Dore to Door internet edition

Book Reviews - Autumn 2005

Pub walks in the White Peak - Pub Walks for Motorists - Sheffield Parks and Gardens - Historic Parks and Gardens in and around South Yorkshire - Riding the Sheffield Lines - A Darnall Camera

Pub walks in the White Peak
There can be few things more enjoyable than a well earned cool drink after a healthy walk. No doubt that is why there is a close association between walkers and pubs. The White Peak is famous for its white limestone walls, its patchwork of ancient fields, and its excellent potential for walks. Now the new updated edition of makes it easy to explore in the sure knowledge of refreshment and sustenance to follow. There are 30 walks ranging from three to nine miles, most of which are accessible by public transport, leaving you free to sample what is on offer in the authors' favourite pubs. There is a description of each pub, plus clear maps, information on the Peak District in fact everything needed to enjoy your day out. 162 pages, published by Sigma Leisure price £7.95 ISBN 1-85058-828-7.

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If you enjoy walking, are prepared to travel a little further and only plan a modest indulgence then Pub Walks for Motorists might be for you. This new book contains 40 circular routes in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Lincolnshire. Ranging from three to eight miles they all provide for an interesting day out. Illustrated with pictures of the pubs and some of the scenery, and with clearly drawn maps this book provides an introduction to some of the most beautiful scenery in England. The three counties are very different in both landscape and buildings, but they all boast some good pubs for food. 144 pages, published by Countryside Books, price £8.99 ISBN 1-85306-901-9

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Sheffield is renown for its parks, woodlands and open spaces which make it one of the greenest cities in Europe. Yet in the early nineteenth century this heavily industrial town was overcrowded and polluted and there were no green spaces for leisure and recreation. Through more than 150 fascinating old black and white photographs with deep explanatory cations, Sheffield Parks and Gardens provides an insight into how our parks and gardens were acquired and developed. Many of the photographs show park features long gone or depicted everyday events and special occasions such as Royal visits and Whitsuntide. What is striking from the photographs is how popular these open spaces were in the past as testified by the number of children paddling in the Sheaf at Millhouses Park or playing in the Lido. Sadly our public spaces have suffered from years of neglect and we must wonder what the original city benefactors would make of this. 128 pages, published by Tempus Publishing Ltd, price £12.99 ISBN 0-7524-3542-6

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Historic Parks and Gardens in and around South Yorkshire takes us farther afield and looks in more detail at the development of parks (deer parks, landscaped parks and public parks); English ornamental gardens and country house kitchen gardens. It offers a fascinating overview of garden fashions and trends over many centuries and puts our local parks and gardens into their national historical context. It contains short historical and visitor guides to nearly thirty parks and gardens open to the public and is illustrated with nearly 100 coloured and black and white photographs or images. Reading the different sections in the book will greatly add to the interest of anyone planning to visit any of the locations detailed. 160 pages, published by Wharncliffe Books, price £12.99 ISBN: 1-903425-47-6.

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The nostalgic attraction of Sheffield Trams is widely recognised, and a new book by Bernard Mettam will find a popular audience. Riding the Sheffield Lines is full of pictures he has taken all of Sheffield scenes featuring trams which have been a lifelong passion. The photographs are in colour and black and white, and although trams are the theme, they do capture a changing Sheffield in the background from 1954 to the trams sad demise in 1960. 96 A4 pages, published by Pickard Communication, price £12.99 ISBN 0-9544045-1-3

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A Darnall Camera by J R Wrigley is the seventh book in his series of books containing old Sheffield photographs. Most were originally old postcards with some of his own photographs added. They capture a time and place from early in the 19th century to the 1980s. This book makes you realise how important photographs are at capturing the past and how much more information the contain than many a book. 80 pages, published by Pickard Communication, price £7.99 ISBN 0-9547264-8-0.