Book launches and reviews, Spring 2024
A RURAL RAILWAY AND ITS NEIGHBOURS :
The Midland Railway: Nottingham to Newark
Author: Jeremy Lodge
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This fascinating book written by Jeremy Lodge covers and brings to life the history of the Midland line, and includes many personal stories from people involved with this railway line.
It is is a book that includes descriptions, events and tales of this railway line, including some notable buildings such as Staythorpe Power Station and Lowdham Mill. This makes it not only a book about the railway but a social and industrial history of the railway route.
Like his previous book 'The Midland Line - Lincoln to Newark it is full of important points about this railway line. Its focus on personal stories as well as the history of the railway line is so important in developing the whole story of this stretch of the Midland Railway.
A fascinating addition to the history of the route and a true social history of 175 years of the railway line and the communities on this route from Newark to Nottingham.
Paul Baker
Laxton: England's last open field village
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This outstanding second edition of this booklet is available from the Laxton Visitor Centre. The text by John Beckett and the colour photographs help all the visitors and others interested in the history of Laxton to derive a full understanding of the village from 1066 through to the present day. The history of the Village with a Castle, Church and the Open Field Farming all clearly covered this give visitors not only a quide book to use when visiting but a historical booklet for further studies at home.
The booklet also explains why Laxton has survived and how, although very different today from the Laxton of Medieval times, the changes over many centuries still allow visitors to gain a full understanding of the historical significance of Laxton since the 11th century. The piecemeal enclosure over many centuries and how from 1906 the emphasis has moved from enclosure to preservation with the purchase of Laxton in 2020 by the Trustees of of the Thoresby Settlement. This has maintained the open fields and the historical manorial institutions, working with the Laxton farmers.
A very useful history booklet for those who have visited Laxton or plan to visit in the future.
I can recommend a visit and the purchase of this publication from the Laxton Visitor Centre.
Paul Baker