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Victorian & Edwardian Sussex, by Aylwin Guilmant, published 13 November 2008 (Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848680244 & ISBN-13: 9781848680241) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Over one hundred and fifty of the best photographic images from the turn of the twentieth century are reproduced here together with contemporary descriptions of Sussex folk and their lives. The textual images are complemented by the high-quality sepia photographs which combine to present the essence of the past lives of ordinary men and women in a county epitomized by the long line of the Downs, the dense woodland of the Weald, and the ever-changing coastline. The harmonious blend of pictures and voices creates a rich and evocative tapestry of life in Sussex. This is a book to fascinate and delight everyone who knows this historic land of the South Saxons. There could be no better expression of this bygone era for those, who like Rudyard Kipling, have a love of Sussex. God gives all men all earth to love, But since man's heart is small, Ordains for each one spot shall prove Beloved over all. Each to his choice, and I rejoice The lot has fallen to me In a fair ground - in a fair ground - Yea, Sussex by the sea!

Brighton and Hove Murders and Misdemeanours, by Janet Cameron, published 23 December 2008 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848681674 & ISBN-13: 9781848681675) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

A look at the dark side of life, Victorian-style, when nothing was quite as it seemed and a public execution could be an entertaining family day out. Murderers, poachers, thieves, pickpockets and vagabonds all went about their business with impunity. Crime took place on the streets, on public transport, in homes, pubs, prisons, asylums, workhouses and brothels - it was all part of everyday life in Brighton and Hove in the late 1800s. Read about the notorious railway murderer, Percy Lefroy, who appeared at his trial in full evening dress and went to the gallows in an old brown suit. Gasp at the audacity of a temptress who fell in love with a doctor and tried to poison his wife, with strychnine laced chocolate. Then there's little Emily, a girl who received imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a few tempting pieces of gingerbread while a gaggle of disruptive young women loved causing a riot, flirting with men and smashing windows. It was madness and mayhem in those weird and wonderful times - and it's brought vividly to life by Janet Cameron.

Chichester: Murders and Misdemeanours, by Philip MacDougall, published 10 January 2009 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848682085 & ISBN-13: 9781848682085) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

A look at the dark side of life, Victorian-style, when nothing was quite as it seemed and a public execution could be an entertaining family day out. Murderers, poachers, thieves, pickpockets and vagabonds all went about their business with impunity. Crime took place on the streets, on public transport, in homes, pubs, prisons, asylums, workhouses and brothels - it was all part of everyday life in Chichester in the late 1800s. It was madness and mayhem in those weird and wonderful times

Despite its lurid title, the seven stories in this book reveal some fascinating details of social history, from early nineteenth century to post-World War II Chichester. The two earliest incidents, the trial and execution in 1818 of John Holloway for the murder of Thomas Parr, and Emery Spriggs' shooting of his wife Rebecca in 1830 are recounted against the background of social conditions of the times, for instance the presence of large numbers of redundant soldiers following the end of war with France, with terrible living conditions and little to do but drink, and rural unrest due to agricultural unemployment in the 1830s. Another theme is the development of modern policing organisation and methods, illustrated by the history of Chichester's traditional October Sloe Fair; in the account of the tragic murder of eleven year old Vera Hoad in 1924; and of Ellen Harding's trial and acquittal in 1936 for the murder of her baby son. More success was achieved by the time of the Second World War, in solving three of four murders committed in the area between 1941 and 1944, mostly involving service personnel. The final story deals with the mysterious disappearance of Commander Crabb in 1956, and the unsatisfactory identification of a partial body found in 1957 in Chichester Harbour.
The book is well referenced to primary sources such as local press reports and to archives and secondary sources. Some may disagree with the use of invented dialogue (particularly in the first chapter), and there are unfortunate slips such as spelling 'formerly' meaning 'formally'. There is no index, but the stories are illuminated by frequent black and white illustrations. Such scenes may still be witnessed in the pleasant streets of Chichester, as highlighted by local press reports, providing much to interest future historians.

Horsham Through Time, by Susan C. Djabri, published 12 March 2009 (96 pp., Horsham: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848685343 & ISBN-13: 9781848685345) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

In Horsham Through Time 19th and 20th century photographs from Horsham Museum's archives have been matched with those taken recently by members of Horsham Photographic Society, now in its 60th anniversary year. These show how many of Horsham's most treasured buildings have survived and found new uses. Horsham's ancient parish church, castellated Town Hall and medieval burgage houses remain largely unchanged alongside modern shopping centres in Swan Walk and Pirie's Place, while other old buildings have been adapted for office or residential use. Some former streets have disappeared under the dual carriageway, built to relieve damaging traffic congestion, but an exciting new public space has been created in The Forum, where the history of Horsham and its surrounding district is imaginatively portrayed on a giant sundial.

Peacehaven & Telscombe Through Time, by Stanley Bernard, published 19 April 2009 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848681992 & ISBN-13: 9781848681996) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries

Peacehaven and Telscombe Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the country. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of both towns, the famous streets and the famous faces, and what they meant to the people of Peacehaven and Telscombe throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos, readers can see the historical context in which they are set, and through the author's factual captions for every picture and carefully-selected choice of images, the reader can achieve a reliable view of the history of these two towns. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing faces of Peacehaven and Telscombe, as Stanley Bernard guides us through the streets of these beautiful towns. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in this area all their lives, or whether they are just visiting these towns. It also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever changing society.

This is a volume of 'then and now' images of the two communities of Peacehaven and Telscombe and as the author is a past president of the local history society he has a close knowledge of the area. In the 21st century there is more emphasis on the history of suburbs rather than purely 'historic' urban and rural communities. Peacehaven, long reviled by the architectural elite (who do not live there) is home to a large and growing community, it deserves reasoned recording, as it has undergone great changes both in appearance and (confusingly) road naming. Some key buildings in the early life of the settlement have been demolished, The Peacehaven Hotel is one example, and precious few of the original domestic structures have survived. Stanley Bernard has used vintage illustrations from a variety of sources and has taken 21st century images from as close a spot as was possible to the original. Local knowledge has enabled him to spot small but significant landscape features which to the untrained eye would be lost in the present day urban scene.
The volume starts with the village of Telscombe and goes on to chart its unspectacular changes before crossing The Tye to the coast road where the early 20th century growth was an example of the dispersed suburbs that developed rapidly in the immediate post First World War landscape.
The lack of a map to locate the scenes is a drawback and there needed to be some form of 'further reading' especially as the author has published earlier volumes on this locality.

Hove and Portslade Through Time, by Judy Middleton, published 17 September 2009 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848684169 & ISBN-13: 9781848684164)

Hove and Portslade Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the country. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of Hove and Portslade, the famous streets and the famous faces, and what they meant to the people of these towns throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos, readers can see the historical context in which they are set, and through the author's factual captions for every picture and carefully-selected choice of images, the reader can achieve a reliable view of this area's history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of Hove and Portslade, as Judy Middleton guides us through their streets. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in the area all their lives, or whether they are just visiting these fabulous towns. It also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever-changing society.

Hove, often overlooked in histories of the city, has a doughty champion in Judy Middleton, who has published a wide range of historical accounts of the former borough. In this pictorial account of Hove and Portslade she has utilised the rapid advances in digital imagery to compare and contrast old and (very) new pictures of the area with sets of 'before and after' views sharply delineated.
As is often the case with Judy's writings it is the inconsequential detail which is the most fascinating, in this case the number of colonels at Hove Club in 1897 caught my eye! The pictures are arranged in a general geographical order, although to someone not 'au fait' with the topography of the area a location map would have been useful.
There seems an imbalance in the number of images of certain locations and a similar puzzling omission of some expected views. Why three views of Portslade High Street (two almost identical) but none of Hove Manor house?
Nothing at all of Dyke Road (or my old grammar school, now BHASVIC) or of the luxury interwar housing of Tongdean or Woodland Drive. There are some typos in street names.
This is a volume that will be pored over by both present day residents and ex-pats and is a useful addition to the canon of Hove literature. Floreat Hova!.

Brighton Through Time, by Judy Middleton, published 22 October 2009 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848681224 & ISBN-13: 9781848681224)

Brighton Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of one of England's finest cities. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of Brighton, the famous streets and the famous faces, and what they meant to the people of Brighton throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos, readers can see the historical context in which they are set, and through the author's factual captions for every picture and carefully-selected choice of images, the reader can achieve a reliable view of the city's history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of the city, as John Eddleston guides us through the city streets. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in Brighton all their lives, or whether they are just visiting this fabulous city. It also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever-changing society.

The first line of this volume states "It cannot be claimed that there has been a shortage of books about Brighton" and certainly there has been a plethora of texts on the resort. However, this takes a different view of the city, by using the advances in colour publishing, to present a series of old postcard views contrasted with the modern scene. The opening pair of single 'Best Wishes' cards are charming Victorian views, one of the Old Aquarium surrounded by a circle of brown shrimps (younger readers note 'The Seagulls' were formerly 'The Shrimps') and the other of the Victoria Fountain surrounded, incongruously, by a variety of seashells. There follows 90 pages of (mostly) paired views, the obvious - Royal Pavilion, Birdcage bandstand, Old Steine, and the less obvious - Hollingbury Woods, Blakers Park and Gloucester Place. Equally of interest is the imagery employed in the older views; one painted view of the West Pier has it as another postcard propped up on some fish with a smokery or 'herring-dee' prominent as the backdrop.
As ever with Judy Middleton there are some witty asides in the commentary and a deal of fascinating social observation. Overall an interesting addition to the Brighton canon.

LGBT Brighton and Hove, by Janet Cameron, published 30 November 2009 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848687176 & ISBN-13: 9781848687172) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries

LGBT Brighton & Hove is an exploration of the development of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community from its earliest accessible beginnings. As well as the personal memories and experience of local LGBT people, the book includes accounts from the History Centre's comprehensive archives while literature is used to inform a representative sample of stories of the area's prominent LGBT writers, artists, musicians and philanthropists from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to the present day. There are accounts of prominent court cases, of wartime, and of mid and late twentieth century events, memories and personal experience. The book shows how LGBT people strove to 'make change happen' both individually and through forming organisations for mutual support and with specific aims. Later chapters draw on the personal stories of local people, including 'Coming Out', 'Civil Marriages' and the progress of 'Brighton Pride' from its difficult, political beginnings in the early nineties, to the celebration of today, attracting both goodwill and visitors from all over the world. There is still some way to go for LGBT people and the issues that still affect them - even in Brighton and Hove - but this book is an encouraging reflection on the change and progress that has already been achieved.

Rottingdean Through Time, by Douglas D'Enno, published 30 November 2009 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848681976 & ISBN-13: 9781848681972)

Rottingdean Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the country. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of Rottingdean, the famous streets and the famous faces, and what they meant to the people of Rottingdean throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos, readers can see the historical context in which they are set. Through the author's factual captions for every picture, and carefully-selected choice of images, the reader can achieve a reliable view of the town's history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of Rottingdean, as Douglas d'Enno guides us through the town's streets. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in the area all their lives, or whether they are just visiting this fabulous town. It also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever-changing society.

It has been said that Sussex has more books written on it than any other county, and within the county Rottingdean must be up in the top-ten of village histories. Douglas D'Enno has added to the total with this latest addition to the Amberley series of 'then and now' images.
In a much larger format and length than previously, D'Enno has given us the definitive work on the neighbouring suburb of Saltdean, but this is aimed at a different audience and fulfils different criteria. The quality of this series' images is stunning and the local input that he provides gives some interesting insights to what are standard postcard views. The volume is, however, patchy with a whole section on vintage vehicles that sits somewhat uneasily with the 'then and now' view. The most interesting aspect of the book is the impact of interwar development on the village with the road widening along the coast, undercliff walk, and replacement or remodelling for a string of pubs, blocks of flats and the addition of domestic suburban housing. The interwar predilection of postcard publishers to show domestic housing is one that has (sadly) gone missing from the present day equivalents!

Worthing Through Time, by Sally White, published 17 December 2009 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848681240 & ISBN-13: 9781848681248) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Worthing Through Time contains 180 photographs of Worthing, of which 90 are old photographs. Some printed in a sepia tone and some printed in full colour. These photographs are printed alongside a contemporary full colour photograph which illustrates the same scene. The contrasting illustrations show how the area has changed and developed during the last 100 years. The photographs illustrate shops, schools, garages, churches, houses and street scenes, each photograph is captioned and the book has an introduction which gives a brief overview of the history of the town. As you browse through the photographs, you will notice the increase in the number of vehicles on the road, shops that once sold new goods are now estate agents or charity shops. Green fields have been transformed into industrial estates, houses or ring roads.

This is another one of the series of books taking towns "Through Time", which not only provide a 'then and now' comparison, but have the extra dimension that in a few years time the 'now' photographs, which Sally has done very well, will themselves be of interest, and not necessarily recorded elsewhere. One day Teville Gate will be demolished, and who knows what will happen to the Half Brick?
All the early photographs are available to view on the West Sussex Past Pictures website (www.westsussexpast.org.uk), but even in 2010 not everyone uses a website, and a publication such as this brings the material, including much from the Gardiner collection, to a wider audience. Although I am fairly familiar with the collections held by Worthing Library, there were some which were new to me and well selected.
I would make the same complaint that Geoffrey Mead made in his reviews of earlier volumes in this series, that it would be greatly enhanced with even a simple map. Sally starts logically with the seafront and then moves inland from the east to the hospital and the station, then Chapel Road & Richmond Road, but then moves into businesses, hotels etc., with the villages, as expected, at the end. I would also make the usual librarian's complaint that no series like this ever has an index, and this one doesn't even have a contents/topics list.
A couple of other points: on page 77, Ham Bridge Halt is now East Worthing Station, not West Worthing as the caption says; and on page 30, whereas all the other modern photographs are taken from as near as possible the same angle, the northern end of Chapel road in the old photograph is the east side looking south towards the Rivoli, in the modern photograph it is the west side looking north towards Teville Gate.

Seaford Through Time, by Kevin Gordon, published 12 January 2010 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848685122 & ISBN-13: 9781848685123) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries

Half-way between Eastbourne and Brighton, the quiet Sussex town of Seaford is often overlooked as a holiday destination but it has an abundant and fascinating history. Seaford's past looks down on the town, quite literally in the form of the Neolithic Hill Fort on the cliffs at Seaford Head. Over the centuries the town has been a bustling Cinque Port, a rotten borough, a quiet seaside backwater, a centre for education, a garrison town and a target for enemy action. Seaford today is a residential town nestled between the sea and the South Downs National Park, however there are still clues to be found that point to the rich tapestry of its past. In this book, local historian Kevin Gordon embarks on a nostalgic trip using old photographs and postcards to discover how the town has developed and changed.

Hastings & St Leonards Through Time, by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, published 12 February 2010 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445600528 & ISBN-13: 9781445600529) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

"Hastings and St Leonards, the charming marine resort of fashionable English society, possess attractions and recommendations that render the borough unique and unrivalled among English watering places. Strangers who have not visited the place are liable to be misled by the separate mention of the two names into the idea that St Leonards and Hastings form two separate and independent towns, which in fact they originally were. That stage, however, has long since been passed - "
The above extract was taken from the 1897 edition of Views and Reviews - Hastings and exemplifies how the town was regarded as a stylish seaside resort by Victorian and Edwardian society. The town eventually lost favour among the wealthier classes, which set in motion a steady decline, only worsened by the onset of the Second World War. But Hastings today is undergoing a process of change and revival; a number of developments have been taking place which are moving the town towards a position in which it is once again 'unique and unrivalled among English watering places'.

Why not let this illustrated book take you on a journey through Hastings and St Leonards enjoying the old sepia images from the Edwardian era to wonderful up-to-date colour photographs. Each image has an interesting historical description and the fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Hastings and St Leonards have changed and developed over the last century.
The book has eight chapters covering the town centre, the Old Town, general views, politics and pageantry, entertainment, shops and Churches and fire and flood bringing us right up to date with the disastrous fire on Hastings Pier in October 2010 when 95% of the pier was destroyed. A good record of the town during many historic changes.

East Grinstead Through a Lens, by David Gould, published 8 April 2010 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848687788 & ISBN-13: 9781848687783) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

This new compilation of photographs of East Grinstead, its locality and people, comprises 180 unpublished images, mostly dating from c. 1902-3 onwards, and all but ten from the collection at East Grinstead Museum. Nearly all were taken by local professional photographers, and it is by individual photographer that the images are arranged in chronological order: William Page, Arthur Harding, Edgar Kinsey, Ernest Watts, Harold Connold and Malcolm Powell.

The Royal Military Canal: An Historical Account of the Waterway and Military Road from Shorncliffe in Kent to Cliff End in Sussex, by P. A. L. Vine, published 8 April 2010 (192 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848684509 & ISBN-13: 9781848684508) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

The Royal Military Canal was one of only two waterways built in Great Britain by the Government. Together with the Martello towers it was designed as a defence against the threatened invasion of the Kent Coast by the Emperor Napoleon in 1805. The sixty-foot -wide waterway stretched 28 miles from beneath the cliff s at Sandgate and around Romney Marsh to Rye in Sussex. Here the Brede Navigation continued to Winchelsea and thence across Pett Level to Cliff End. After Nelson's victory at Trafalgar, the canal and military road was used for transporting troops by barge between Rye and Shorncliffe Camp. It was also opened up to commercial traffic. Between 1810 and 1867 the cost of maintenance was partially offset by the receipt of barge and waggon tolls which together with rents exceeded on average GBP1,200 a year. The book also deals with the proposed Weald of Kent Canal and gives a detailed account of the work of the Royal Staff Corps, who built the canal and of the transport services provided by the Royal Waggon Train. In 1877 the War Department leased part of the canal to the Lords of Romney Marsh and to the Corporation of the Hythe. In 1909 the last barge passed through Iden Lock. Nowadays the Environment Agency and Hythe Corporation have improved the canal's infrastructure by providing historic information about the waterway and its locality and by ensuring the good maintenance of facilities for anglers, pleasure boaters and walkers. This edition, first published 38 years ago, has been carefully revised. As well as new illustrations, included for the first time are plans showing the former location of the 15 station houses built to accommodate the canal's sentries. Military historians, canal enthusiasts and local residents will find the book of considerable interest.

Dinosaur Doctor, The Life and Work of Gideon Mantell, by Edmund Critchley, published 30 July 2010 (256 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848689470 & ISBN-13: 9781848689473) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Gideon Mantell (1790-1852) was a respected surgeon and a pioneering geologist and palaeontologist. Using his skill in comparative anatomy, he pieced together unidentified bone fragments found in chalk quarries to evaluate the modes of life of early dinosaurs, including the Iguanodon, his most famous discovery. From the flora and fauna of the rock strata he established the Age of Reptiles, and revealed how the soft bodies of animalcules formed the chalk. Most of his findings came from the Weald in south east England, where he made an extensive study of the geology and he is most associated with Lewes in Sussex where he lived for most of his life. Mantell's collection of antiquities and fossils of every size was exhibited to the public and later formed a major section of the British Museum. Coming from humble stock in a provincial town, he qualified as a surgeon through an apprenticeship when 15 years old, and developed a practice in surgery, midwifery and general medicine. With his background he became embroiled in Whig politics and support for the underdog, influenced by Tom Paine and the French Revolution. Mantell's journal and correspondence provide an insight into the social history of the period. The need to achieve financial stability through his profession frequently conflicted with his scientific endeavours, but despite this he became a famous writer and lecturer, with books such as the Wonders of Geology and Medals of Creation. He exhibited along with other members of the Royal Society at scientific conversazioni, patronised by Prince Albert.

In the first half of the 19th century, Gideon Mantell (1790-1852), based in Lewes, then Brighton and finally London, first discovered a series of remarkable fossils, the most renowned of which came to be called dinosaurs. He wrote many books and papers on geology; opened a museum in Brighton's Old Steine; lectured widely to the public and courted famous men of science, aristocracy and even royalty. But this extraordinary man had first qualified as a general practitioner (then known as a 'surgeon') and throughout his life excelled as a man of medicine, To cap it all, Mantell kept a personal journal in which he laid bare much of the daily struggle that ill-health, over work and family concerns meant to him.
Little wonder then that this man's life has been well examined. Amongst the most significant publications is a biography by Sidney Spokes (1929), his abridged Journal by Curwen (1940), a history by Deborah Cadbury (1988) and most scholarly of all, a biography by Dennis Dean in 1999. So the question is - did we need another?
In his introduction, Critchley suggests that "a critique, rather than a straight biography, is needed". I am not sure that he achieves this. Indeed this book is not a straight biography - he divides Mantell's life into themes including 'Fossils', 'Museum', 'Brighton' and 'Soiree'. An unfortunate result of this is that there is quite a lot of confusing duplication where an event touches on more than one theme. For example there are three passages describing Mantell's trip to Horsham in 1848 to look at the Iguanodon jaw belonging to George Holmes.
Most of the book follows familiar ground. But this fresh approach is not without interest. Critchley interjects interesting aspects of social history including the first chapter on 'Influences'. He examines Mantell's health and personality. Being a consultant neurologist by profession, Critchley is better placed than any other author to synthesise and re-evaluate both Mantell's medical practice and his several ailments including severe scoliosis. It is this aspect of the book that I enjoyed the most and is the most significant addition to our appreciation of Mantell's life.
There are too many errors in the text. (Is a celt really a 'brass musical instrument'?; Mantell bought a terebratula from Sowerby's - and it is not a "stinging or boring fossil"). I would like to have seen a clearer indication of where the many quotes came from - Mantell's journal, correspondence, or press etc.
Nevertheless, an attractive book, which no-one with any sort of interest in Mantell will want to be without.

Eastbourne Through Time, by Kevin Gordon, published 1 August 2010 (962 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 184868133X & ISBN-13: 9781848681330) accessible at: Eastbourne Heritage Centre & East Sussex Libraries

Eastbourne is situated at the eastern end of the South Downs alongside the famous Beachey Head cliff. Although Eastbourne has some industrial trading estates, it is essentially a seaside resort and derives its main income from tourism. It is a genteel resort with none of the glitz, glamour and 'kiss-me-quickness' of other seaside towns; even today there are no shops or amusement arcades along the sea front. Join Kevin Gordon on this nostalgic trip through time as he shows, using old and new postcards and photographs, that Eastbourne is still the Empress of the South. This will be essential reading for anyone who knows and loves this typical British seaside town.

East Brighton and Ovingdean Through Time, by Douglas D'Enno, published 27 September 2010 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848689047 & ISBN-13: 9781848689046) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

This volume takes the reader on a carefully planned tour of a large and diverse segment of Brighton, using illustrations which in many cases have never previously been published in a book. Unusually for a 'then and now' study, early prints and colour paintings are also featured (that by Edward Fox on the front cover is an example) and contrast all the more sharply with scenes of the present day. The journey takes in the three major, parallel roads that traverse East Brighton then proceeds north, via Queen's Park, to Race Hill. Views of the various estates built to provide much-needed new housing for an expanding Brighton follow. A return is made to the coastal portion with stunning and sometimes rare views of Black Rock and the Marina. The images then take us eastward through Roedean to Ovingdean, a once sleepy farming village now transformed into a suburb of desirable residences.

Yesterday in Brighton and Hove, by Judy Middleton, published 31 October 2010 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445600765 & ISBN-13: 9781445600765) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries

This book delves into some unusual aspects of Brighton's history that are not readily found elsewhere. There is the fascinating story of the Metropole Hotel from its construction to its role in the Second World War. It covers the origin of the Veteran Car Run, Alfred Vanderbilt's magnificent horses and coaches, the Gaiety Girls plus the recollections of people who worked there. Then there are the lifeboats once to be found on Brighton beach in Victorian times with tales of ships in distress in terrible conditions and the men who manned the lifeboats including the famous Captain Collins. Genealogy is popular today and here you will find the saga of the Vallance family, a name still remembered in the city. The Vallances produced doctors, soldiers, an inventor and were landowners and shipowners too. They ran a notable brewery in West Street and owned many pubs. But they were benevolent employers presenting the inn keepers and beer sellers with a turkey at Christmas while every employee enjoyed free beef and beer.

This book is part of Amberley Publishing's Memories series and delves into some unusual aspects of Brighton's history that are not readily found elsewhere. There are three main chapters.
The first is the fascinating story of the Metropole Hotel from its opening in 1890, costing £57,000 to build, to its role in the Second World War. This chapter includes stories and anecdotes from staff that were employed there, eminent visitors who stayed there, and the cars and carriages which, from 1896 when the emancipation of the motor car took place, carried its passengers to the Metropole. The annual veteran car rally that takes place on the first Sunday in November celebrates this event.
The chapter on Lifeboats and Shipwrecks in Victorian times is illustrated with photographs of boats together with detailed descriptions of the various lifeboats and tales of ships in distress in terrible conditions and the men who manned the lifeboats, including the famous Captain Collins.
For family historians you will find the saga of the ValLance family, a name still remembered in the city. Readers will discover a wealth of history and detail on the Sussex Vallances from 1699 to 1970.

Paranormal Eastbourne, by Janet Cameron, published 4 November 2010 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848689969 & ISBN-13: 9781848689961) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries

Eastbourne and its surrounding area, is absolutely teeming with ghostly phenomena. Not surprising, given its colourful and fascinating history. Here, in Paranormal Eastbourne, are mind-blowing tales from the pubs, theatres, burial grounds and famous local landmarks. Dip into eyewitness accounts of the sinister goings-on behind the scenes at the fabulous haunted Pier. Marvel at the strange events that have affected the lives of many Eastbourne people because of an ordinary red Capri car. An Eastbourne nurse returns from the dead; a zombie stalks a sewage plant; tragic echoes resound in medieval tunnels and spooky cellars; fierce presences manifest around a great and ancient castle. A phantom headless horse gallops around The Redoubt, while orbs and UFOs whizz across the Eastbourne skies. This is exciting, heart-stopping stuff, suggesting that there is - out there - something very strange, something that we mortals can only just begin to imagine. It's all here in Paranormal Eastbourne!

In this fascinating book there are 26 chapters with titles ranging from 'Eastbourne Pier' to 'Sussex Superstition and Folklore', but perhaps those of most interest to readers of Sussex Past and Present are those on Pevensey, Michelham Priory and East Dean. It would seem that you cannot move without tripping over a phantom at Michelham. There are sightings reported of a 'huge white stallion', John Leame, an Elizabethan lady, the Black Phantom, 'who descends a staircase - that's no longer there - so that he/she appears to float from ceiling to floor'. Evidently Michelham is so full of paranormal phenomena that it has been subjected to a number of investigations, many of which have produced 'startling findings'.
. . .
Janet Cameron has a lively writing style and shows a degree of scepticism towards her subject. We meet several observers, most of whom, like Charlie Prangell who works on Eastbourne Pier, do not conform to the stereotype of a person who has seen a ghost and perhaps for this reason, the reader might from time to time suspend her disbelief. The book is well illustrated and has an extensive bibliography: if it were a different shape and had a map showing the whereabouts of the sites, it would be ideal to slip into the pocket whilst walking around Eastbourne and surrounding area.

The South Downs: A Painted Year, by Antonia Dundas, published 4 January 2011 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445600730 & ISBN-13: 9781445600734) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Antonia Dundas has lived on the edge of the South Downs of West Sussex for more than sixty years. Riding and rambling along their many paths and tracks, she has developed a deep and intimate knowledge of the area and its wildlife, and chronicles here the life of the Downs over twelve months from January to December, at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Accompanied with her own beautiful and delicately observed watercolours, this book revels in the passing of the seasons. Antonia's celebration of nature's finery has been lovingly created, and will appeal to anyone with a love of the Downs and the natural world.

Chichester Through Time, by Philip MacDougall, published 7 January 2011 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445604639 & ISBN-13: 9781445604633) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Chichester is a city with an unbroken history that stretches back to Roman times or earlier. Its main city streets follow the original pattern laid out almost two thousand years ago while the buildings that line many of those streets, when not medieval in origin, most frequently date to Georgian or Victorian times. The changing use of these structures and the activities of their occupiers is the theme that runs through this book. In making direct comparisons between past and present it has been possible to succinctly demonstrate altered habits in shopping, entertainment and travel together with changes that have been imposed on many of the buildings of the area.

This full colour paperback brings history and memories to life. For long term residents of Chichester the photographs will take them on a nostalgic journey and for newer residents show them how the area has changed during the past 100 years. There is a wonderful collection of old and new photographs with the older images printed alongside a contemporary full colour photograph.

1066: A New History of the Norman Conquest, by Peter Rex, published 15 April 2011 (302 pp., Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445603845 & ISBN-13: 9781445603841) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

A radical retelling of the most important event in English history - the Norman invasion of 1066. The Norman Conquest is the single most important event in English history. On this invasion and 'regime change' pivoted the second millennium of English history. This is well recognised, what is not is how long and hard the English people fought to deny William 'the Bastard', Duke of Normandy his prize. Rather than being the smooth transition peddled by pro-Norman historians, the Norman Conquest was a brutal and violent takeover by an army of occupation. Unknown thousands of rebellious thegns resisted the Norman regime, the most famous being Hereward, but there were plenty of willing collaborators among England's clergy, who pushed for William to be crowned king. In return he let them retain their sees and abbacies, as well as the vast tracts of land. Peter Rex tells the whole story of the Conquest of England by the Normans from its genesis in the deathbed decision of King Edward the Confessor in January 1066 to recommend Harold Godwinson as his successor, to the crushing of the last flickers of English resistance in June 1076.

Brighton Through Time: A Second Selection, by Judy Middleton, published 1 July 2011 (Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445601982 & ISBN-13: 9781445601984)

Rye Through Time, by Alan Dickinson, published 28 September 2011 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848684738 & ISBN-13: 9781848684737) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries

Rye is a fascinating Sussex port and market town built on a former island hilltop. Lying at the convergence of three tidal rivers and surrounded by the flat land of the Romney marshes, it has enjoyed a rich history since its foundation in the eleventh century. The many strands in its story include defence, trade, fishing, shipbuilding, agriculture, retail and market services for a wide rural hinterland. More recently, the town has found success as a centre for tourism, leisure and the arts. Using contrasting images including photographs, drawings and prints, Alan Dickinson aims to explore how the passage of time has affected the town. The reader is invited to look at the rural setting of the town, as well as its monuments, streets, buildings, rivers and quays, and may be surprised by how little has changed in the local scene. Enthusiasts for boats, land transport and costume will find much of interest in Rye Through Time.

Smuggling on the South Coast, by Chris McCooey, published 22 March 2012 (192 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445604590 & ISBN-13: 9781445604596) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

A smuggler . . . 'honest thief ' or 'wretch'? Opinion was divided some two hundred years ago when smuggling was in its heyday and known as 'that infamous traffick'. Charles Lamb, the essayist, was in favour when he wrote in the early 1800s, 'I like a smuggler; he is the only honest thief.' The great lexicographer, Dr Johnson, begged to differ when he wrote this definition in his dictionary: 'A smuggler is a wretch who, in defiance of the laws, imports or exports without payment of the customs.' Most people would rather agree with Lamb, but the author shows that Johnson's definition is nearer the truth. The book traces the early history of open smuggling back to the illegal export of Britain's Golden Fleece - the so-called 'owling' of raw wool to the Continent. The violent heyday of the contraband trade came in the eighteenth century when heavy taxes on luxury items made their illegal importation highly profitable. The British love for these supposed luxuries of tea, tobacco and spirits is explained in fascinating detail. The second half of the book is devoted to the notorious Hawkhurst Gang, who held sway throughout Kent and Sussex and, having bought the contraband in the Channel Islands or the Low Countries, smuggled it ashore along the South Coast. To protect their infamous trafficking, the gang resorted to wholesale corruption, terrorism and murder, the latter invariably a result of heavy drinking. Their enormous crimes are described in detail, as are the trials which finally broke up the gang in 1749. Smuggling on the South Coast is the result of five years' research in which the author has traced the history of an era which was brought to a violent and bloody conclusion in the 1830s. It dispels many misconceptions that the reader may have about the subject and provides a new insight into an intriguing period of our history.

Sussex Coast Through Time, by Douglas D'Enno, published 6 April 2012 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445605465 & ISBN-13: 9781445605463) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in the Sussex Coast has changed and developed over the last century.

There are many books of photographs of the beautiful Sussex coastline, but Douglas d'Enno in his book Sussex Coast Through Time is more concerned to focus on the social changes which have occurred over the last 150 years on or near the shoreline. He does this by presenting us with a series of contrasting images beginning with Camber Sands in the east, and ending 90 miles away in Chichester Harbour using a mixture of paintings, postcards and photographs dating from the latter part of the 19th century.
An early pairing is labelled 'Rye Harbour Postmaster' and shows Mr A G Hedgler looking out of the front door of the Post Office in the 1920s, compared with the current use as residences of both the Post Office and the neighbouring Methodist Chapel. Similar contrasts are shown by those of central Shoreham, whilst those of East Brighton show what Brighton people are missing whilst the Black Rock site still awaits development.
In researching the book the author made use of many local experts who shared their knowledge of building use and offered glimpses into the lives of the people in the images. A 1939 postcard of the Pagham Riviera Lido Holiday Club was sent by someone who had to leave because of evacuation. 'I wish Hitler at the bottom of the sea' the sender cries.
It is noteworthy that many of the photographs have never been published before in a book, and this distinguishes Sussex Coast Through Time from other volumes of before and after images. It should be of interest to both general readers and social historians.

Lewes Through Time, by Bob Cairns, published 7 November 2012 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1848688075 & ISBN-13: 9781848688070) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries

The fascinating history of Lewes illustrated through old and modern pictures.

In respect of the photographic heritage of the town and its accessibility to researchers and other interested parties, Lewes is fortunate - and doubly so. Firstly, there survives a friendly photographic business (with a magnificent archive) that has been active in and around the town since the 1850s. Secondly, the Lewes area is home to a number of indefatigable collectors of postcards of local views who recognise the potential value of their respective collections to the social and local historian. One of the infatigables has selected some treasures from his collection (2,000 strong - and counting, I am reliably informed) and joined with Amberley Publishing to present this latest title in the 'Through Time' series.
The conjoining of 'then' and 'now' images is well-tried and tested (though this book does not stick rigidly to the familiar formulaic format), and results in a graphic presentation of the changes in townscape, traders and traffic over the last 100 years or so. Changes in businesses and road use are a given; alterations in the fabric of the townscape, also, are to be expected, but the amount of change can vary from town to town.
On the whole, and here I disagree with the tag to the photograph on page 2, Lewes has not been decimated, whether 'in the name of progress' or in the name of anything else. Change occurs - slum clearance in the 1930s (Westgate Street, page 48; lower North Street, page 70); war damage (Stag Hotel, North Street, page 68); post-war concern with inter alia traffic flow and car parking (Malling Street, pages 9, 11-13; Cliffe crossroads, page 22; Little East Street, page 69). And, always there will be a destructive fire or two or three or four - Lewes Sanitary Steam Laundry, now housing (page 5); The Bear Hotel, rebuilt as JCH Martin and now Argos (pages 27-8); Smith's, now Mimi and A & A Nails (page 41); Dusart's, now A & Y Cumming and Lewesiana (page 45).
But, the impression gained from reading and viewing Bob Cairns' informed and informative 'through time' journey around Malling, Cliffe, Lewes and Southover, is that much of the townscape fabric recorded in the early-20th century has survived. Further to this, some of the buildings that have appeared in the intervening years - the art deco of Argos, the restrained balconied statement of Mimi and A&A Nails, for example (both new builds on fire sites, I note) - are undoubtedly adornments to an essentially 19th century and earlier townscape.

Around Battle Through Time, by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, published 18 December 2012 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 144560406X & ISBN-13: 9781445604060)

The small Sussex town of Battle owes its very name and creation to the famous Battle of Hastings which took place here in 1066; the most decisive and important battle to have ever taken place in England. Following Duke William of Normandy's crowning victory, Battle prospered through the Middle Ages as a market town, a tradition which continues to this day. Always dominating the landscape of the town has been the magnificent Abbey which William created to celebrate his victory. Through a collection of largely Edwardian photographs, this book tells the story of Battle and the beautiful, historic surrounding villages of Catsfield, Westfield, Sedlescombe, and Crowhurst; each village steeped in its own rich history. Around Battle Through Time is essential reading for anyone who knows and loves this little Sussex town. - See more at: https://www.amberley-books.com/discover-books/local-history/area/around-battle-through-time.html#sthash.hB0XEpen.dpuf

This book is a fabulous photographic history of Battle and the surrounding villages of Catsfield, Westfield, Sedlescombe and Crowhurst. It includes photos of many of the historic buildings in the area accompanied with a short paragraph of their history or inhabitants.
The historic photos are predominately Edwardian and this book provides an opportunity to see some local buildings that have sadly now been destroyed, such as Normanhurst Court in Catsfield.

Worthing: The Postcard Collection, by Antony Edmonds, published 28 March 2013 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445616408 & ISBN-13: 9781445616407) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

During the reign of Edward VII (1901 - 1910) Worthing was a thriving resort in its architectural prime, its seafront graced by numerous elegant and charming buildings. The first decade of the twentieth century was also the period when the sending of picture postcards became almost a national obsession. Today these postcards provide us with a unique and fascinating record of the buildings, the traffic and the people of a long-vanished England. This photographic record is of especial value in the case of Worthing, since so many of the town's historic buildings have been demolished over the past seventy-five years. Reproduced in this book are over 160 postcards of Worthing that show the town in its Edwardian glory. Nearly 60 are in colour. All are richly atmospheric, and many - such as those of the Tunbridge Wells photographer Harold Camburn and the French form of Levy Sons & Co. - are of a high artistic standard. The collection takes us first to Broadwater and Tarring, and then along Worthing parade and through the streets of the town. The long section of cards of the promenade is of particular interest, the views being arranged in a tight geographical sequence, bringing the Edwardian seafront back to life building by building. Old maps of Worthing are included to assist the reader.

Unlike many recent illustrated publications on local towns, this title has a coherent theme, Edwardian Worthing. Not just "the Charm of Edwardian Worthing", as the review in the Worthing Herald (11th April 2013) was headlined, though that will doubtless help to sell the book, but illustrations of Worthing at its most graceful architectural period, so many of the buildings of which have been demolished in the past 75 years.
Using over 160 postcards (60 in full colour - with some interesting examples of different methods of tinting, in the days before widespread colour photography), the centre of the book is a photographic record of the Edwardian promenade, building by building, from what is now Dolphin Court (the former illfated attempt to build a Metropole Hotel at West Worthing in the 1890s - commonly known as Worthing's White Elephant) to the Esplanade (best known as the location where Oscar Wilde stayed while writing The Importance of Being Earnest - hence the character Ernest Worthing). Most of the postcards are contemporary; a few more recent ones have been included to complete the sequence as they illustrate Edwardian buildings. All the terrace names are included (not always easy to identify now), and details of what does and does not survive.
The other areas illustrated concentrate where visitors are most likely to frequent, such as the beach, town centre, Homefield Park (the People's Park); and the first section of the book covers the outlying areas (e.g. Tarring (including the fig gardens) and Broadwater.
The publishers for most of the postcards illustrated are identified, two of which (the French firm Levy Sons & Co., and the Tunbridge Wells photographer Harold Camburn) contribute one third of the postcards used.
He also has the wisdom to include a map (1896) so that readers can identify the locations of many of the pictures - the source of this is not actually acknowledged to Ordnance Survey (2nd edition 1898, surveyed 1896).
This title will be attractive to visitors and residents, those interested in Edwardian architecture and also postcard collectors, as he is clearly knowledgeable on the history of postcards.

Martello Towers, by Michael Foley, published 28 March 2013 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445615223 & ISBN-13: 9781445615226) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

There are a number of strange buildings that stand on the south and east coasts of England, often thought to be water towers or ventilation shafts. They are, in fact, important historical defences, built to stop Napoleon's army invading our shores during the wars of the early nineteenth century. Any ship approaching the coast could come under fire from at least four of the buildings at once. They are the Martello towers. More than a hundred were built along the coasts of Kent, Sussex, Essex and Suffolk. Others were built in Ireland and other parts of the empire. Their creation caused severe differences of opinion between some of the best-known men of the period. Names such as Nelson, Wellington, Pitt and Cobbett all had something to say about them. Although never used in the Napoleonic Wars, they were in many cases updated and played a part in later conflicts, including both World Wars. Many have succumbed to coastal erosion and experiments by the Royal Artillery. Of those that remain, some have been converted into dwellings and others are now museums. They are still an important part of our military and social history, and here Michael Foley provides history, details and photographs of all the remaining Martello towers along England's coastline.

Haywards Heath Through Time, by Colin Manton, published 2 May 2013 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445609029 & ISBN-13: 9781445609027) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Haywards Heath is a remarkable place with an intriguing history. Misguidedly characterised as 'large and quite amorphous', detailed inspection actually reveals a dynamic settlement that spread like a patchwork quilt in a distinctive pattern of development. It was indisputably the railway, a Victorian marvel cut through bare heathland in 1841 and bringing with it the county asylum and one of the country's largest cattle markets, which was the making of Haywards Heath. There is far more to the district than that, however. The town's standing buildings and the local place names hint in places at much earlier history: a deadly battle of the Civil War in 1642, two thriving medieval manors, and even travellers and traders on a Roman road. This collection of evocative old and new images vividly illustrates these events as well as the intricacies of generations of everyday life in Haywards Heath.

East Grinstead Through Time, by Dorothy Hatswell and Simon Kerr, published 18 July 2013 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445618362 & ISBN-13: 9781445618364) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

East Grinstead is a West Sussex town with a rich and fascinating history. Founded in the twelfth century by Gilbert D'Aquila, the town flourished with the opening of a bustling market in Cantelupe Road in 1884. Well-known for its many points of interest, including the historic High Street and St Swithun's church, East Grinstead has become a vibrant community and tourist destination. Its popularity continues to increase with the recent arrival of the Bluebell Railway. East Grinstead Through Time contains some of the collection of over 16,000 photographs owned by the East Grinstead Museum (seen to the right). The town's first museum opened in 1925, and moved to its current premises in 2006. Depicting buildings that are either long-gone or substantially altered, authors Dorothy Hatswell and Simon Kerr hope to evoke fond memories for longstanding residents and spark an interest in the town's history for its many visitors.

North Brighton Through Time: Preston, Withdean & Patcham, by Anthony Beeson, published 19 September 2013 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445615401 & ISBN-13: 9781445615400) accessible at: British Library & East Sussex Libraries

Preston, once a village with an independent life, is now Brighton', wrote Edward Verrall Lucas of the main subject of this volume in 1904. The same thing might also be said of Patcham and its hamlet of Withdean, which are the other protagonists within these covers. Preston and Withdean were noted for their trees in the 'barren waste' of Brighton. Their modern development followed the 1854 removal of the Preston turnpike. This volume is arranged geographically as a series of five textual peregrinations through Preston, Withdean, Surrenden and Patcham. One starts from the Preston viaduct while others commence from Preston Park Avenue, Preston Circus, Preston Drove and Preston Park's Rose Garden. The many previously unpublished illustrations come from the author's collection.

Jane Austen's Worthing: The Real Sanditon, by Antony Edmonds, published 19 September 2013 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445619733 & ISBN-13: 9781445619736) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

During her stay in Worthing in late 1805 Jane Austen became friends with Edward Ogle, who was the driving force behind the chaotic little town's transformation into a well-ordered seaside resort. Then, in 1817, the year of her death, Jane Austen used Worthing as the background for her final, unfinished novel, Sanditon, one of whose main characters was based on Ogle. This book gives a detailed account of the town Jane Austen knew in 1805, and explores in full the close links between Sanditon and early Worthing. But this is more than just the snapshot of a single year. It is also the portrait of an era. Taking the first twenty-five years of the nineteenth century as his time frame, the author explains how Worthing changed and developed during this period, and paints vivid pictures of some of the people associated with the town. We meet Worthing's most paranoid resident, the volatile reformed criminal John Mackoull, as well as notable visitors to the town such as the poets Byron and Shelley, the satirical writer Horace Smith, and Colonel Berkeley, the louche nobleman and part-time actor with a passion for young actresses. Jane Austen's Worthing includes seventy-five illustrations, over a third of them in colour.

Antony Edmonds considers the evidence that Sanditon, Jane's last and unfinished novel of 1817, may have been based on the early development of Worthing as a seaside town. As he rightly says, Jane Austen was a novelist, not a travel writer, and describes her as muddying the coastal waters by placing the fictional Sanditon between Eastbourne and Hastings, specifically mentioning Worthing as one of the large towns on which Sanditon was an improvement. There are clear resemblances between Trafalgar House in the novel and Warwick House in Worthing; between Mr Parker in the novel and Edward Ogle, the owner of Warwick House when Jane was in Worthing, and an indefatigable promoter and developer of Worthing as a seaside resort; between Old Sanditon and Broadwater, and possibly Sanditon House and either Broadwater Manor or Offington House.
From this thesis he expands into an account of the development of Worthing as a seaside resort in the early 19th century (to about 1825), when the establishment of circulating libraries, hotels (including Assembly Rooms as part of the Steyne Hotel), and a theatre (most of which Ogle had an interest in or promoted) brought the town into line with other resorts. When Jane Austen visited, Worthing had only recently (1803) become a town with a Board of Commissioners, of which Edward Ogle was the first Chairman. Antony Edmonds quotes liberally from the guidebooks of the time, and has a chapter on "The Life and Grievances of John Mackoull", the author of "A Sketch of Worthing" (1817 and earlier editions), in which the (known criminal) author takes the opportunity of being very rude about many persons (including Ogle) and establishments in Worthing. There is also a concluding chapter on "Seven Notable Visitors".
The book contains a considerable number of prints and watercolours of early Worthing, many in colour. He does provide an Index of Locations and Buildings Around Worthing, but a fuller index would have been welcome.
Whether or not any further evidence comes to light regarding Jane Austen's intention to use Worthing as a template for Sanditon, this possible link gives an excellent reason for telling the story of Worthing in its early seaside development days, and an opportunity to publish or republish some of the excellent early illustrations of the town.

The Brighton Line: A Traction History, by Simon Jeffs, published 21 November 2013 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445619423 & ISBN-13: 9781445619422) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

The London to Brighton Line was built to serve the leisure market rather than industry. It initially carried nineteenth-century pleasure-seekers from the capital to fashionable Brighton, and subsequent services such as the Brighton Belle, the Sunny South Express and the Gatwick Express continued in that tradition. However, it also became a commuter line with fast services that made it possible to work in the City but live in the expanding suburbs to the south of London, or, later, in Surrey or Sussex. As well as steam locomotives, atmospheric traction was used on the Brighton Line, and, from 1909, electrification, which had reached Brighton by 1 January 1933 as well as the diesel locomotives still in use today. In this book, Simon Jeffs looks at the various forms of traction used on the Brighton Line, which give it a special identity even to this day.

Southwick & Shoreham Through Time, by Douglas D'Enno, published 28 February 2014 (Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445606429 & ISBN-13: 9781445606422)

Sussex Through Time, by Douglas D'Enno, published 28 April 2014 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445609002 & ISBN-13: 9781445609003) accessible at: & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

This companion volume to Sussex Coast Through Time is unique in being the first 'then and now' book to portray the numerous and diverse communities of East and West Sussex through rich sepia and stunning colour images. Most of the early pictures have never previously been published and include a number of rarities that can only now be widely enjoyed. Far from simply depicting street scenes, the focus occasionally shifts, with suitable background, to an event, a group of buildings or perhaps even simply a shop or house to illustrate local change - for better or worse - down the years. Sussex Through Time is an important addition to the literature on Sussex and forms a valuable and long-awaited comparative record of most of the settlements lying within this extensive county.

This latest collection of Douglas D'Enno's photographs is, as he writes, 'a companion to my Sussex Coast Through Time' that was reviewed in a recent edition of Sussex Past & Present. Like the earlier volume, most of the images are taken from postcards which are arranged in geographical order from Rye to South Harting.
The author's method is to take an image from earlier in the last century, and then try to reproduce it from the same vantage point: an endeavour which at times must have been rather perilous as roads which were once almost empty have been replaced with roads which are filled with traffic. He is careful to tell his readers the precise location of the images, e.g. 'The small market town of Heathfield lies almost equidistant . . . located near a junction . . . and the viewpoint looks south-eastward . . .'. He is also concerned to tell us of any rail-links and the 1904 map of Sussex shown at the end of the book shows how many of these links have been lost.
The images illustrating Worthing serve to illustrate Enno's approach. The one taken in the early twentieth century shows the former Town Hall: an imposing classical building which was demolished in 1968. It is surrounded by narrow streets and little shops each with an awning. There is no traffic except for pedestrians calmly walking around. The modern half of the pair taken from the same position is very different. The Town Hall is now the Guildbourne Centre - a shopping mall of undistinguished architecture - and none of the little shops exist any more. There are trees and hanging baskets, and whereas in the earlier picture all the ladies are wearing long skirts, in the newer image all but one person is wearing trousers. This pairing is perhaps extreme. It is remarkable in fact how little has changed in the smaller communities: the greatest change being the arrival of motor traffic and telegraph poles.
My main criticism of this book is that the author has tried to cover too much ground. It may be that there is a lack of early pictures, but rather than the skimming off the surface shown in this volume, it might have been better if the material had been divided into two books, one for each half of Sussex, with a greater selection of images being shown of each location. In his acknowledgements he apologises for the fact that lack of space prevented him from doing justice to the numerous books and websites he used as reference material. This was a pity and I hope that, if the book goes into a second edition, the lack can be remedied. Nonetheless, Sussex Through Time achieves its purpose and stands as a worthy companion to Sussex Coast Through Time.

North Brighton: London Road to Coldean Through Time, by Anthony Beeson, published 15 July 2014 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 144562284X & ISBN-13: 9781445622842) accessible at: British Library

Brighton's first suburb, London Road, was for its first century almost entirely domestic in character and the haunt of the genteel middle classes, whose gardens were praised by the Loudons. The suburb's change to commercial and industrial use provides a fascinating picture of a once prosperous community in transition. The suburbs subsequently spread along the traditional northern routes out of the town, following the sale of Stanford land in the 1870s, and over countryside once belonging to the manors of Preston and Patcham. This rare series of illustrations has been carefully selected from the author's private collection, providing a wonderful historical record of the area. Arranged geographically, the images in this book allow the reader to explore the London and Dyke Roads, Lewes Road through Moulsecoomb to Coldean, and the Ditchling road to Hollingbury.

I relished the opportunity to review this slim volume as it mirrored my own history and lifetime locations. The author was a contemporary of mine at Brighton Grammar School and his boyhood forays around London Road and central Brighton, brought to life here with a series of matched images, past and present, revived many memories. The book is arranged as a series of walks around the three major routes through north Brighton-the London, Ditchling and Lewes Roads, areas that are not generally featured or indeed mentioned at all, in standard local history books.
Walk One takes us from the edge of the North Laine Conservation area through the recently revamped New England Quarter to the rapidly changing London Road; Walk Two from Preston Circus along the line of the railway up to Dyke Road, The third walk looks to the east and takes in the area north of The Level out to Coldean and Moulsecoomb. The final part is along Ditchling Road out to Hollingbury Camp.
These are a fascinating and wellchosen set of images from a variety of sources many of which are little known. Of great interest but giddying aspect are those taken from the roof of St Bartholomew's church one of the country's tallest churches.
One criticism is that considering the author is an academic there is no bibliography allowing a follow up to some very interesting factual material. This area being one that I have a personal interest in I longed to discover the origin of this wealth of factual material. I appreciate that this format does not support academic footnoting but some indication of sources should have appeared somewhere. As SpellCheck seldom picks up 'proper' names someone should have seen that it was 'readthrough'; Hollinbury[sic] has a 'g' and although Coldean was indeed Cold Dean until the 1950s, to my understanding Moulsecoomb has never been recorded as Moulse Coomb.
A valuable addition to the history of the city with excellent images and comment.

Oscar Wilde's Scandalous Summer: The 1894 Worthing Holiday and the Aftermath, by Antony Edmonds, published 28 July 2014 (224 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445636182 & ISBN-13: 9781445636184) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

In the summer of 1894 Oscar Wilde spent eight weeks in Worthing, and it was during this family holiday that he wrote his masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest.
The Worthing holiday was a microcosm of Wilde's turbulent life during the three years between his falling in love with Lord Alfred Douglas in 1892 and his imprisonment in 1895.
Constance Wilde, lonely and depressed, became emotionally involved with her husband's publisher, to whom she wrote a love letter on the day he visited the Wildes in Worthing. Meanwhile Wilde was spending much of his time with the feckless and demanding Douglas, and with three teenage boys he took out sailing, swimming and fishing. One of these boys was Alphonse Conway, with whom Wilde had a sexual relationship, and about whom he was to be questioned at length and to damaging effect in court six months later when he sued Douglas's father, the Marquess of Queensberry, for libel.
This book tells for the first time the full story of the Worthing summer, set in the context of the three years of Wilde's life before his downfall. In the final chapter the author reassesses the trials, offering fresh insights into Wilde's attitude to the boys and young men with whom he had sexual relations.
There are fifty-six illustrations, over thirty of which are photographs of Worthing as it was in Wilde's time, and three contemporary maps of the town.

Bradshaw's Guide: Surrey & Sussex Railways London, Brighton and South coast, by Simon Jeffs, published 15 July 2014 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445640406 & ISBN-13: 9781445640402) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

The LBSCR was the main route connecting London with Brighton and the pleasures of the South Coast resorts. In this latest volume Bradshaw takes us on the journey and, via the numerous branch lines, also explores the coastal lines, westwards to Chichester and eastwards, on the Brighton and Lewes branch to Eastbourne, St Leonards and Hastings. The network of branch lines within Surrey and Sussex reaches a number of destinations including Croydon, Redhill, Reigate, Dorking, Guildford, Epsom, East Grinstead, Horsham, Uckfield and Battle, and in the north of Surrey the LSWR loop takes in Richmond and Kew.
'Seldom has the gigantic intellect of man been employed upon a work of greater utility.' Punch, in praise of Bradshaw's publications.
Bradshaw's guide was published in 1863, not that long after most of the railway network had been completed. It gives the reader a unique insight into the world of the Victorian railways and goes beyond the engineering aspects to record the sights to be seen in the towns and cities encountered along the way. Local author and railway expert Simon Jeffs accompanies Bradshaw's original text with contemporary images and many new colour photographs of the same journeys today.

Sussex at War Through Time, by Henry Buckton, published 28 August 2014 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445638398 & ISBN-13: 9781445638393) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

This book examines the areas of Sussex that played an important part in the Second World War. Chichester became the nerve centre for the county's civil defence organisation and Tangmere and other airfields were involved in the Battle of Britain and provided a springboard for the Allied aerial onslaught on German occupied territories. Towns like Bognor Regis, Brighton and Hastings were repeatedly bombed by the Luftwaffe, while Eastbourne was the most targeted place in the South East outside London. The potential invasion of Britain during the Second World War had become a very real threat when Germany occupied the seaboard of northern France in 1940. The beaches of Sussex became ideal invasion hotspots, which drew the county into the very centre of Britain's war effort. Although today Sussex is split into two counties, East and West, this book looks at both, with particular focus on the coastline which was most affected by the war.

By Steamer to the South Coast, by Andrew Gladwell, published 28 August 2014 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445614510 & ISBN-13: 9781445614519) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Since the dawn of steam navigation, people have taken pleasure cruises in Britain's rivers and estuaries and along the coast. Andrew Gladwell takes us on a tour of the south coast of England, illustrating the story of the paddle and pleasure steamers from south Devon to Sussex. Southampton and Bournemouth were the homes of the Red Funnel fleet, and Weymouth housed the ships of Cosens. Interlopers such as the White Funnel ships of P&A Campbell also operated in the area, as did independents in Brighton and Hastings. From the beauty of Lulworth Cove, where the paddlers would beach on the shallow sand to let passengers off, to the piers of Swanage, Poole, Bournemouth, the Isle of Wight, Southampton, Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings, pleasure steamers were a common sight until the late 1960s, when Cosens finally closed and scrapped their ships, although the PS Waverley and the Balmoral still continue the tradition.

Secret East Grinstead, by Dorothy Hatswell and Simon Kerr, published 15 September 2014 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445639408 & ISBN-13: 9781445639406) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

There is a history of East Grinstead that is hidden from view, lost under the modern town's bustling surface. The town's High Street is dominated by one of the longest continuous runs of fourteenth-century timber-framed houses in England, houses that have witnessed many of the secrets contained in this book. Many famous faces have resided in the town over the years, from Patrick Moore to Neil Gaiman, and many surprising individuals have had brief encounters with the town, including Charles Rennie Mackintosh and John F. Kennedy. St Swithun resided in the town, and his story, which has become English lore, can all be traced back to events within the town.
Featuring photographs, anecdotes and places to visit, Secret East Grinstead goes behind the façades of the familiar to discover the lesser-known artefacts of East Grinstead's fascinating history. Its markets, buildings and churches each have a tale to tell, and its proximity to London has meant the town has received a whole host of interesting events. Join authors Dorothy Hatswell and Simon Kerr on a journey off the beaten track, and discover the real East Grinstead.

Eastbourne From Old Photographs, by Roy Douglas, published 15 October 2014 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445633221 & ISBN-13: 9781445633220) accessible at: Eastbourne Heritage Centre & East Sussex Libraries

Eastbourne, situated close to the eastern end of the South Downs, near the famous Beachey Head cliff, is a bustling seaside resort. Originally comprising of a group of nineteenth-century settlements, the once subdued areas of farmland banded together to become a vibrant resort steeped in Victorian architecture. As a hotspot for those travelling from London and Brighton, the history of the town and the people who once lived there stretches out of Eastbourne itself and into these commuter towns.
Suffering a variety of damages in both World Wars, Eastbourne has seen many changes take place over the years. One thing that has remained is the large coverage of the South Downs that dominate Eastbourne, and the pier and bandstand, built between 1866 and 1872, that stand firmly on the seafront in a 'timeless manner'. The area's rich seaside history provides all with a truly fascinating story. Within the pages of this book, Eastbourne expert Roy Douglas charts the town's history through a unique selection of old photographs, prints and postcards to show what life was like for Eastbourne's past residents, and to highlight the celebrations and the struggles that this picturesque, bustling town has witnessed.

The first-time visitor to Eastbourne, might be surprised to discover such a wealth of fine architecture in the town. Much of it is Victorian and Edwardian, with older buildings of local stone in Old Town. They would be intrigued by the stories behind the town's growth and struck by the depth of local passion for its heritage legacy. Eastbourne From Old Photographs by Mr Roy Douglas is the latest title in the successful series From Old Photographs, published by Amberley, that chronicles the development of the town.
The book is a pictorial anthology of around 180 illustrations arranged in nine chapters. The first seven contain a well-chosen array of black & white and colour views of 'old Eastbourne', all of which are fascinating. Chapter 8 includes sad pictures of bomb damage, a few post-war landmarks such as Sovereign Harbour, and the tragic Pier Theatre fire of 1970. The closing chapter, The Fringes of Eastbourne, has evocative vistas of Wannock Glen, late 19th-century Pevensey, and an old Willingdon village still preserved with its lovely flint walls and houses.
The heart of the book is the collection of photographs. They are cleverly fitted into a historical context which the author sets out in a clear Introduction, in the short Prefaces which follow and in the captions which are packed with information. In the early 1800s Eastbourne consisted of several hamlets - East Bourne (Old Town), South Bourne, Meads and Sea Houses - which were surrounded by farmland. The Census of 1841 listed most men as 'agricultural workers'. Despite this rural aspect, a select but small seaside resort with affluent houses was gradually prospering. The surge in development that followed from the middle of the nineteenth century was due to remarkable and enterprising Eastbourne landowners - the 7th Duke of Devonshire and the Gilbert family - and the arrival of the railway in 1849. These factors shaped the re-birth and growth of Eastbourne as we know it to-day. Through Roy Douglas's combination of pictures and text the story unfolds.
It is evident that much exacting research has gone into the book and it is a welcome addition to Eastbourne and to East Sussex books, and better still, will be an excellent present for all occasions.

Smuggling, by Chris McCooey, published 15 November 2014 (320 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445643650 & ISBN-13: 9781445643656) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

A smuggler . . . 'honest thief' or 'wretch'? Opinion was divided some 200 years ago when smuggling was in its heyday and known as 'that infamous traffick'. Charles Lamb, the essayist, was in favour when he wrote in the early 1800s, 'I like a smuggler; he is the only honest thief.' The great lexicographer Dr Johnson begged to differ when he wrote this definition in his dictionary: 'A smuggler is a wretch who, in defiance of the laws, imports or exports without payment of the customs.' Most people would rather agree with Lamb, but Johnson's definition is nearer the truth. The heyday of the contraband trade came in the eighteenth century when heavy taxes on luxury items made their illegal importation highly profitable. The British love for these supposed luxuries of tea, tobacco and spirits is explained in fascinating detail. The violence of the trade is explored through the notorious Hawkhurst gang, who resorted to wholesale corruption, terrorism and murder to protect their infamous trafficking. Their enormous crimes are described in detail, as are the trials which finally broke up the gang in 1749.
Chris McCooey has traced the history of an era which was brought to a violent and bloody conclusion in the 1830s. It dispels many misconceptions that the reader may have about the subject and provides a new insight into an intriguing period of our history.

Shoreham Airport: An Illustrated History, by Peter C. Brown, published 19 December 2014 (160 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445633442 & ISBN-13: 9781445633442) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Shoreham is the oldest airport in the UK, aviator Harold Piffard first flying from there in 1910, although the aerodrome only officially opened on 20 June 1911. It served as a base for Alliott Verdon Roe (founder of Avro) and John Alcock (one of the first men to fly the Atlantic). At the start of the First World War, the first flight of British military aircraft left from Shoreham to join the fighting in France. In the 1930s the airfield became an airport for Brighton, Hove and Worthing and a new terminal building in the art deco style was opened in 1936. This building is still in use today and is now Grade II listed.
During the Second World War, Shoreham again served as a military airfield, coming under attack several times. The airfield is still operational today and is used by light aircraft and flying schools and as a venue for an air show and a filming location. In this book, aviation historian Peter C. Brown takes us through the history of this key centre in early British aviation.

For anyone interested in Shoreham Airport and its unique place in Aviation history, this is for you. The publication, comprising 160 pages with 178 illustrations, has a sensible balance of text to photographs. The book is structured chronologically, from "Those Magnificent Men" (pre 1914), 1914-1918, 1919-1939 etc. There is some wonderful narrative of people and events from 1911 onwards, starting with the first landing of a Bleriot monoplane arriving from Brighton. A number of key events, including the regular financial challenges faced by the Airport, are covered succinctly. Although the pictures are black and white this adds to the evocative feel of the Airport through every period covered.
A more balanced selection of photographs would have been beneficial as the majority of photographs are post-1960; although more than 50 years of history had elapsed since the earliest flights, less than 20 pictures are from that period.
The final chapter covers the role and invaluable work of the Shoreham Airport Rescue and Firefighting Service, who have been a key service for over 90 years.
The publication price represents good value for what is a reasonably comprehensive narrative of a unique Sussex treasure.

The Lifeboat Service in England: The South Coast and Channel Islands Station by Station, by Nicholas Leach, published 19 April 2015 (160 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445646455 & ISBN-13: 9781445646459) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was established in 1824 and has a long and proud tradition of saving life at sea. Today, the volunteer lifeboat crews on the south coast of England and the Channel Islands operate high-tech state-of-the-art lifeboats in their work of saving lives at sea in and around some of the busiest sea lanes in the world.
The RNLI currently operates thirty lifeboat stations on the south coast of England and around the Channel Islands, and this comprehensive book has details of every one, with information about their history, rescues and current lifeboats. It also includes details of old stations that have been closed and the many dramatic, courageous and daring rescues undertaken by the lifeboat crews from Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Dorset, Devon and the Channel Islands are brought to life.
Author Nicholas Leach has amassed a wealth of information about the lifeboats and lifeboat stations of the south coast and the Channel Islands, past and present, visiting every one to provide a complete and up-to-date record of life-saving in the seas off this beautiful and picturesque, but often dangerous, coastline.

Lewes: the Postcard Collection, by Bob Cairns, published 15 August 2015 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445641283 & ISBN-13: 9781445641287) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Lewes, the county town of East Sussex, started out as a bridging point and market town. Steeped in history, the town was an important Saxon burgh by 900, boasting two licensed mints. Its importance was reinforced when William de Warenne, a key ally of William the Conqueror, built his castles here. First a temporary building on Brack Mount, known as Bray Castle, and second the impressive stone and flint building erected nearby, so giving Lewes, perhaps uniquely, two mottes and one castle. Lewes Castle still dominates and is well worth a visit.
Intercepted by the River Ouse, there are a number of gorgeous countryside walks to take advantage of in this charming ancient town. The Postcard Collection beautifully illustrates the culture and character of Lewes, taking us on a journey through its historical past.

Chichester: History Tour, by Philip MacDougall, published 15 October 2015 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445654385 & ISBN-13: 9781445654386) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Chichester History Tour is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this famous West Sussex town. This is an exciting guided walk around the town, its well-known places and hidden corners, and explains what they meant to local people throughout the nineteenth and into the twentieth century. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of Chichester as Philip MacDougall walks us through its streets.

Secret Chichester, by Philip MacDougall, published 15 February 2016 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445650398 & ISBN-13: 9781445650395) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

How much do you really know about Chichester and its long and ancient history? You probably know about the cathedral's fake medieval tower, but do you know where to find the one time location of its eight medieval churches, the city gaol or the house with connections to the Indian mutiny? Do you know where the earliest map of the city is to be found, laid out in cold stone? Maybe also, you might not know that Chichester was once the unhealthiest city in the country, or nearly so, and that one of its former MPs was the first to die in a railway fatality. On the lighter side, do you know about the Chichester sausage, the underground toilets that never were or the city's resident English Eagle? In this very different approach to Chichester's history, the author blends the serious with the not so serious, seeking out an unusual approach to some known topics while dwelling on the lesser known and humorous.

Brighton Pubs, by David Muggleton, published 15 March 2016 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445649934 & ISBN-13: 9781445649931) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/509256] & West Sussex Libraries

Brighton has long been an important seaside town, and today draws in visitors from all over Britain and beyond for its varied nightlife, rich history and attractive waterfront. In 1800, Brighton had forty-one inns and taverns, and by 1860 there were well over 450, echoing the town's growth in popularity through the Regency and early Victorian eras. A recent resurgence of interest in real ale has also seen a welcome boom in micro-breweries, placing Brighton firmly on the beer-lover's map.
David Muggleton takes us on a tour of these watering holes, from the ancient Cricketers (allegedly continuously licensed since the fourteenth century) to the elaborate mock-Tudor King and Queen. Brimming with quirky tales and fascinating facts, this carefully-crafted guide initiates readers into the fascinating history of Brighton's pubs.

The Finest Gardens of the South East, by Tony Russell, published 15 March 2016 (160 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445649780 & ISBN-13: 9781445649788) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Home of the most stunning public gardens in England, South East England's wealth of internationally renowned gardens are a must see, and here Tony Russell provides a guide to the wonderful gardens the region has to offer. In East Sussex, Sheffield Park Garden offers colourful, vibrant displays with waterfalls, cascades and four large lakes, while Kent offers thirteenth-century Hever Castle, complete with Italian scupltures, a 35-acre lake and a 3,000 strong rose garden. The wealth of gardens extends to The Savill Garden in Berkshire, University of Oxford Botanic Garden in Oxfordshire, Sissinghurst Castle Garden in Kent, Great Dixter House & Garden in East Sussex and Goodnestone Park & Garden in Kent, all brought to life in this wonderful collection compiled by Tony Russell.

Brighton and Hove in 50 Buildings, by Kevin Newman, published 15 April 2016 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445655144 & ISBN-13: 9781445655147) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Brighton in 50 Buildings is a exciting new look at one of Britain's most famous and influential cities, telling the story of this 'city of sin' and 'Queen of watering places'. Readers experience a fresh look at the one-time fishing village through fifty of its most famous, unusual, unheard of or influential buildings. It is not simply a guide to Brighton's most famous architecture, but looks also at the buildings that tell a story, whether it be of the rich and famous, the criminal, the go-getters and those left behind in a destination first built for the rich and regal. The book takes you across the many different areas of the city and covers buildings from royal retreats to crumbling cottages

Rye and Around From Old Photographs, by Alan Dickinson, published 15 June 2016 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445658992 & ISBN-13: 9781445658995)

Secret Worthing, by James Henry and Colin Walton, published 15 July 2016 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445651408 & ISBN-13: 9781445651408) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

This popular Sussex seaside resort on the south coast is an eclectic mix of Edwardian, Georgian and Victorian architecture, with a splash of art deco and a smattering of medieval if you know where to look. Local history books are an invaluable source of information, charting the development of a town, but there are some oddities and curiosities that lack explanation or merit few words. It is these that James and Colin have set themselves the task of investigating. Few will realise that they are walking in the footsteps of Oscar Wilde or Jane Austen, both of whom were short-term residents of Worthing. Within these pages you'll discover stories of places, people and objects.

Sussex Railway Stations Through Time, by Douglas D'Enno, published 15 August 2016 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445648768 & ISBN-13: 9781445648767)

It was in 1841 that the London & Brighton Railway constructed the line from Norwood (linking with the London & Croydon Railway) to the coast. The lines built between 1841 and 1868 formed a comprehensive countywide network, extending from Three Bridges to Midhurst and Chichester in the west and (via the South Eastern Railway) from Tunbridge Wells to Bexhill, thence to Rye, in the east. The county's coastal stations yield their own interesting story. Apart from the stations on main routes, those on branch lines and wayside halts are also included.
In this book, Douglas d'Enno explores the absorbing and sometimes colourful story of one county's railway stations. The older photographs feature early postcards and carefully selected images from railway archives and publications. When juxtaposed with their present-day equivalents, the extent of the change in these facilities for rail passengers can be fully appreciated.

Lewes Pubs, by Kevin Newman, published 15 August 2016 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445658259 & ISBN-13: 9781445658254) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Ever since the days when it was reconstructed as one of King Alfred's burhs (fortified towns), Lewes has experienced a wealth of taverns, inns, alehouses, and public houses. Today the erstwhile county town of Sussex has a range of pubs that reflect this interesting, quirky, affluent yet also sometime fiercely independent and radical town.,br />Author Kevin Newman takes the reader on a fascinating journey through Lewes' watering houses past and present. He explores the trivial, the unknown, the spooky, the unusual and the achievements that have taken place in the town's pubs. He also tells of the many characters that have frequented or run Lewes' public houses, including the pub that stands on the site of the UK's highest death toll from an avalanche. Lewes Pubs tells many fascinating tales and will make locals and visitors alike want to visit one of the town's taverns straight away.

Lost Buildings of Worthing: A Historic Town and its People, by Antony Edmonds, published 15 October 2016 (256 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445657074 & ISBN-13: 9781445657073) accessible at: British Library & West Sussex Libraries

Demolition and redevelopment over the past seventy-five years have done great damage to Worthing, and relatively few of the town's historic buildings survive.
Lost Buildings of Worthing is a lavishly illustrated record of the most interesting and important of these vanished buildings. It is also a rich and detailed history - and social history - of Worthing, with numerous fascinating narratives and anecdotes about people associated with the buildings described.
In the first section, 'Lost on the Seafront', we travel from east to west along the parade, visiting over twenty buildings, including the Haven, where Oscar Wilde wrote The Importance of Being Earnest in 1894; Warne's, the famous hotel where Emperor Haile Selassie stayed after he was exiled from Ethiopia; and the Marine Hotel, where Benjamin Disraeli 'sojourned for a time' during a period when he was in opposition.
The second section, 'Lost in the Town Centre', features buildings and streets that once stood in the historic heart of Worthing - from the slum dwellings of Cook's Row to the fine old houses of the High Street - while the third, 'Lost on the Periphery', focuses on the ancient estates of Charmandean and Offington.
Illustrated with over two hundred engravings and photographs - together with six extracts from the Ordnance Survey map of 1859 - Lost Buildings of Worthing is an indispensable historical account of the largest town in West Sussex.

Sussex Steam, by Michael Hymans, published 13 October 2016 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-13: 9781445663067) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Southdown Buses, by Michael Hymans, published 15 October 2016 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-13: 9781445663005) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

A collection of previously unpublished images of Southdown buses

Secret Brighton, by Kevin Newman, published 15 November 2016 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445661500 & ISBN-13: 9781445661506) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Secret Brighton offers a unique insight into the intriguing and eccentric city of Brighton through the lesser-known aspects of its history. This book highlights the history 'below the surface' of Brighton, revealing hidden aspects that even most Brightonians don't know.
Discover the story behind the Prince Regent's numerous trips to the site of what is a council estate today, the little-known plans for Brighton's hotels and piers in the First World War and uncover literary secrets, including which multimillion-selling Brightonian author was once Orson Welles' house cleaner. Brighton-born author Kevin Newman takes the reader on a fascinating journey through Brighton's murky past.

Bluebell Railway, by David Christie, published 2017 (Amberley, ISBN-10: 1445669463 & ISBN-13: 9781445669465) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

The Bluebell Railway is the premier preserved line. Some 18 visits were made by David Christie, mostly in the transformative 1969-1972 period when the line was changing from a sleepy little branch to one with bigger engines.

Secret Lewes, by Terry Philpot, published 15 January 2017 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445661969 & ISBN-13: 9781445661964) accessible at: British Library & East Sussex Libraries

Lewes appears to be a tranquil and attractive place but its alleyways and buildings conceal many stories. The town's origins can be traced back to prehistory and the Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Normans have all left their mark.
Author Terry Philpot takes the reader on a fascinating journey through streets that have been walked by artists like Eric Gill and writers from John Evelyn to Virginia Woolf, as well as revolutionaries and reformers from Thomas Paine to Eamon de Valera, and some remarkable local people. The annual Bonfire Night, when an effigy of the Pope is burned, is a reminder of a vibrant religious history that includes the Norman foundation of the Priory of St Pancras to the execution of seventeen Protestant martyrs in the sixteenth century. From the decisive battle of the Second Barons' War, England's 'unknown' civil war of the thirteenth century, to its prison, which held Finnish soldiers captured during the Crimean War 600 years later, English history echoes in Lewes. But it is also a place where eccentrics have had a place, inventors and pioneers have thrived, and entrepreneurs, whose names are now known in today's fashionable shopping places, have flourished.
Dominated by castle and prison and once a major port, Lewes' past, sometimes violent, sometimes inventive, and sometimes creative but always engrossing, is ever present all around you.

50 Gems of Sussex: The History & Heritage of the Most Iconic Places, by Kevin Newman, published 15 March 2017 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445666138 & ISBN-13: 9781445666136) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Famous for its coastal playgrounds and rural retreats, Sussex is a county filled with natural appeal and is just an hour from the City of London. With a timeline dating back to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex and beyond, this south-eastern county is full of attractive and iconic treasures.
From the bustling seaside metropolis of Brighton to cosy chocolate-box villages such as Amberley and the magnificent Chichester Cathedral, this book takes the reader on a fascinating journey through market towns, vast landscapes and distinctive places of notable interest. The beautiful valley of Devil's Dyke, the medieval Pevensey Castle and the history of Norman Sussex draw countless visitors and are among this collection of Sussex sites that capture the character and intrigue of the striking county.
Breweries and beaches, castles and museums and those scenes of bucolic splendour that continue to attract artists, celebrities, photographers and writers are all here in a lovingly painted picture of Sussex today. In 50 Gems of Sussex, historian, tour guide and author Kevin Newman explores fifty unmissable gems that make this southern county special.

Southern Rail Through The 1950s: Year by Year, by Michael Hymans, published 15 May 2017 (128 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445666197 & ISBN-13: 9781445666198) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Recording an iconic and important decade in the history of the Southern Region, Michael Hymans offers a unique year-by-year photographic record of the fascinating changes that took place. With an accessible, easy-to-read style, Southern Region Through the 1950s acts as a wonderful introduction, as well as a useful guide for the experienced enthusiast. Touching on a variety of ideas and themes that dominated the decade, including the publication of the Modernisation Plan in 1955 and the continued growth in popularity of the personal automobile and road haulage, this volume utilises a wealth of rare and unpublished photographs in its nostalgic approach to an important decade in the history of the Southern Region.

Brewing in West Sussex, by David Muggleton, published 1 May 2017 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445657252 & ISBN-13: 9781445657257) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

In sixth-century Sussex - the kingdom of the South Saxons - social life centred upon the alehouse. Throughout the Middle Ages, brewing remained a domestic occupation: beer was sweet and flavored with herbs and spices. By 1600, when Henry Stanton was brewing in Crawley, the use of hops to flavor and preserve beer had become standard practice. The growth of the large commercial brewers was a product of the industrial revolution, from which era dates famous West Sussex family concerns such as Henty of Chichester, the Ockendens of Crawley and Constable of Littlehampton. That these are no longer with us is due to a long process of acquisition during the twentieth century. With the takeover of the last of their line, King & Barnes of Horsham, in 2000, brewing in West Sussex was left to just a handful of small independents. Yet today there are nearly thirty breweries in this part of the county. This fully illustrated and informative book pays homage to the brewing heritage of West Sussex while celebrating the current outpouring of creativity known as the microbrewery revolution.

Brighton From Old Photographs, by Christopher Horlock, published 15 June 2017 (128 pp., Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445669404 & ISBN-13: 9781445669403) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

In this fascinating collection of images from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, author Christopher Horlock shows Brighton at the height of its fame as the 'Queen of watering places', a time when many of her major attractions were built, including the Grand Hotel, the West Pier, and the Brighton Palace Pier. Brighton From Old Photographs provides something for everyone, be they long-time residents or first-time visitors.

Signalling and Signal Boxes Along the LB&SCR and Isle of Wight Railway Routes , by Allen Jackson, published 1 June 2017 (96 pp., Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445669307 & ISBN-13: 9781445669304) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries

Over the course of three volumes, Allen Jackson uses an array of photographs to lavishly illustrate the story of signalling in the principal constituents of the Southern Rail region ? focusing here on the London Brighton & South Coast Railway and Isle of Wight routes. The Prince Regent first popularized Brighton as a pleasure destination in the eighteenth century and the town acquired a reputation for pleasure for the masses after the coming of the railway. From these beginnings the railway grew to cover large parts of Surrey and Sussex and went some way to establishing the railway commuter. The bowler-hatted city gent on the 07.10 to Victoria became a national stereotype. These intensively worked lines were early converts to electric traction in the 1920s and 1930s and consequently much mechanical signalling was removed then. However some mechanical signalling remained in seaside resorts other than Brighton and some routes not seen as a modernisation priority. Massive investment in recent years has rendered or will shortly render the remaining mechanical signalling and signal boxes redundant, but the LBSCR will live on at the Bluebell heritage railway. The Isle of Wight railway continues in a proud independent tradition and much of it was concerned with providing a conveyor belt for holidaymakers off the ferries in the summer months.