The fascinating story of Dorset's oil industry. This is an essential book for those interested in Dorset’s industrial history.

Historian James D. Taylor gathers in one volume all known historical information regarding Henry Grey, father of Lady Jane Grey. Descended from a distinguished and noble heritage that produced two queens, Henry Grey gave up a comfortable, quiet and leisurely life to become one of the most powerful and influential men in England next to the king. His influence was so strong that, working in alliance with the Duke of Northumberland, he was able to coerce the young King Edward VI, on his deathbed, to change the order of succession to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne when Edward died, making Henry Grey the father of the Queen. Documents trace the Grey lineage back as far as 1100 CE. This venerable family was intermingled with many other well placed and ambitious figures of medieval England, and these axes of power and influence all came into play upon the death of the young King Edward VI. Alliances and conspiracies first put Jane on the throne, then brought Henry VIII's daughter Mary to claim the crown herself. In the end, Henry Grey brought destruction upon his daughter and himself, as they were sent to the executioner within a week of each other. The tensions and emotions of this high-stakes game can be sensed from the documentary record. A genealogy of the Grey family, descriptive information on Henry Grey's wife Frances Brandon - an ambitious granddaughter of King Henry VII, a list of Knights made by King Edward VI and other historical documents accompany the text. The author also presents some dramatic narratives from the 1700s and 1800s which add flavor to the story.

This new, thoroughly updated fourth edition of Dorset (Slow Travel), Bradt’s popular and distinctive guide, offers in-depth exploration of one of England’s most popular counties. Author Alexandra Richards, Dorset born and bred, shares local insights to offer a wider, more personal selection of places to explore than any other guide, including attractions known only to locals, who normally keep the county’s treasures to themselves. The result encourages you to slow down and appreciate why this county deserves repeat visits. Dorset is quintessential rural England: rolling hills, thatched houses, winding lanes and stunning stately homes. Enchanting Dorset landscapes described in Thomas Hardy’s 19th-century novels are largely unchanged and are likely to remain so given that Dorset enjoys England’s highest proportion of conservation areas. The county is trimmed by the spectacular Jurassic Coast (starring locations such as Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove), England’s first natural World Heritage Site, whose cliffs are continuously revealing their prehistoric, fossilised secrets. History buffs, meanwhile, will love innumerable sites of archaeological interest, including Britain’s largest Iron Age hillfort, Maiden Castle. Practical information covers where and what to eat, where and what to see, and how to get around. This fourth edition: integrates recent changes across the county; covers additional villages in north Dorset; celebrates child-friendly activities; introduces local food and drink producers, artisans and community projects; and suggests new walks. Discover Dorset’s award-winning vodka made from milk; discover what really goes on at the Filly Loo Festival; challenge your tastebuds at the Great Dorset Chilli Festival; hunt fossils on beaches featured in the biopic film Ammonite, where Kate Winslet portrays world-famous palaeontologist Mary Anning; learn where never to say the word ‘rabbits’ (and why); discover the Lyme Regis rubber duck race; and get to grips with the fabulous Dorset dialect. Whatever your interest, be it local food, tours of award-winning wineries, horseriding, relaxing on award-winning beaches or spectacular coastal hikes, Dorset (Slow Travel) remains the essential companion guide for both enjoying the obvious sites and getting off the beaten track to understand what really makes this gorgeous, varied county tick.

Explore the history of the brewing industry in Dorset.