Malcolm Hanson
Web
Design by
This web site is best viewed
in 1024 x 768 screen resolution
|
The
Gateway Walk
A
handy pocket book guide covering 1000 years of Skipton history. Equally
informative whether using the book as you walk in Skipton, or sitting at
home in front of a cosy fire. Crammed with stories of the Great Dynasty of
the Cliffords of Skipton Castle, and life in the town throughout the
centuries. It also features odd characters such as Seequaw the Indian
Tooth-puller; crime and punishment in the Sixteen and Seventeen Hundreds;
the influence on the town in the 15th Century by Richard III, Lord of the
Honour of Skipton, and later, in the 16th Century, Henry VIII, (who willed
that the Crown of England might be set on the head of a Skipton boy). The
book also tells the story of the beautiful church of Holy Trinity - and
includes some very strange events! Finally there is Skipton’s very own
American Pioneer Thomas Cresap - who opened the West long before Davy
Crockett!
This
Frightful Town
Continues
the theme of The Gateway Walk being cram-packed with stories and
traditions of old Skipton, though for this book, the author has delved
into the darker side of the town by studying tales and legends of ghosts,
witches, talking horses, phantom dogs and a cornucopia of unnatural
events. Read about the night the whole town rioted; follow a procession of
murderous vicars (!) as they fought it out for the Headship of
Ermysted’s Grammar School; peep into the lives of some of Skipton’s
most colourful characters, including “Piggy Sam” and “Juicy”
Haworth. Visit the low-life of Union Square and contrast it with that of
the Alcocks of Aireville - (who might have suffered a fate worse than
death on being visited by the legendary “termagant” Nancy
Nicholson.) Finally, take a midnight stroll down Sheep Street, as the
author introduces you to the now-celebrated “Ghosts of Sheep Street” -
the most haunted thoroughfare in Yorkshire!
The Dark
Side of Town
…The
biggest ever ‘punch up’ to take place in Skipton happened on the night
of August 16th 1842, when over three thousand got stuck in - what single
event could cause such upheaval that it became necessary for local
magistrates to send for mounted horse soldiers from Burnley…? So begins
the author’s third delve into Skipton’s turbulent history. The Dark
Side of Town continues where This Frightful Town left off, though this
time the reader shares his journey through time with murderers,
cut-throats and some very contemporary ghosts (real and not-so-real!).
This book gives the reader the chance to rummage among murder-sites and
tombstones, seeking clues to events long forgotten; laugh at another rich
array of comical and colourful characters such as “Old Cock-Up” and
poor “Mary Ann”; scrutinise the evidence concerning the latest odd
happenings at Holy Trinity Church. And for a “little light relief” the
author throws in a number of embarrassing anecdotes of his own.
A Skipton Anthology
The
definitive guide to Skipton’s unique history; A Skipton Anthology brings
under one roof, and up to date, all three of Malcolm Hanson’s previous
books while adding many new stories and quirky facts about the popular
northern town known as the Gateway to the Dales. Read about yet another
‘mad vicar’ of Skipton, the Reverend Edwin Guy, who for years plagued
the Lord of the Manor Tempest family of Broughton; the glass-coffined boy
of Christ Church – the only long-term ‘resident’ of the crypt and
the real and chilling story of the ‘Thing at the Police Club’ – a
terrifying being that chases the staff around when off their guard…
There are new stories of the ghosts of
Sheep Street
; new sightings of moving objects in shops, and a haunting at the railway
station. Add to that murderers at the Auction Market; lawbreakers in the
High Street; giant lions in Caroline Square; unholy clerics at
Ermysted’s and deranged knights at Skipton Castle and you have – as
the book’s cover trumpets - …a
veritable cornucopia of stories of what was once the strangest town in
Christendom…
Keighley's Darkest
Secrets
The most
amazing (and certainly the strangest) book ever written on the history of
an ordinary northern mill town – or is it just
a mill town? As usual, Malcolm Hanson draws back the veil to reveal dark
and deadly secrets of a town that has seemingly chosen to bury its past
beneath its mundane backstreets. Here be murders most vile; sickening
tales of the dark side of man’s nature – as graphically told in the
stories of the murders of poor Mary McGowan behind the Lord Rodney pub,
and money lender Oliver Preston – bludgeoned to death in his office by
the railway station. Here are tragic ghosts that haunt dark corners of
graveyards and strange buildings that harken back to the days of ignorance
and superstition. As the back cover reports: …
a graveyard ghost at St Andrew’s; shocking murder by the Rodney; a
tsunami at Ponden; disaster at Mill Hill; a notorious wife taming cradle
at the Royal Oak; Blue, white and red ladies at East Riddlesden; monuments
that scream; fist-fighting politicians; strange burials; fantastic
mansions and a ‘Mount Everest’ of haunted mills… You think you
know Keighley? Think again…
Do-It-Yourself
Valletta
Ghost Walk.
The definitive ghost guide to
Malta
's capital city -
Valletta
. This is an absolute must! Written for the do-it-yourself enthusiast (and
because THIS resident ghost walker can only be there in person three
months of the year!), this book takes the reader into the darkest alleys
and back streets of the ancient city of Valletta, where, if you dare follow
the-easy-to-read trail, you will visit sites where grey and black ladies
are said to walk; where phantom priests take early morning Mass; where the
souls of the long-dead Great Siege warriors still shriek out - 400 years
after having their heads hacked from their living bodies; where evil monks
continue to stalk long-abandoned corridors below the Law Courts, and
finally - if you really REALLY dare - stand on the very steps were the
notorious Vampire of Valletta was last seen!
This book is now published by Agius & Agius and is available at many
Maltese book shops.
10
Brilliant Schools Heritage Trails.
Ten of the best Heritage Walks - created as history projects for local
schools. This book's 100 pages is crammed full of places to visit in and
around Keighley. You simply study the details of the particular walk you wish to do, turn up at the start point, and
off you go! There are a thousand things to see on these walks, and each
and every one of them is fascinating. The book also includes aspects from
"Keighley's Darkest Secrets" so expect the odd ghost! Simple to
read - as someone said: "It's like chatting with someone over a
pint" - and fun for all the family! So get mum and dad, grandpa and
grandma and all the kids; pack a picnic box and off you go!
For prices and
availability of all my books, please Contact Us |
The Gateway Walk
This Frightful Town
The Dark Side of Town
A Skipton
Anthology
Keighley's
Darkest Secrets
DIY Valletta
Ghost Walk.
10
Brilliant Schools Heritage Trails
See what the press said |
