2007 Publications

Chalkland: an archaeology of Stonehenge and its region, by Andrew J Lawson. Comprehensive and authoritative account of the archaeology of the Stonehenge region, drawing extensively on the findings of recent excavations. The author is a well-known prehistorian, who as Director of Wessex Archaeology for many years built up one of the largest and most successful archaeological units in Britain, and who has been personally involved in many of the excavations this book describes. This important work will be of great interest to academic and professional archaeologists, but is written in a lucid and engaging style which will appeal also to the general reader. 240 x 170mm, 424pp, many figs and ills, paperback and casebound editions. 978-0-946418-61-9 (casebound); 978-0-946418-70-1 (paperback); £25 casebound, £17.95 paperback, November 2007.

Forgotten Labour, by Avice Wilson. This pioneering study of agricultural history in Wiltshire from the point of view of the labourer, rather than that of the farmer or landowner, offers many new insights and a comprehensive view of the subject from early prehistory to the recent past. The fruit of many years’ painstaking research, Avice Wilson’s important new book follows her ground-breaking account of Wiltshire’s cheesemaking industry, Forgotten Harvest, and her history of the north Wiltshire hamlet, Cocklebury, where she grew up. 240 x 170mm, 316pp, many ills, paperback. 978-0-946418-32-9, £14.95, September 2007

The Wiltshire Cotswolds (Exploring Historic Wiltshire 3), by Ken Watts. The author’s two previous volumes in this series, covering north and south Wiltshire (published by Ex Libris Press), have been very well received. But because they say little about the north-western or Cotswold fringe of Wiltshire, Ken Watts has turned his attention to this unassuming but fascinating and attractive region, which extends from Bradford on Avon in the south, through Corsham, Sherston and Malmesbury to the Cotswold Water Park and Cricklade in the north. For those who associate the attractions of the Cotswolds only with Gloucestershire this book will come as a pleasant revelation, combining as it does history and architecture with practical information and walks. 240 x 170mm, 300pp, maps and ills, paperback. 978-0-946418-65-7, £12.95, November 2007.

A History of Stanton St Bernard, by Val Knowles. Stanton St Bernard is a small village in the centre of Pewsey Vale, at the heart of Wiltshire. Its horizons north and south are the chalk hills of the Marlborough Downs and Salisbury Plain, but the village sits in the broad greensand valley formed by the headwaters of the Salisbury Avon. Val Knowles lives in Stanton and has spent many years unravelling, from books, documents, maps, memories and the rich archaeological landscape, the long and sometimes eventful history of her village and its ancient parish. The result is a readable and authoritative account of a typical Wiltshire village. It will prove of absorbing interest to anyone familiar with Stanton and Pewsey Vale, or who has fallen under the spell of this peaceful and beautiful countryside. 240 x 170mm, 160pp, many ills, paperback. 978-0-946418-63-3, £9.95, June 2007

Chitterne: a Wiltshire village, by Sue Robinson. Chitterne is a remote village on Salisbury Plain, surrounded by a military wilderness, which could have died like Imber, but has survived and thrives. This thoroughly researched, affectionate local history has grown out of a community website, and is the first modern treatment of this ancient and idiosyncratic chalkland village. Fully illustrated. 240 x 168mm, 164pp, many ills, paperback; 978-0-946418-68-8, £9.95, November 2007

The Donheads: past and present, by Michael Coward, David McLean, Rex Sawyer and Christine Speak. Donhead St Andrew and Donhead St Mary are neighbouring villages in south-west Wiltshire adjoining the Dorset border near Shaftesbury. They occupy an intricate and confusing landscape of hamlets, small valleys and farms, streams and high downland. This handsome hardback book includes a short history and description of the parishes, reminiscences by some of the oldest inhabitants, and a generous selection from local farmer David McLean’s celebrated collection of illustrations. 240 x 170mm, 140pp, many ills, inc 8pp of colour, casebound. 978-0-946418-64-0, £12.95, December 2007.

Milford, by Richard Durman. This is the first in a planned series of small books, Sarum Studies, which will describe suburbs and areas of Salisbury, produced under the aegis of the Sarum Chronicle editorial panel. Milford lies on the eastern side of Salisbury, and now consists largely of Victorian and later suburbs. But it has an interesting if somewhat enigmatic history, stretching back to the period before the city of Salisbury was established. Richard Durman, an expert on architectural history who lives in Milford, has provided a readable and informative history which is sure to fascinate residents and everyone who knows and loves Salisbury. 240 x 170mm, 72pp, ills, paperback. 978-0-946418-60-2, £5.95, October 2007

Winsley: from Cecilia to Victoria, by Robin and Barbara Harvey. The parish of Winsley, including Turleigh, adjoins Bradford on Avon and extends to the Somerset border. This very detailed history of the parish describes its evolution from Saxon and medieval times, when it belonged to Shaftesbury Abbey, through to the Victorian era, when it was first mapped in detail. Winsley is particularly rich in good stone-built houses, and the authors’ expertise in researching building history makes their parish history a model for others to emulate. 240 x 170mm, 168pp, ills, paperback, 978-0-946418-62-6, £9.95, December 2007.

Foot Loose in South Wiltshire, by Jane Holmes, is a diary kept by a young woman growing to maturity through the Second World War and after – a young woman fascinated by nature and the countryside, and embarking with enthusiasm on a farming career. Her explorations, initially from her home at Bemerton, take Jane Holmes all over the Salisbury area, south Wiltshire and beyond. In his Foreword, Patrick Holden describes Foot Loose as: ‘a poignant and heartfelt reminder of what once was, a countryside teeming with beautiful birds and animals in a natural and healthy habitat. Where many country-folk, particularly those whose work brought them into contact with the soil, had an innocence and gentleness of spirit about them that has been lost to our detriment in the intervening years. It is an important and valuable document to remind us of what we have lost through our mistreatment of the Earth and our failure to understand the interconnectedness of all life forms.’ 240 x 170mm, 132pp, ills, paperback, 978-0-946418-71-8, £7.95, December 2007.

New Paperback Editions

Grandmother’s Recipes: the receipt book of Mary Jane Stratton, by Katy Jordan. First published in hardback in 2003, and now in paperback for the first time. The author, a well-known folklorist, comes from an old Wiltshire family, and inherited her grandmother’s recipe book, compiled when a cook in service 100 years ago. In this cookery book like no other, Katy presents all the original instructions, together with their adaptation for the modern kitchen and a wealth of family detail. 246 x 174mm, 176pp, many ills, paperback. 978-0-946418-36-7, £9.95, July 2007

Devizes & Central Wiltshire, by John Chandler, illustrated by Michael Charlton. First published in hardback in 2003, and now in paperback for the first time, this is the second volume of the author’s long term project to write succinct but informative short histories of every town and village in Wiltshire. This volume covers Devizes and 41 parishes from Seend along Pewsey Vale to Wootton Rivers and south to Netheravon. Beautifully produced, with exquisite drawings and useful historic maps. 248 x 170mm, 288pp, maps, ills, paperback. 978-0-946418-29-9, £12.95, July 2007