Enjoying the Peak District - Wild Peak - Peak District Moods - Peak District and Pennines - The book of Edale - Peak Place-Names - Another Wander up the ‘Cliffe - A Sheffield Camera - A Hillsborough Camera - Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Airfields in the Second World War

More books are bought over the Christmas period than at any other time of the year, and this is reflected in the flood of new releases from publishers. Despite the attractions of other media, a well chosen book can still make an excellent present to be enjoyed in one’s own time and pace.

The following six books are published by Halsgrove and available from local bookshops or direct from the publisher on 01884 243242.

Peak District books

Few authors are better equipped to introduce readers to the delights of the Peak District than Roly Smith, former head of Information services for the Peak Park. His new book Enjoying the Peak District outlines the main geographical areas, the culture and customs, potential activities, some outstanding places to see or visit, as well as providing a historic time line and Gazetteer. Illustrated with colour, photographs this is a good starting point for exploring the Peak. Price £6.95 80 pages in paperback ISDN 1-84114-276-X

If you are interested in local wildlife, Wild Peak by wildlife photographer Martin Hamblin will prove irresistible. This book is a joy to browse, being full of superb photographs capturing the natural history of the Peak District. Everything from native white-clawed crayfish to birds of prey in flight are frozen in time, along with evocative landscape shots capturing the four seasons. Shots of badgers outside their sett, alone took more than 80 evenings to capture and a 100 rolls of film. The text includes descriptions of the changes with each of the seasons, added to by details of some of the authors face-to-face encounters. But it is the photographs that make this 144 page hardback book. Published in association with English Nature, it is real value at £12.95 ISDN 1-84114-288-3

The Peak District is renowned for its many moods, tempered by the weather and time of year. Landscape photographer Jerry Rawson sets out to capture these changes, through some 140 colour photographs in his new book entitled Peak District Moods. From bleak winter scene to autumn woodland, from craggy outcrop to tumbling streams every changing mood of the Peak District countryside is captured. The photographer’s efforts in the "chasing of the light across this precious landscape" are rewarded by this collection of photographs. 144 pages, each with a locational caption. Price £12.95 ISDN 1-84114-270-0

Inspired by the beauty of the countryside, landscape artist Rex Preston has been sketching and painting for more than 30 years. His new book Peak District and Pennines brings together 130 of his more recent works, along with an interview on his development as an artist and the creative processes he uses. Most of the scenes are of out of way places, many in the Peak District, capturing the light and textures of all the seasons. Each painting has a little of its history and inspiration that created it, sometimes with the formulative sketch. The pictures are beautifully reproduced in 144 pages, hardback, Price £24.95 ISDN 1-84114-286-7

Edale nestles in the heart of the Peak Park, nowadays a popular mecca to day trippers from Sheffield and hill walkers heading for Kinder Scout. Although mentioned in the Domesday Book this was an isolated valley until the railway arrived in the late 1800s, while the creation of the Peak Park generated a new tourist industry alongside the traditional farming heritage. The Edale Society, founded in 1978, has now put together a portrait of the vale covering its history, industries, events and the lives of its people past and present. Packed with old black and white photographs, local details and histories, this large 160 page hardback in A4 format will prove fascinating to anyone with links to Edale or an interest in the history of peak villages. The book of Edale is priced at £19.95 ISDN 1-84114-245-X

The Peak is full of places with interesting or unusual names reflecting a long and interesting heritage. Peak Place-Names by Louis McMeeken, looks at the origins of these names often drawn from the landscape and practices of the past. Thus ‘cop’ can de defined as the top of a hill as in Wardlow Cop and ‘limb’ as in Limb Brook from limbus the Latin for edge or border. 96 pages in paper back and packed with information, price £6.95 ISDN 1-84114-271-X

Sheffield and around

Travel through Attercliffe today and you could be forgiven for underestimating its industrial past and the rich diversity of life there in the last century. The generous local response to his first book on the area, prompted author Michael Liversage to produce Another Wander up the ‘Cliffe. Packed with mainly black and white photographs of streets, places and people along with associated stories, this book provides another invaluable glimpse back in time to a vibrant area of old Sheffield. There are some wonderful old photos of Attercliffe Windmill, blitz damage, smoky factories and even of inside the areas Alhambra music hall. There is also a list of the numerous pubs once in the area, including my favourite name, the Stumble Inn. Another Wander up the ‘Cliffe is published by Pickard Communication, price £10.99 ISBN 09544045-5-6

One picture is said to be worth a thousand words, and certainly old photographs are an invaluable source of information and interest. Two new books by local photographer J R Wrigley provide interesting snapshots of the history of Sheffield. A Sheffield Camera is devoted to the city centre using some 70 pictures taken by the author since the 1960s. It is surprising how much has changed and how many landmark buildings and corners have been lost such as ‘The Hole in the Road’. These are everyday shots in black and white, capturing people and traffic going about their daily business and all the warmer for that. Its sister book A Hillsborough Camera is slightly more ambitious, bringing together a collection of 80 old photographs of the area from a variety of sources combined with black & white and colour photographs taken by the author. The old shops are fascinating as are the old street scenes and the inevitable Hillsborough football crowds. Both books are published by Pickard Communication, price £7.99 each ISBN 09544045-6-4 and -3-X respectively.

Sixty years on, the Second World War continues to fascinate researchers and authors alike, in many cases drawing on the fading memories of participants or the release of government documents. Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Airfields in the Second World War looks at the role of these 21 airfields, both in active operations and for training. Author Robin Brooks describes the history of each airfield, and covers the major operations carried out from them and the impact on local people and their lives. Pictures of buildings, planes and air crew illustrate this carefully researched and well written book. 256 pages in paperback, price £12.95, published by Countryside Books, ISBN 1-85306-799-7

Web site maintenance by
Stratton & English Software Ltd.