Genealogical Society of Victoria Online Shop

Book

Cheshire was once rich in rural railways. They opened up the county for general travel and, during their heyday in the 19th century, steam engines pulling liveried coaches were a familiar sight. The Grand Junction Railway was the first to open, providing a major link between Birmingham and Warrington in 1837. The route passed through Crewe, soon to become one of the most important railway towns in England. By 1850 trains had reached Holyhead via North Wales coastal resorts with the "Irish Mail" soon to become a regular. In May 1874 the Cheshire Lines Railway introduced through trains from Liverpool to Manchester Central Station, modelled on St Pancras and now an exhibition centre, was built to cope with the rising volume of traffic. A number of lines closed in the 1950s because of increasing road competition but after the Beeching Report of the early 1960s many more were lost. In this well researched and excellently written book, Leslie Oppitz explains the history of these lines, reasons for their construction and for their closure. He has travelled widely to gather material with visits to the many lines and stations. Modern photographs accompany those taken when the railways were open and bustling. These, together with four specially drawn maps, will help enthusiasts to explore many of the closed lines and stations that have survived from the heyday of the railway age. 160pp; p/bk

Can people in the East Midlands really be speaking the English language? Right in the heart of England there is a form of speech which is common to much of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire, but which has never had the media 'treatment' and still surprises the unwary.

Ey Up Mi Duck!, centred on Derbyshire, offers a feast of linguistic fun. The book is both amusing and entertaining, and it captures some of the warmth and humour to be found among those who live in the region. What better opportunity could there be for East Midland speakers to celebrate their heritage!

Ey Up Mi Duck!, first published in three volumes in 1976, was an immediate success and sold all over the world. Now, for the first time, the best of all three parts has been brought together in one book, with the addition of Richard Schollins' Cartoon history book, an almost totally insane Derbyshire look at British history in pictures.

Richard Scollins and John Titford