This is an authoritative mine of detailed information for the cities, towns, villages and hamlets of England and Wales a century ago. Comprehensively researched over a number of years, the information consists of many thousand of entries compiled and evaluated by the relevant local authorities. An entirely practical work, the articles are arranged alphabetically in a concise, clear and easy-to-use manner. Distances are given from London and the nearest railway stations, postal and telegraphic communications are described and populations are documented from the most up-to-date census of 1891. Entries are informatively illustrated with statistics relating to churches and livings, parish areas, education, commerce, shipping, manufactures and agriculture, all obtained from the latest official reports. Finally, noblemen's and gentlemen's seats are noted and special objects of interest to the historian and archaeologist are summarized. The text is illustrated with fifty-four double-page county maps depicting the natural features and the main roads, railways and canals which form the commercial and communications networks. Also provided is a series of major town plans and scenic views. Edited by John Brabner, the editor of the National Encyclopaedia , this work is an outstanding nineteenth century sourcebook of Victorian and modern Britain.