiles were first introduced, tilers were specially commissioned to create elaborate pavements for wealthy, royal, and ecclesiastical patrons. Before long, individual tilers branched out to manufacture decorated tiles and market them commercially. Soon, manor houses, merchant's houses, and parish churches were enlivened with thses colourful decorated floors. The author explains how the tiles were made and decorated, how the tilers combined the production of elaborate floor tiles with plainer, more funcitonal roof tiles, and how they earned their living. 72pp. Pb.

Medieval Craftsmen: Scribes and Illuminators - $21.00
Christopher de Hamel. The author describes each stage of production from the preparation of the vellum, pens, paints and inks to the writing of the scripts and the final decoration and illumination of the book. He then examines the role of the stationer or bookshop in co-ordinating book production and describes the supply of exemplars and the accuracy of texts. He follows the careers of a number of specific scribes and illuminators who emerge not as anonymous monks but as identifiable professional lay artisans. He also looks at those who bought the completed books, why they did so, and how much they paid. His survey ranges from the eleventh century through the golden age of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries to the luxurious manuscripts existing at the invention of printing. 72pp. Pb.

The Medieval Garden - $20.00
Sylvia Landsberg. The author admits that ‘the present sum of all our fragments of knowledge does not reveal the configuration of an actual medieval garden … but works of art and recent archeological studies have given us some hints. Revelation of the elusive art and craft of medieval gardening is however made possible through what is termed garden ‘re-creation’, and medieval creation and present-day re-creation are the subjects of (these) pages. They are explored through an interpretative approach to existing documentary knowledge." Contemporary texts, such as the plans of St Gall, scraps of evidence from art, poetry, cookery, medicine — all these have been drawn upon to produce this volume. 36 color, 52 b/w illos, index of plants, general index, and list of places to visit. 144pp. Hb.

The Medieval Household: Daily Living 1150-1450 - $58.00
Geoff Egan. This book brings together for the first time the astonishing diversity of excavated furnishings and artefacts from medieval London homes. These include roofing and other structural items, decorative fixtures and fittings, and assortment of culinary utensils, writing instruments, and toys and weights. Illustrating some 1,000 items, the catalogue provides a fascinating account of how metalwork and glassware manufacturing trends changed during the period covered, while close dating of many of the finds has resulted in many new insights into life at the time. 364pp. Hb.

The Medieval Imagination: Beasts: Factual and Fantastic - $35.00
Elizabeth Morrison. This book is part of the Medieval Imagination series, drawing on manuscript illumination in the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum and the British Library, along with a lively text. Each volume focuses on a particular theme and both word and images together provide an accessible, delightful introduction to the imagination of the medieval world. This volume depicts a multitude of real and imagined animals and beasts in the collection. 112pp. Hb.

The Medieval Imagination: Building the Medieval World - $25.00
Christine Sciacca. While numerous medieval buildings survive to the present day, many more have disappeared. Some of the best records we have, representing the greatest achievements of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, can be found in illuminated manuscripts. This highly illustrated book offers an opportunity to look in detail at medieval architecture, as it appeared in contemporary manuscripts. It will be enjoyed by anyone interested in the history of buildings, and of the medieval period in particular. 96pp. Hb.

Medieval Ring Designs - $10.00
Steve Gaunt. The author is an Englishman living and detecting in Croatia, and after several years in the making, his A5 booklet of 46 pages is finally ready for public perusal. Subtitled, Observations on the Designs of 13-15 Century Slavonian Finger Rings, this work is intended to be the first step in recording the styles and designs of common rings found in Croatia and South West Hungary, regions that were once part of the medieval Kingdom of Slavonia. The booklet isn’t intended as a comprehensive catalogue, although there are plenty of different examples. Over 120 finger rings; from the mass produced decorative to the more practical cast seal types are exquisitely drawn by the author, each with a full description. Most of them were found by himself, but detectorist friends have also contributed to the unique collection of different styles. It is an example of how recorded and fully documented finds unearthed by detectorists, can add useful and interesting information to the historical record. 46pp. Pb.

Medieval Sketchbook of Villard de Honnecourt - $22.00
Villard de Honnecourt, Theodore Bowie. Little may be known about Villard de Honnecourt, but thanks to his immortal Sketchbook, there exist reliable and contemporaneous graphic observations of everyday life in 13th-century France. Contained in this volume are the entire contents of his portfolio, complete with authoritative translations of the artist's words, annotation, and editor's commentary. 73 black-and-white plates. 160pp. Pb.

Medieval Tapestries Coloring Book - $6.00
Marty Noble. This collection of lovely images invites coloring book fans of all ages to explore the exquisite beauty of medieval tapestries. Thirty handsome drawings of details from the Unicorn, Bayeaux, and other priceless tapestries can be brought to life with a rainbow of colors. 32pp. Pb.

Medieval Tapestry Designs - $9.00
Dolores M Andrew. In the Middle Ages the art of tapestry weaving blossomed, leaving us a rich legacy. From these, as well as a few earlier and later examples, the author has drawn motifs, vignettes and entire scenes that will serve as inspiration for artists, craftspeople and students of designs. Included are knights and courtiers, real and mythological animals, castles and parterres, flowers and trees, pennants and crests, as well as columns and border designs. All the drawings are attributed to their original tapestry. 46pp. Pb.

Medieval Woodcut Illustrations - $25.00
Carol Grafton. Comparable to the Gutenberg Bible in its magnificent craftsmanship, The Nuremberg Chronicle, a 1493 history of the world, contains some of the most beautiful woodcuts ever designed. This splendid selection depicts 91 locales—Athens, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Jerusalem, Venice, Prague, Munich, Nuremberg, Florence, and many others, plus 143 illustrations of figures and decorative objects. Designed by a team of artists headed by Pleydenwurff and Wolgemut that included apprentice Albrecht Dürer. 194 royalty-free black-and-white illus. 96pp. Pb.

Norse Magical and Herbal Healing - $18.00
Ben Waggoner. Written in Iceland around the year 1500, the little book now known only as AM434a is a treasure trove of medieval medical knowledge. The book lists healing uses for over ninety different herbs. It gives advice on health matters ranging from bloodletting to steam baths to the influence of the moon on health and human life. And it contains a number of magical spells, charms, prayers, runes, and symbols to bring health, wealth, and good fortune. The roots of the healing traditions in AM434a go back thousands of years before the book itself was written. This is the first complete English translation of AM434a. Complete notes and commentary explain this texts’s historical and cultural background. Medievalists, historians of science and magic, herbalists, and anyone interested in medieval Scandinavian lore and life will find this book indispensable. 146pp. Pb.

On Divers Arts - $24.00
Theophilus. Earliest (12th century) treatise on arts written by practicing artist. Pigments, glass blowing, stained glass, gold and silver work, more. 34 illus. 216pp. Pb.

Orchesography - $29.00 Back in Print!
Thoinot Arbeau. Probably the most valuable book on 16th-century dances and dance music. Describes the galliards, pavans, branles, gavottes, lavolta, basse dance, morris dance, canary, etc., with detailed instructions of steps involved. Throughout the text are references to the practices of 16th-century instrumental music, in addition to 47 dance tunes with 16th-century barring and notation. New introduction and notes by Julia Sutton. New labanotation section by Mireille Backer and Julia Sutton. 266pp. Pb.

Papermaking: The History and Technique of an Ancient Craft - $39.00
Dard Hunter. Just about every aspect of papermaking is covered in this book. The author examines the development and uses of different materials and tools of papermaking: the different types of hand molds, such as the "wove" mold and the "laid" mold of China; methods of maceration (beating the cloth); of dipping the molds or pouring the liquid pulp over the molds; or pressing, drying and sizing the paper; and much more. Over 320 illustrations. 672pp. Pb.

Pilgrim Souvenirs & Secular Badges - $59.00
Brian Spencer. Pilgrimage was a popular activity for all classes of medieval folk and it became customary to bring back souvenirs. The most popular were mass produced tin-lead alloy badges cast in moulds. Here is a catalogue of nearly 800 items acquired by Londoners or visitors to London between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries, the majority of which have been excavated from Thames waterfront sites, in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The finds are arranged according to shrine - the Canterbury pilgrimage, other English shrines and cults of Our Lady and Our Lord, and European shrines of France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Low Countries and Scotland. There is a fascinating commentary on the role secular badges played in showing political allegiances and alliances, as well as the relevance of various pilgrim souvenirs. 349pp. Hb.

Pottery Form - $23.00
Daniel Rhodes. In this inspirational guide, a master ceramist offers practical information about pottery making along with insights into the craft's meaning, history, and spirit. Author Daniel Rhodes incorporates both traditional and innovative techniques in his approach. His subjects include basic forms for jars, vases, bowls, and pitchers; techniques for wedging and kneading, throwing, and making handles; wheel-made pieces; modeling, coiling, and slab building; as well as historical views, including extinct forms and pottery as image and symbol. Experienced potters and novices alike will appreciate this richly illustrated volume, which features more than 170 illustrations and photos. 256pp. Pb.

Rings For The Finger - $36.00
George Frederick Kunz. Rings of office and power, notorious poison-bearing rings, wedding and graduation rings, and many other types are covered in this excellent study tracing the origins, uses, and history of this timeless ornament. Also described are methods of ring-making from earliest times to today, materials and gems used in rings, and more. 290 illustrations. 512pp. Pb.

Roman Furniture - $48.00
Alexandra Croom. After an introduction to the sources of evidence and the different materials used in making Roman furniture, there follow individual chapters on the different categories of furniture, such as couches and beds, tables, chairs and stools, cupboards, storage boxes and shelving. Examples will be taken from all over the Empire, but there will be special emphasis on furniture used in the north-west provinces. The final part of the book discusses the types of furniture found in rich and poor houses, including farms and military barracks, as well as the types of furniture to be found in specific rooms. This is the first general book on Roman furniture to be published in English. 192pp. Pb.

Running The Roman Home - $36.00
Alexandra Croom. Books on the everyday life of the Romans usually describe getting dressed, going to the baths or to the amphitheatre, and attending evening dinner parties (often called 'banquets'), but rarely seem to discuss the more typical activities that make up most people's experience of daily life, such as doing the washing up and taking out the rubbish! "Running the Roman Home" explores the real 'every-day' life of the Romans and the effort required to run a Roman household. It is divided into sections on how the Romans collected water and fuel, milled flour, produced thread, cleaned the house, illuminated it, did the washing up, cleaned their clothes, got rid of waste water and sewage, and threw out their rubbish. Using evidence from literary, archaeological and artistic sources, the author explores the workings of the Roman household and makes comparisons with historical and modern parallels from communities using the same methods. 160pp. Pb.

Shire Classics: Discovering Bells and Bellringing - $12.00
John Camp. This book explains for the layman and the beginner what change-ringing is about, why it is unique to Britain, and how it was developed. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Classics: Discovering Corn Dollies - $12.00
M Lambeth. Corn Dollies have played a significant part in rural folklore all over the world. This book explores some of the ancient myths behind the making of straw figures, such as the belief that making offerings to the gods would ensure a plentiful harvest. Key techniques of straw plaiting are explained and illustrated, and many of the traditional designs of the dolly, as well as some modern examples, are described. 40pp. Pb.

Shire Classics: Discovering Dowsing and Divining - $12.00
Peter Naylor. Dowsing and divining - the tracing of underground water, minerals, pipes or cables. This book sets out to prove that anyone can dowse, and it also dispels the commonly accepted myth that dowsing is a gift enjoyed by a few practitioners. 48pp. Pb.

Shire Classics: Discovering Herbs - $17.00
Kay N Sanecki. Since the early 1970s herbs have been recognized as part of our cultural heritage and many are now familiar garden plants. Others of ancient cultivation are now collectors' items in the authentic herb garden. In this book the author includes a wide range of such plants, discussing their background, care and cultivation, their properties and propagation. Medicinal plants, pot herbs, culinary delights, household sweeteners, dye plants and those with fragrance are all included. This is a book for both beginner and enthusiast. 136pp. Pb.

Shire Classics: Discovering Hill Figures - $17.00
Kate Bergamar. There are more than thirty major figures cut out of the grass on Britain’s hillsides; cut as religious symbols, way markers, or as decoration to the landscape. Often, although prominently placed, the figures are overlooked, and in this book the author describes their exact location, the best point to view them and their history and legends. 104pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Aerial Archaeology in Britain - $14.00
D N Riley. Aerial surveying is an important technique used in archaeology, providing a new perspective on large sites or features that are hidden at ground level. This book uses fascinating photographs to illustrate the way in which buried sites can be viewed from the air, and detailed diagrams to explain how these artefacts change the appearance of the soil or vegetation, and how they can be mapped and interpreted. An extraordinary number of discoveries have been made and recorded by aerial archaeologists and the author uncovers the most influential and remarkable finds in this comprehensive introduction to a captivating subject. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Almshouses - $16.00
Anna Hallett. Almshouses - shelter offered by religious institutions to needy elderly people - come in a variety of architectural styles and often have interesting features, including coats of arms, clock-towers and sundials, many have chapels and gardens. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Ancient Boats And Ships - $18.00
Sean McGrail. After an introduction to the topic of maritime archaeology and account of the way maritime archaeologists work, the author describes the building and use of rafts, boats and ships in north-west Europe up to about 1500. The evidence for early sea voyages and for navigation without instruments is also surveyed. 72pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Architecture In Roman Britain - $18.00
Guy de la Bedoyere. The Roman period was Britain's great architectural age, though this is difficult to appreciate from the ruinous state of the sites that survive. This book looks at how in a few years Britain witnessed the design and erection of an astonishing range of buildings, from mundane and functional houses through to temples and civil engineering projects. 72pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Baking and Bakeries - $9.00
H G Muller. A staple food in many diets, bread has been baked since ancient times and is considered a basic necessity by many. Baking and Bakeries charts the history of baking, from the ancient breads cooked with grain-paste through the introduction of yeast, to modern day variations. The author describes the different methods used in baking and the range of tools and machinery used. Focusing chiefly on the industrial bakeries of the Victorian era, with a final chapter addressing modern day improvements, this book takes a look at the development of the industry as well as the traditions of baking that have survived for centuries. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Bee Boles and Bee Houses - $9.00
Anne Foster. The evolution of beekeeping can be traced in the changing shape of the beehive and in the various structures used to house and protect it. Pre-nineteenth century creations would range from simple recesses to large free-standing buildings. However, with increasing knowledge of the life cycle and requirements of the honey bee and beekeeping techniques, these older structures gradually fell into disuse. Anne Foster discusses these forgotten beehives, and explains the important role they played in the development of beekeeping. Accompanied by numerous illustrations, this book introduces the various and fascinating ways in which bees were housed, and will encourage the recording and preservation of those examples still to be found. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Bellfounding - $13.00
Trevor S Jennings. The age-old craft of bellfounding involves specialised techniques and equipment that have been passed down through generations and are still used today. For centuries, the large bells in churches, clocks and public buildings throughout Britain have been cast, hung, and tuned by bellfounders and this book surveys the history of bell production and the development of moulding and casting techniques. To achieve the correct pitch each bell would be hand corrected with a hammer and chisel, an extremely noisy process which continued until the nineteenth century when the mechanised lathe was introduced. This book describes the intricate tuning process and the role of the bellfounder and specially prepared photographs illustrate the production process of some of the most famous foundries in Britain, such as those at Whitechapel and Loughborough. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Board And Table Game Antiques - $10.00
R C Bell. Amongst the collectable items to be found in antique shops and stalls are board and table games and objects pertaining to them, which may not be easily recognised out of context. This book illustrates many board games, as well as dice, dominoes, mah-jong and playing cards and describes some techniques of construction. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Bricks And Brickmaking - $13.00
Martin Hammond. Bricks were introduced to Britain by the Romans and reintroduced by Flemish craftsmen in the middle ages. Until the early nineteenth century they were made in numerous small brickyards supplying local needs, but eventually increasing demand led to the invention of improved brickmaking machines and kilns. This book gives an insight into the surprising variety of bricks, as well as a brief history of brickmaking, descriptions of hand and machine moulding, drying, the use of kilns and firing. Despite competition from newer materials, brick still holds its own as a facing material and traditional methods still survive in the smaller yards. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: British Sheep Breeds - $9.00
Elizabeth Henson. There are over thirty million sheep in Britain belonging to more than sixty different breeds. They are almost as varied in shape, colour and size as the many breeds of dog but are far less well-known. The sheep industry in Britain is based on a stratified system which makes the best use of the harsh mountains of Scotland, Wales and northern England, as well as of the more fertile and mild regions of southern Britain. It has helped to develop a rich range of specialist regional breed types. This book places the breeds into intelligible groups by outlining the way the national industry works, classifying their different roles and determining where each breed fits into an overall picture. Each breed and its wool is featured, and illustrated with an extensive collection of pictures. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Buckles - $12.00
Gillian Meredith. The humble buckle is often a taken-for-granted fastening, yet its usefulness and sturdiness has ensured that it has survived from ancient times through to the present day. The author provides a comprehensive typology of buckles, from the earliest designs to the most recent uses. With detailed records of the types of buckles from different historical periods and listings of museums where they can be found, this book offers the re-enactor essential guidance for period costumes, and provides the collector or enthusiast with the information needed to continue or begin to learning about this enduring and practical object. 56pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Candle Lighting - $10.00
David J Eveleigh. This book looks at the types of candles which have been used over the centuries, and describes the various methods of manufacture. With reference to sources such as household inventories from the 16th century, the changing styles of candlesticks are followed. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Celtic Crosses of Britain and Ireland - $16.00
Malcolm Seaborne. Ring-headed crosses of impressive height and intricate design were first erected in Iona and Ireland from the eighth century onwards. This book deals with these but also shows how they were the culmination of a long period of development during the early Christian period. The early sculpture of Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Ireland is examined against the background of the spread of Christian beliefs and practices. Examples selected from the whole of the Celtic west between the fifth and eleventh centuries are discussed and illustrated. A bibliography and list of places to visit are also included. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Chains and Chainmaking - $9.00
Charles Fogg. The area of England known as the Black Country has a rich heritage in the chain trade due to its plentiful resources of coal and iron. In the nineteenth century thousands of tons of chain were hand-made here each week. This book explores the long history and gruelling methods of chain production and delves into the experiences of the men, women and children who spent their lives slaving over dangerous furnaces to produce many varieties and sizes of chain. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Church Clocks - $16.00
Hugh Rock. Since the medieval period, mechanical clocks located in churches across Britain have told the time to local communities, or displayed the phases of the moon and the heavens on an elaborate astrological face. Focusing on some of the most noteworthy church clocks in Britain, and the intriguing stories behind them, this book traces the history of church clocks from the wealthy abbeys and cathedrals of the medieval period, through the gentle developments and refinements that made clocks more accurate and easier to maintain, to the electronic movements of the present day that are steadily making redundant historic clocks that have served for centuries. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Cidermaking - $11.00
Michael B Quinion. Cider has been made in pastoral areas of Britain and north-western Europe since ancient times and the techniques of rural cider makers are still in use today. This book explains the methods and traditions of the rustic orchardist and farm cider maker and describes the procedures of the travelling Victorian with his portable cider mill and press. The author also discusses modern, factory-based cider production, influenced by the time-honoured customs of the past, yet adapted to producing large quantities of cider for the mass consumer markets of the twentieth century. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Clay and Cob Buildings - $13.00
John McCann. This book describes the various processes of building with earth, examines the regional patterns and illustrates standing buildings of clay and cob in many parts of Britain. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Clogs and Clogmaking - $9.00
Jeremy Atkinson. Clogs were a popular form of footwear in Britain from the beginning of the nineteenth century to the middle of the twentieth, when they began to become perceived as unfashionable, utilitarian and a sign of poverty. The craft of clogmaking has since declined almost to extinction and there are very few skilled craftsmen still practising the art of clog sole cutting today. This book examines the origins and development of clogs and the processes used in their manufacture. Jeremy Atkinson, an expert clog maker, discusses the various designs of these unique shoes, and their place in the social structure, which may ultimately have led to their decline. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Corn Milling - $16.00
Martin Watts. Corn milling – the reduction of hard cereal grains to form a usable foodstuff – is one of the oldest crafts. While windmills and watermills are given deserved notice, the milling process and the modern development of the industry are usually taken for granted. The history of milling is exceptional in the necessity of the process and its continuing importance, and its unique buildings and machines, which had a marked effect on contemporary technology. This book provides a window into the milling industry, covering both traditional and modern mills and presenting a working picture of the industry. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Deserted Villiages - $14.00
Trevor Rowley & John Wood. Villages have been abandoned throughout history, and in every part of the British Isles. Some of them are former towns; others were only ever small hamlets. Many still await discovery. This book explains how villages have become deserted – often the result of disease and shrinking populations – and describes how the archaeologist recovers and interprets the evidence and shows how everyone can become involved in discovering and recording sites. Some good examples of sites worth visiting are included. 72pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Dovecotes - $9.00
Peter Hansell. This book explains why it was important to keep pigeons and describes the wide variety of buildings that were constructed to house them over the years. 40pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Early Anglo-Saxon Coins - $14.00
Gareth Williams. Coins are among the most important sources of information for the Anglo-Saxon period. In addition to what they tell us about the Anglo-Saxon economy, the combination of inscriptions and images provide evidence about kingship, religion and cultural identity. Written by one of the foremost experts on Anglo-Saxon coins, this book provides an overview of Anglo-Saxon coins in their historical context, drawing on recent finds as well as famous treasures to provide an authoritative account of current interpretations. It covers the period from the Anglo-Saxon settlements of the fifth century, through the emergence of the great kingdoms of Kent, East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria and Wessex, to the Viking invasions of the mid-ninth century and the conquest of all the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms apart from the Wessex of Alfred the Great. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Early Celtic Art in Britain and Ireland - $14.00
Ruth Megaw. This book looks at Celtic art made by communities who lived in Britain and Ireland a thousand years and more before the creation of the Book of Kells or the Ardagh Chalice, the art which is more popularly known as 'Celtic'. 80pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Early Firearms 1300-1800 - $16.00
Michael Spencer. This book provides a general summary of the history of European firearms, from the earliest designs which appeared during the Middle Ages through to the mechanised weapon production of the Industrial Revolution. Covering the dual inventions of gunpowder and the gun, the development of reliable firing mechanisms, improvements in accuracy and rate of fire and the revolutionary changes brought about by the application of scientific and industrial processes, Michael Spencer explains the technical evolution of the firearm and analyses what drove these changes.Built around an accurate dating framework, this is an invaluable resource for both military historians and firearms collectors, and includes an array of illustrations of rare firearms, difficult to find elsewhere in print. 48pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Early Medieval Towns in Britain - $13.00
Jeremy Haslam. Towns have been a place of evolution and development throughout British history, growing from royal ‘wics’ between the seventh and ninth centuries, to characteristic Viking towns in the later nineth and early tenth centuries, then changing following the Norman Conquest in 1066. Using archaeological, topographical and documentary material, this book provides an extensive and detailed insight into recent ideas about the developments of towns in England in the latter half of the first millennium to AD 1140. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: The Felt Industry - $13.00
Peter Walter. The woollen felt industry has now virtually disappeared, but it was once a flourishing and energetic trade that exploded onto the textile scene in 1840. During its ascendancy the felt trade created many of the key industries that are now taken for granted, such as roofing felt production, shoe manufacture, and soft toys. Nowadays, hand felt making as a craft is flourishing internationally, with craft workers rediscovering the products and versatility that made the felt industry famous. This book records the history, personalities and impact of the British industry, in the hope that felt can continue to re-establish itself as an eco-friendly, sustainable material suitable for the modern age. 56pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Fields, Hedges and Ditches - $9.00
Nigel Harvey. The fields of the cultivated rural landscape are the result of centuries of labour and planning, and have much to tell us about the life and work of our ancestors. They have been hewn from nature and adapted to changing needs, and their present boundaries may preserve the memory of a Roman road, a medieval peasant, a Hanoverian Act of Parliament or a Victorian magnate. This book describes the making and changing of the field system and the part played in it by the engineer and the industrialist as well as by the farmer. It explains where the open-field system can still be seen in operation, how certain ridges and hedges recall the medieval ox-teams, why Thomas a Becket and P. B. Shelley deserve a place in farming history, why the field patterns of some areas are irregular and others orderly, and what evidence Victorian novels provide of the importance of land drainage. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Flax and Linen - $9.00
Patricia Baines. Flax has been cultivated for thousands of years to produce the fibre to make linen. This book gives an account of the processes and tools involved in the production of linen from flax. The traditional methods, when the work was done by hand, are described, as well as some of the improvements and machines that have been developed. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Framework Knitting - $13.00
Marilyn Palmer. This book explains how the stocking framed worked, describes the lives of the knitters and illustrates the kinds of buildings in which knitting was done. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Glass And Glassmaking - $9.00
Roger Dodsworth. A general introduction to the vast and complex subject of glass, not only the history and technology of glassmaking but also the social background of the lives of the glassmakers. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: The Green Man - $11.00
Richard Heyman. Green men are figures or heads that were carved in churches, abbeys and cathedrals from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries. Inspired by the illustrations in book margins where heads were used to terminate trails of foliage, they were usually carved in the form of human masks, cats' or demons' heads. The earliest architectural green men are found in the churches of the wealthy and influential, such as Henry I's private chapel in Derbyshire but they were still produced in lesser numbers into the nineteenth century. Richard Hayman discusses the origins and definitions of these fascinating figures and traces their many declines and revivals throughout history. 56pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Hops and Hop Picking - $15.00
Richard Filmer. The hop has been intimately involved in social history for many centuries: it has caused controversy due to its role in the brewing process and was for centuries the centre of a social phenomenon, with thousands descending on hop-producing regions during harvest. It is a branch of agriculture requiring intensive labor and great skill, and this book examines its history from the earliest times to the present day, describing the traditional tools of the trade, the growers, the pickers and all those whose versatile skills have through the centuries made the hop industry a success. 80pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Later Celtic Art in Britain and Ireland - $14.00
Lloyd Laing. During the fifth and sixth centuries AD a magnificent art flowered in Britain and Ireland. Arguably it was the most accomplished ever to emerge out of barbarian Europe. The art is astonishing, exuberant yet based on careful geometric layout. First developed in Britain, it reached its greatest heights in Ireland from the seventh century onwards and was revitalised by the Vikings, to survive in both Ireland and Britain until the Normans. This book discusses both metalwork and manuscripts, and sets them in the wider perspective of the artistic traditions of the time. 56pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Looms and Weaving - $11.00
Anna P Benson & Neil Warburton. This book describes the development of the loom from a basic wooden frame to a sophisticated electronic weaving machine. It introduces textile techniques and there is a description of primitive looms. Medieval craft guilds, the domestic system and Yeoman Weavers are dealt with, while handloom weaving is contrasted with the mill system. The authors examine fabrics such as brocades produced on Chinese drawlooms and the introduction of Jacquard and dobby weaving in the nineteenth century. The reaction against industrialisation and William Morris's inauguration of the Arts and Crafts movement are discussed in relation to the revival of the twentieth century. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Mazes and Labrynths - $11.00
Adrian Fisher. Mazes and labyrinths in various forms have been a preoccupation of mankind for thousands of years. This text traces the history of mazes worldwide from the earliest known examples, and then describes those which have been created in Britain's gardens, parks and landscape. 56pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Medicine and Healthcare in Roman Britain - $18.00
Nicholas Summerton. This book examines the archaeological, epigraphic and literary evidence for health care in Roman Britain, set in the context of the Roman Empire. It covers individual medical care, public health and the relationship between religion and medicine. 72pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Medieval Church and Churchyard Monuments - $13.00
Sally Badham. Churches contain much of the most interesting medieval sculpture in the country. Magnificent effigies, whether of cast copper-alloy or stone, never cease to provoke awe and wonder, conjuring up glamorous images of an age of chivalry. Yet in their intended setting such monuments are often little known to non-specialists. Among the joys of visiting churches is the experience of alighting upon sculptural treasures; monuments open doors to the past and introduce us to the characters from our history books that inhabited that lost world. Lavishly illustrated with high-quality colour photographs, this book uncovers monuments as a rich source of information for anyone interested not only in church history but also in costume, armour, heraldry, sculpture and genealogy. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Medieval Fields - $13.00
David Hall. Medieval fields have been studied by historians, historical geographers and archaeologists for well over a century, and yet very few accurate accounts are readily available. David Hall gives a detailed insight into the characteristic components of medieval fields, techniques of archaeological fieldwork that have revolutionised their study, and the multi-dsciplinary approach to pinpointing their origins. 56pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Medieval Masons - $16.00
Malcolm Hislop. This book explains in detail the practice of masoncraft in the Middle Ages, using evidence from a number of sources. Monastic chronicles, building contracts and other contemporary documents have already revealed a good deal of information on the subject, but less attention has, until now, been paid to archaeological evidence preserved in numerous surviving Medieval buildings. Dr Hislop investigates how a study of certain features in these buildings, such as the stonework and building joints, can contribute to our knowledge of working practices of masons in medieval England. By focusing on how to interpret clues in the building structure, this account provides a practical guide to pursuing the study of masonry, and helps the reader to understand and identify the medieval mason’s approach to design and constructional techniques. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Medieval Roads and Tracks - $14.00
Paul Hindle. The medieval economy was centred on a phenomenal growth in trade of all kinds of goods, yet few have studied the actual network of roads that was so vital to medieval trading. Starting with the basic concept of a ‘road’ in medieval times, and discussing the increasing need to travel, this book explores the evidence from documents and maps that provide clues as to where the roads of medieval Britain led, connecting the study of individual roads together to paint an image of the broader road network. The author also uses findings from archaeological surveys and bird’s-eye-view photographs to trace the centuries-old routes and illustrate the winding tracks that once carried goods to market. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Medieval Tiles - $9.00
Hans van Lemmen. During the Middle Ages decorative floor tiles were used in abbey churches, royal palaces, parish churches and the homes of wealthy citizens. Many medieval tiles disappeared during nineteenth-century restorations but the designs lived on in the copies made by Victorian tile manufacturers. The British Museum has a collection of these tiles. 40pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Nailmaking - $13.00
Hugh Bodey. Today, nails are such an ordinary and widespread object that it may come as a surprise to learn that the range of shapes and sizes available now is but a fraction of those made in the nineteenth century. This illustrated account charts the history of nailmaking, from the Romans, through the middle ages, to the industry of the nineteenth century and the factories of the twentieth, relating the fluctuating demand for nails and nailers to the social and political context of the time, and explaining the types of nail made and the development of nailmaking methods over the years. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Needlemaking - $9.00
John G Rollins. The materials used in needle making can be traced from the thorns of early man, through hand made wood, bone and steel varieties, to the first machine-made needles in 1851. This book traces the history of needles and needle making, touching upon the forces that influenced the development of the materials used, and the skills needed by the craftsmen. The author explores the experiences of the craftsman and their families, and the commercial pressure that moulded their lives. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Needlework And Embroidery Tools - $9.00
Eleanor Johnson. As manufactured goods became more easily available, ladies developed crafts such as needlework, to occupy their increased leisure time. This book illustrates and describes over 200 items used by Victorian and Edwardian ladies in their needlecrafts. It includes needlecases, scissors, tape-measures, thread waxers, pincushions and thimbles. 40pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Pargeting - $13.00
Tim Buxbaum. Pargeting is the decoration of plastered and rendered finishes on the outside of a building. It is associated mainly with East Anglia, but there is a revival of interest in the technique. This study describes how craftsmen are being commissioned to renew their acquaintance with pargeting. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Peat And Peatcutting - $16.00
Ian D Rotherham. For thousands of years peat was the main fuel that that warmed houses all over the British Isles, and the mark of the peat cutter is written deep in the landscape. This book is a celebration of a cultural history that extended from the Iron Age to the twentieth century. It tells the story of the use of peat for fuel in the British Isles, and the people who cut it. It also examines the methods of cutting, the tools that were used, and the organization of cutting. It chronicles the beginning of commercial extraction and the exhaustion of this precious resource. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Pillow Lace and Bobbins - $9.00
Jeff Hopewell. Lacemaking was once a widespread cottage industry; at one time even men made lace because they earned more than working in the fields. Although those days have gone it is regaining popularity as a hobby, assisted by the general revival of interest in crafts, bygones and local history. This book describes and illustrates different varieties of lace and the tools used in the making of it, not only from England, but also from France and Belgium, and explains some of the terms peculiar to the craft. A number of pages are devoted to lace bobbins, often highly decorated and sometimes inscribed with names or mottoes, usually concerned with the joys and sorrows of love, though occasionally with contemporary events or famous people. 40pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Ploughs and Ploughing - $13.00
Roy Brigden. One of the most basic of agricultural operations, ploughing enriches and aerates the soil, producing a fertile seed bed ideal for the germination and growth of a new crop. The technology of ploughs has progressed a long way from the primitive prehistoric ard to the tractor-mounted power-controlled multi-furrow reversible plough of today but the process of ploughing remains essentially the same. This book examines the development of ploughs and their motive power (including oxen, horses, steam engines and tractors) from earliest times and shows how ploughing has evolved as man’s understanding of the scientific processes has increased. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Prehistoric Astronomy and Ritual - $18.00
Aubrey Burl. This book explains how people in the British Isles, four thousand or more years ago, identified life and death with the cycle of midwinter and midsummer and the risings and settings of the sun and moon. 72pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Prehistoric Henges - $18.00
Aubrey Burl. Stonehenge is just one of almost a hundred vast circular earthworks built in the British Isles over four thousand years ago. Known as henges, they remain one of the mysteries of prehistoric Britain. Unlike stone circles, which are their counterparts in the west, henges have generally been ignored. With their overgrown banks and weathered ditches they attract few visitors. Yet discoveries have revealed fascinating glimpses of the beliefs of their builders. Excavations have unearthed grim evidence of forgotten rituals: a child’s sacrifice at Woodhenge; a human burial at the centre of Arbor Low; a woman’s skull at the entrance to Gorsey Bigbury; winter moonlight at Stonehenge. Such things hint at the power and importance that these huge enclosures once had. The effort needed to raise these spacious rings of earth or chalk, the careful planning of their entrances, the settings of stone or timber inside them and the avenues leading uphill from nearby rivers all make henges among the most exciting and intriguing of the ancient monuments of the British Isles. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Prehistoric Stone Circles - $18.00
Aubrey Burl. This book explains the history and the facts known about them, and shows how we are gradually coming to an understanding of the significance these gaunt, grey circles had to their builders. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Privies and Water Closets - $12.00
David J Eveleigh. Although Thomas Crapper is most commonly associated with the invention of the flushing toilet, his models were in fact the result of a long line of improvements to earlier designs which date back to ancient times. This book is an ideal introduction to the history of the toilet, tracing its development from the primitive - and very smelly - privy maiden to today’s one-piece, all-ceramic WC. Illustrated with superb photographs, this book tells the story of the lavatory, from the Elizabethan era to the modern day. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Quarries And Quarrying - $11.00
Peter Stanier. Whether they are still operational or long-abandoned, Quarries are often dismissed as eyesores. Despite this, they can be fascinating to visit, and provide an interesting link to a once-powerful and necessary industry. Although the Romans worked quarries, it was not until the Middle Ages that the industry became established on a large scale. It then achieved its height during the nineteenth century in response to industrialisation and the associated demand for stone. The book deals with the extraction methods of various types of stone and the rise and slow decline of quarrying across the UK. While telling the history of quarrying, it also covers some of the most famous and notable quarrying sites. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Real Tennis - $13.00
Kathryn McNicoll. This book gives an overview of the game, looking particularly at its history, other related ball games, its equipment and rules, its heroes, villains and victims. 40pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Roman Dress Accessories - $9.00
Ellen Swift. Provides an introduction to Roman dress accessories (non-precious metal jewellery). Using evidence from finds, this book examines production areas, distribution patterns and the locations of workshops. It also introduces the interpretation of dress accessories, with reference to the depiction of objects in Roman art. 56pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Roman Roads in Britain - $14.00
Hugh Davies. The vast networks of roads throughout the Roman Empire were vital to the expansion of Roman culture, power and influence across the world and one of their principal uses was the transportation of the Legions to strategic bases in the most direct way possible. This book details the planning, construction and maintenance of these road networks, and discusses the different types of Roman road found in areas of Britain, and their many uses. With photographs of surviving roads in Britain and a list of where they are still in use, Roman Roads is a perfect introduction to a Roman legacy that exists to this day. 72pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Rope, Twine And Net Making - $9.00
Anthony Sanctuary. Since ancient times rope, twine and nets have been used for the essential elements of survival – hunting, roofing and bedding – yet in today’s modern world they are often taken for granted. This book charts the history of the ancient crafts of rope, twine and net making, describing the traditional fibres and techniques used, as well as the modern machines and man-made fibres that took their place. With a detailed explanation of the skills of net fitting and rigging, and a list of places to visit, this Shire classic is illustrated throughout with black and white photographs showing how the methods of rope, twine and net making have evolved over the years. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: The Salt Industry - $16.00
Andrew Fielding. Salt can be obtained by evaporation from sea water or inland from brine springs, and following the discovery of rock salt deposits it has also been mined. This book explains the various processes by which salt is obtained and traces the history of the industry in Britain. 56pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Shawls - $9.00
Pamela Clabburn. The shawl, either woven, printed, knitted, crocheted or embroidered, has been a fashion accessory for more than two hundred years. It originally came from the East and was extensively copied in Europe. This book traces the development of one type of shawl which came from Kashmir and was so much admired in Britain that three centres in particular, Norwich, Edinburgh and Paisley, copied and adapted the designs and techniques. 40pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Shoemaking - $9.00
June Swann. Before the 1920s everyone knew the local cobbler, a worthy representative of the ‘gentle craft’, who repaired shoes and made them look like new for a few pence. This book tells the story of shoemaking from the days of the isolated shoemaker, who made a shoe right through, to the groups of men who worked with apprentices in larger towns and served the customer direct. It shows the growth of mass production in the seventeenth century. Finally the book shows the late development of mechanisation in the 1850s and the rigidity it imposed. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Siege Mines & Underground Warfare - $14.00
Kenneth Wiggins. Siege became established as a perennial mode of human conflict ever since the first urbanised populations constructed walls to protect themselves from attack. In the annals of siege warfare, few commanded more fear and respect than the miner, who with his pick, shovel and crowbar was a serious threat to the strongest foundations. This book traces the development of undermining techniques from the earliest evidence of ancient and medieval siege warfare. The advent of gunpowder revolutionised the mine in the sixteenth century and sustained mining as an integral part of siege warfare in the eighteenth century. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: The Silk Industry - $13.00
Sarah Bush. Silk was first developed in ancient China as early as 2600 BC, and over the centuries that followed it gradually spread first to South East Asia and then to the Middle East, North Africa and Europe along the silk route, becoming established in England in the fourteenth century. The early centres of the English silk industry, Spitalfields, Norwich and Canterbury, benefited from the arrival of the Dutch or Huguenot silk workers, and in 1718 the first factory system for producing silk was begun in Derby. This book traces the legendary silk route from China to the UK and explores the developments in silk production once it reached Europe, the changes to the loom, the popularity of silk clothing, and the industry’s struggle with the removal of tariff protection. After reaching its peak in 1850, the industry began to decline with the introduction of Cobden’s Free Trade Treaty of 1860, and was further diminished by the advent of artificial silk. Sarah Bush guides us through the ups and downs of the silk industry and provides a perfect introduction to the history of this ancient process. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: The Slate Industry - $9.00
Merfyn Williams. The slate industry has left an indelible mark on the history of our society. Slate quarries and the associated masses of waste have an awe-inspiring impact. It was an phenomenon of the nineteenth century, a product of the industrial revolution. This book explains what slate is, its uses and how its exploitation progressed in the late nineteenth century. It describes the social, cultural and political manifestations of the slate enterprises, and it poses the question of how we regard the legacy of the slate industry. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Sundials - $16.00
Christopher St J. H. Daniel. Sundials have played an important role in regulating the daily life of mankind throughout Europe and the British Isles. This text describes and illustrates each particular class of sundial likely to be found on buildings, in churchyards, public squares, and remote countryside locations. 48pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Textiles in Archaeology - $14.00
John Peter Wild. Growing enthusiasm for handspinning and weaving as studio crafts and increasing awareness of the value of organic materials have led to wider interest in archaeological textiles. Although textiles are not common finds, textile implements are, and this book shows how both contribute to our appreciation of a universal ancient craft. Geographically this book is concerned with Britain and Europe and in time ranges from the neolithic to the medieval period. The processes of spinning and weaving are explained and illustrated and the reader is taken through early textile manufacture. Unusual textile terms are explained and illustrated in a glossary. 72pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Thatch and Thatching - $16.00
Jacqueline Fearn. Thatching is a craft most people know nothing about and which is commonly thought to be dying out. This book outlines the history of thatching in Britain from its use as the commonest form of roofing and explains how the thatcher works with his traditional materials. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Viking Age Archaeology - $14.00
Richard Hall. Viking raids, and the subsequent Scandinavian settlements in the ninth and tenth centuries, had a major effect on many parts of Britain and Ireland. These impacts can best be seen in a wide variety of archaeological discoveries, primarily from distinctive pre-Christian burials, which contain weapons, tools, jewellery and metal, wood and bone artefacts. Written by an expert in the field of Viking and Norse archaeology, this book examines the distinctive archaeology of each phase, aspect or area of Norse impact in turn, with sufficient historical background to put the archaeological discoveries into context. 64pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: The Village Shop - $16.00
Lin Bensley. Once the social and commercial core of the rural community, the village shop has become as much the victim of the accelerating pace of social and economic change as the parish school and pub, and has now almost entirely disappeared from everyday life. This book charts the development and history of the village shop and it’s slow demise. 48pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Walled Kitchen Gardens - $16.00
Susan Campbell. Walled kitchen gardens were found in the grounds of most large country houses in Britain and Ireland. They were designed to provide a continual supply of fruit, flowers and vegetables. The remains of these gardens can still be seen, some converted to other uses, some simply abandoned. This book examines the history of these old kitchen gardens. 56pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Watermills - $16.00
Martin Watts. Water power has been used for over 2000 years. This book explains the history and development of watermills as working buildings and the importance of the wider appreciation of the built environment and the use of natural sources of power. 56pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Wattle and Daub - $9.00
Paula Sunshine. Sticks (wattle) and clay or earth (daub) has been used to fill gaps in wooden framework buildings. This book explains the technique and mysteries surrounding this building method. 40pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: The Woollen Industry - $13.00
Chris Aspin. Most places in Britain have had some connection with the woollen industry. This book traces the history of wool in Britain from Prehistoric times, and uses many illustrations to illuminate its story. 32pp. Pb.

Shire Publications: Working Oxen - $13.00
Martin Watts. For thousands of years British fields were ploughed not by horses but by oxen, usually working in teams of two or four, noted for their strength, docility and economy. This is a survey of their use in Britain, their impact upon the countryside, and the relics that can still be found: yokes, bows, shoes, housing and place-names. Martin Watts is curator of the Ryedale Folk Museum in North Yorkshire. 32pp. Pb.

Soft Furnishings and Table Linen of the Common People 1580-1660 - $12.00
Stuart Press Booklet. Carpets, cushions, window cloths, matting, wall decorations and coverings, table cloths, napkins towels etc; what was used, and by who, based on probate inventories. (excludes bedding). 32pp. Pb.

Wheel Throwing: Ceramics For Beginners - $29.00
Emily Reason. In a bright open design this book offers an introduction to the mechanics of wheel-thrown ceramics. Artist Emily Reason takes the beginner ceramist through nine projects, starting from one of two fundamental forms (cylinder or bowl). Color bands throughout point the reader to related information on various techniques, while gallery sections provide inspiration. 128pp. Hb.

Wooden Shoes: Their Makers and Their Wearers (2nd Hand) - $27.00
H Noorlander. The Netherlands Open Air Museum. Fascinating details of wooden shoe makers, the raw materials, designs, and embellishments of this folk history, and the distribution across Holland. 76pp. Pb.

Wycliffe Manuscript: New Testament - $185.00
John Wycliffe. This hardcover casebound volume is comprised of 676 color plates (7.5x10") of a 14th or 15th century Wycliffe manuscript New Testament, complete from Matthew to Revelation. The hand-painted rubrications, illumination, and artistic initials necessitated a full-color edition.