History of Milton Keynes and District in 2 vols

Luton, UK: White Crescent Press Limited. Very Good/Good. 1975. First Edition. Hard Cloth Cover. 8vo 0900804122 Volume 1 First Edition 1973. Dust jacket, price clipped, in a clear protecrive sleeve. Red cloth with gilt titling on spine, slightly soiled. Map end papers. Book plate on half title. 339 pages clean and tight. Volume 2. First Edition. Dust jacket Red cloth with gilt titling on spine, slightly soiled. Map end papers. Book plate on half title. 329 pages clean and tight. This is the history of an area of England that has never been regarded as historically important, with neither great Roman amphitheatres, Saxon churches, Norman castles or cathedrals. No great battle has been fought within its boundaries. It has never produced great painters, poets or musicians. It is an area which lacks the magnificent scenery of Scotland or Wales, and has no stately ducal homes to attract the tourist. Yet it was through this region that the Conqueror made his great swoop on London when he failed in Kent; it was here that the Plantagenets came to hunt and to love, and so upset King-making Warwick. Stony Stratford was indeed the happy hunting ground of Kings for centuries, and its inns could accommodate Queens of Scotland and Hungarian ambassadors in style. It was here that Richard III captured the boy King Edward V, and took him off to the Tower and to his death. This is the second volume of the history of an area that now forms the new city of Milton Keynes. It is an area of England that has seldom been regarded as historically important, yet only a few miles away were the famous Buckingham estates at Stowe from which England was ruled for decades. The new city area includes the town of Wolverton, which produced not only remarkable steam locomotives and royal coaches but generations of superb railway craftsmen whose services were sought all over the world. Nearby Bletchley has for a century produced engine drivers of high renown, and by ironic contrast also the inventor of the `Diesel' engine. Neighbouring villages produced characters such as `Sister Dora' and hunting squires, whilst Stony Stratford inspired Charles Dickens to create `Mr Turveydrop', the superb dancing master and model of decorum. And there are forceful, outspoken chapters on local politics up to I95I. It is a history, with humour, of quiet stubborn men and women who geographically and historically are the most English of all, Disraeli represented the area for nearly thirty years, and loved it. .