WARWICKSHIRE has a rich history – Shakespeare, Warwick and Kenilworth castles, and the birthplace of rugby football.
But there are plenty of things which have gone on within the county’s boundaries and beyond which many people will not be familiar with.
Many such happenings can be found in Warwick historian Lynne R Williams’ newly published The Little Book of Warwickshire which collects together quirky and fascinating stories about from the county’s past – from the battle field to the sporting field.
The Little Book of Warwickshire is published by The History Press, priced £9.99.
Did you know for instance
In 1927 the fossilised remains of a 4.5 metre dinosaur were discovered in Bishops Itchington
* The 2nd Warwickshires actually defended the garrison at Rorke’s Drift and not the Welsh Regiment depicted in the film Zulu
· Frances Evelyn Maynard (‘Darling Daisy’), countess of Warwickshire was reputed to be the inspiration for the music hall song ‘ Daisy, Daisy, give me you answer do.’
· Animals inhabiting Warwickshire 125,000-70,000 BC included elephants, bears, hippos and lions.
· For a bet ‘Mad Jack’ Mytton rode his horse up the grand staircase of the Bedford Hotel in Leamington Spa in 1826, out on to the balcony and jumped, whilst still seated, over the assembled diners in the restaurant below and out through a window.
