The Queens Head

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England's landscape is as diverse as its culture. It is a country with magnificent landscapes. This guide looks at the more established places of interest throughout the country, but it also focuses on the more secluded and little known visitor attractions and places to stay, eat and drink..

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The year is 1888. First Commander Ashto, and Apprentice Commander, Atia, land on Earth from planet Jara. Their mission is to assess the potential of this little-known planet for possible inclusion into the Jaran Galactic Federation..

The Inns and Alehouses of Stafford is the first of two books by Stafford author John Connor. This first volume looks at the drinking establishments within the ancient town’s fortified walls and it presents a definitive review of the history of Stafford’s beer establishments, owners and the history behind the areas pub names and signs. The book is a mine of information that will appeal to local pub buffs and historians alike. The entry for the inns and alehouses within the book include a photo of each building, a description of the changes that have taken place to the pub over the years and the names they have been known by. A comprehensive list of licensees of each establishment is also included. This shows who the licenees were, where they came from and where they went to. A short narrative about every inn sign completes each entry – and while many of the pubs have well-known names, there are some delightfully quirky ones to discover within these pages as well. Pubs have always been the hub of a community and in The Inns and Alehouses of Stafford we can learn more about the buildings and owners that have given Stafford drinkers over 460 years of drinking pleasure!.

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A flavour of this book ... This small disk is called Carmichael’s Amulet and it commemorates the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria by the dates 1837 and 1897. These are the dates of her 60 years reign. To the right can be seen a mould that is carved from wood. It seems to have been professionally made in a large block that is well finished and furnished with a hook for hanging up. The mould may have produced butter pats or terrines for a Victorian celebration. As well as the Diamond Jubilee dates it commemorates the Record Reign that Queen Victoria had achieved in 1896 after being monarch for longer than George III. These images were taken by the authors as this book was being written and so they do not appear in the text which summarises an enormous variety of Diamond Jubilee souvenirs. Inside you will find a unique view of Victoriana that was made to celebrate one event at the height of the powers of the British Empire. The souvenirs will give you a glimpse into Victorian creative ingenuity as well as the thinking and beliefs of people in 1897..

The move to a new capital, Akhenaten/Amarna, brought essential changes in the depictions of royal women. It was in their female imagery, above all, that the artists of Amarna departed from the traditional iconic representations to emphasize the individual, the natural, in a way unprecedented in Egyptian art..

Many years ago, before you were born, before your parents were born and before their parents were born, there was a strange and magical land called Quinkanna. Quinkanna was a peaceful land ruled by the kindest King and Queen ever to have lived. The King and Queen lived peacefully with their two young children; Prince Benjamin the Wild and Princess Jessica the Wise. The last time their land had been threatened was during the Great Dragon War when the fiercest dragons had nearly destroyed Quinkanna. No dragon had been seen in Quinkanna for a thousand years. Until now. The discovery of a friendly dragon cub in the land followed by a mysterious illness that befalls the beautiful Princess Jessica threatens to destroy the happiness that had been bestowed on the land for so many years. When the wisest healers in the land are unable to cure the child it falls to the brave little dragon cub to take on an incredible quest to save her, and all of Quinkanna, from the threat of the Wonambi Dragons!.

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