New titles in 2013

May sees the publication of Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle by Richard Clammer and Alan Kittridge. First researched by the authors for their 1987 publication Passenger Steamers of the River Dart & Kingsbridge Estuary, out of print for some years, the earlier history of the Kingswear Castle has been re-edited and updated, with many new pictures. Additonal chapters trace her rescue by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society in 1967, return to service and operation in the south east on the rivers Medway and Thames, and her triumphant return to the river Dart.

We are working actively on several new titles to be published later this year and next year. Keep an eye on these pages for the latest news.

2012 new titles

Three new titles appeared in 2012 and all are now available.

The last is Michael Messenger's The Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway, a full account of this pioneering steam railway drawn almost exclusively from archive sources. The wealth of material has enabled an intimate story to be told of the running and operation of an early railway.

Also published in 2012 The Struggle for the Cornwall Railway, by Hugh Howes, is an account of the epic and arduous efforts needed to build Cornwall's main line railway. The leading engineers of the day were involved, as were Cornwall's landowners and business people, and much of the story is told in their own words.

A common feature on many west country railways and canals was the incline but it is often over-looked. Martin Bodman's Inclined Planes in the South West puts that right with descriptions of over 200, copiously illustrated with photographs and maps.

Price reductions

Having recently assessed our stock position we find we have more copies of some titles than we are likely to sell, in our lifetime anyway. Rather than dispose of surplus stock we have decided to lower some prices to encourage the sale. These reduction are marked clearly on these pages.

Postage Rates

The 2012 rises in postal rates are a serious blow to any business like us that has long relied on the Royal Mail for distribution. We have always endeavoured to send books post free and in order to maintain this have commenced using a carrier who is seriously cheaper than Royal Mail. Experience to date is very satisfactory. One wonders if Royal Mail is on a suicide mission.

We can no longer continue to offer post free to Europe and have introduced a contribution charge towards postage. For simplicity this is a flat rate but if it proves excessive, for a lighter book for example, we will endeavour to refund. If in doubt email us for a firm figure.