Not your average travelogue — Michael Cole's River Thames starts from surprising places, diverts to unsuspected locations, discusses all sorts of Thames-related topics that most people would not even think of: enounters boat dwellers, trekkers, dog walkers, lock keepers and a comical bus driver, all with interesting and amusing stories. The journey begins on a freezing January day, swelters in Oxford and Henley, and ends in November with a fireworks display in London.
This is the most readable and thought provoking book on England's favourite river. Readers say: 'Very well written': 'amazing diversity'; 'a really satisfying read'.
Traditional binding, presented as a quality hardback, 270 pages. £22 direct from Tatchley Books. Also available through good bookshops.
ISBN: 9780955177712
Published 2020
Newly researched, with copious illustrations, and dealing with many aspects the history of these two parishes that lie at the foot of Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire.
Topics treated at length are: the Chamberlayne family, gifted the manor by Queen Elizabeth I; the Baghott family, prominent as landowners from 1550; the De la Bere family of Southam; Lord Ellenborough; and the Baghott-Delabere descendants in America.
205 pages, PB, £12.00, plus P&P.
Published for Prestbury Local History Society.
ISBN: 978-0-9551777-3-6
Published 2016, reprint 2019.
Wholly researched, written, and designed by Michael Cole as chairman of Prestbury Local History Society.
The contents cover four main topic areas: Lost Buildings (including Prestbury Lodge, The Grotto, The Weighbridge, Cakebridge Farm, and the people who lived at each of them); Masters, Servants & Tradesmen (analysis of Victorian times); Prehistoric Prestbury (from c.4000BC to the Roman Invasion); and Prestbury's topography and boundary changes.
Published 2017
154 pages, card cover. £10 plus £2 p&p.
Available direct from the author, or through bookshops.
ISBN: 9780955177729
SOLD OUT .... But now available again after reprinting
Contact Michael Cole