Book reviews

NORTHUMBERLAND’S HIDDEN HISTORY, by Stan Beckensall. Published by Amberley, Chalford, Stroud GL6 8PE (www.amberley-books.com). £16.99. Softback.

IN his new book, this specialist archaeologist, historian and prolific local author focuses on places that are off the beaten track, scattered across the county in the hills, valleys, scarplands and along the coast. Sites featured ...


PASSION AND POWER: CONFLICT AND CHANGE IN 7TH CENTURY BRITAIN, by Warren R. Bardsley. Published and available from the author at 50 Wolsey Road, Lichfield, Staffs WS13 7QH. £5.50 (+ 50p p&p). Softback.

TOLD in fictional form, this is a highly readable account of the long and influential reign of Aldfrith, who ruled the Saxon kingdom of Northumbria from 685 to 704. The first scholar king in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Aldfrith (who ...


GEORGE HANDYSIDE, NEWCASTLE ENTREPRENEUR AND QUACK VENDOR, by David Robertson and Alan Blakeman. Published and available from David Robertson at 4 Boulmer Gardens, Wideopen, Newcastle NE13 6AT (email: davidrobertson@talktalk.net). £9.95 (+ 90p p&p). S

EVEN by the standards of Victorian times, the life of George Handyside was a remarkable rags-to-riches story. Born at Newton on the Moor near Felton in 1821, he moved to Berwick aged 26 with 17 shillings in his pocket and within a ...


MYSTERIOUS NORTHUMBERLAND, by Rupert Matthews. Published by Breedon Books, Mansfield DE21 4SZ (www.breedonbooks.co.uk). £14.99. Hardback.

HERE is an enjoyable book for readers interested in mysterious and bizarre events and all aspects of the supernatural and paranormal recorded in the county. While the human population of Northumberland may not be large, it is ...


SIMPLY NORTHUMBRIAN. Available by telephoning (01665) 577919 or (01670) 367016. £12.

THIS CD features a collection of new tunes written by Roy Hugman in the Northumbrian tradition, features the fiddle playing of Wendy Fergie and Kirsteen Gray, with Stephen Marker on keyboard and the composer on mouthorgan. With ...


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