The story of the Thames & Severn Canal is one of exceptional interest. Talked of as early as the first decade of the seventeenth century, it was the first trunk waterway ever to be proposed in this country.

Have you ever wondered about the people who lived and worked along the canals? Have you ever caught a glimpse of something they might have seen or an echo of something they might have heard? As the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames and Severn canal wind their way from Framilode to Inglesham, they hold the stories of all who lived and worked on them. From Jack spinning yarns as he legs barges through the Sapperton Tunnel to Elizabeth swimming for all she is worth in the Wallbridge gala, the stories in 'Tales from the Towpath' span 250 years of life on the Cotswold canals. Mixing fact and fiction, they bring the past to life and, like all the best tales, appeal to children and adults alike.These original tales by storyteller Fiona Eadie are complemented by the evocative illustrations of local artist Tracy Spiers.

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which the Thames & Severn Canal has changed and developed over the last century.

Part of the Tempus History & Guide series, this book offers an in-depth look at the Thames and Severn Canal. Prepared from 30 years of personal experience with the canal by the author, plus extensive research, this account traces the history back to the 1780s. In addition, information is provided on how to access the waterway and enjoy the extensive towpath network, and what important buildings remain.

"Hornblower and the Atropos" by C. S. Forester is a thrilling installment in the adventures of Horatio Hornblower. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, this novel finds Captain Hornblower commanding HMS Atropos, the smallest vessel in the fleet, on a series of crucial missions. From overseeing the funeral procession of Admiral Nelson to embarking on a daring salvage operation in the Mediterranean, Hornblower's leadership and tactical skills are put to the test. Throughout the novel, readers are treated to Forester's meticulous attention to historical detail and his ability to craft intense naval action scenes. This book highlights Hornblower's resilience, ingenuity, and growing reputation as a formidable naval officer, making it a compelling read for fans of maritime adventure.

We live in a world where the drive for economic growth is crowding out everything that can’t be given a monetary value. We’re stuck on a treadmill where only the material things in life gain traction and it’s getting harder to find space for the things that really matter but money can’t buy, including our future. Fiona Reynolds proposes a solution that is at once radical and simple – to inspire us through the beauty of the world around us. Delving into our past, examining landscapes, nature, farming and urbanisation, she shows how ideas about beauty have arisen and evolved, been shaped by public policy, been knocked back and inched forward until they arrived lost in the economically-driven spirit of today. A passionate, polemical call to arms, The Fight for Beauty presents an alternative path forward: one that, if adopted, could take us all to a better future.

Henry Taunt was one of the most prolific and innovative of Victorian photographers, working mainly in and around Oxford. The River Thames became his favourite subject, and he captured its astonishing variety in thousands of glass plate negatives. From the natural beauties of the river itself and its landscape, through the historic houses, bridges and other riverside buildings which mark its progress, to its place as a playground for Victorian oarsmen, fishermen, and outdoor lovers of all kinds, Taunt's photographs present a matchless picture of late Victorian Britain. The authors have selected some 75 of Taunt's finest photographs, and, revisiting the sites today, have recorded the same views with cutting edge digital technology. These they have woven in with the originals, which are reproducing with the greatest possible care, together with a commentary based on Taunt's own numerous guidebooks. The result is a book of extraordinary beauty and power, which both evokes a vanished world and at the same time captures the contemporary beauty of what in many ways is a timeless landscape.