Most notable of the local designs include the tubular bridge crossing the Wye from England to Wales at Chepstow, which was the precursor of the Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash. Brunel oversaw the construction of the line from Swindon to Gloucester, and the Broad Gauge goods shed at Stroud station, as well as the station in Cirencester, now surrounded by a car park. Other notable structures include the Mickleton and Haie Hill tunnels, Brunel was heavily involved in the surveying of the major rail routes in the county too, being the engineer for the Bristol to Gloucester route, which opened in 1844 and undertook surveys of the Gloucester-Birmingham railway line too. John Christopher, an acknowledged expert on Brunel, with numerous books to his name, takes us on a tour of the county, showing the effect that Brunel had on the railways, roads and rivers and the transport network of Gloucestershire. This book comes alive with his passion for Brunel and he covers in detail the items that are still there as well as the history. Illustrated profusely in colour and sepia it demonstrates how one of the greatest Victorians shaped the world we move in today. If you enjoyed the Michael Portillo TV series on Great British Railway Journeys this should be on your list. If you didn’t then buy this anyway. It will tell you so much you never knew.

Cheltenham Then & Now is a superb collection photographs of the town, compiled by Sue Rowbotham and Jill Waller. Scenes of yesteryear are contrasted with modern colour views to show what has been lost and what remains. This book offers an insight into people’s daily lives and living conditions in the town, and the nature of the photographs and the authors’ informative captions show the sometimes drastic changes which have taken place in the name of progress. Drawing on detailed local knowledge of the community and illustrated with a wealth of fascinating images, this book recalls what has changed in Cheltenham in terms of buildings, traditions and ways of life. The Plough Hotel contrasts with The Regent Arcade and The Montpellier Baths with The Playhouse but the The Promenade remains somewhat unchanged. Great old images and carefully taken large new ones make this an appealing read.