I work with community-level councils, parish
meetings, charitable trusts, community managed libraries and
neighbourhood planning groups.
Based in a village on the North York Moors, I write books about history, undertake research and heritage projects, and use photography to illustrate my work.
I am also a consultant for the Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils.
I
am writing a new book for Amberley Publishing. It
will be part of their new series celebrating towns and cities in the
United Kingdom. I shall be celebrating Leicester.
Unlike many histories which focus on what is lost, this book will recognise the city's achievements, success stories and heritage.
I will explore the traditions that remain today, the industries that have provided employment and prosperity, the fine buildings, and the people who have contributed in different ways to Leicester's success worldwide.
I recently completed research for ten new heritage interpretation panels for the city of Leicester.
The subjects of the new panels include the King Power stadium, former rally driver Graham Goode's garage in Aylestone, the Raw Dykes earthworks and the former Asfordby Street police station.
Previously I provided the research for nineteen panels which included this tribute to Thomas Cook outside the home he built after retiring from his tourism business.
The panels cover key periods
in the city's history, including Roman, Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian,
early twentieth century and modern era.
These new panels follows the 112 already located across the city and neighbouring historic villages.
They form part of work to support
the city's tourism agenda and help residents and visitors to
understand and appreciate key sites across Leicester.
I
am aways interested in new projects, working with parish or town councils
and community organisations. If I can be of assistance, please use the CONTACT FORM or send an email.
Email - contact@stephenbutt.co.uk
This year, council websites will need to be fully accessible to people who use assistive technology.
In 2018, the government introduced regulations which apply
to all local
council websites. Many will need to be compliant by September 2020.
Checking
for compliancy could be costly, so the Government has
published guidance to help councils check their own websites.
Link to the Government's 'Doing a basic accessibility check'
The Ramblers organisation is calling on people to save historic paths from being forgotten and lost.
Thousands of miles of public footpaths, some very ancient, are unrecorded. If they are not mapped by 1st January 2026, they may be lost for ever.
If you know of a path which is rarely walked or not signposted, please contact the Ramblers through their website.
It's been designed by Bath & North East Somerset Council with the support of the National Association of Local Councils. It is free to use.
Unveiling plaques to commemorate the lives of local people.
Managing recreation grounds and play areas.
Setting up neighbourhood planning groups.
Writing Community Emergency Plans with Local Resilience Forum officers.
Acquiring and preparing land for community allotments.
Working with community-managed libraries.
I have over twenty titles in print. This is a small selection, with links to my publishers' websites.
This illustrated history is a nostalgic look
at Leicester's past and highlights the special character of some of its
most important historic sites.
The photographs are from the Historic England archive of over twelve million photographs Historic England: Leicester shows the city and the county of Leicestershire as they once were, the buildings, people and special places.
Published in softcover by Amberley Publishing
and Historic England, 2018. 96 pages. 107 black & white
and colour images. £14.99
Whether you are nine or ninety,
shopping is part of everyday life.
In this book I tell the stories of the men and women behind the corporations
that built the modern-day high street and changed the way we shopped.
Many of today's the high street names began with men and women who had ideas, imagination and sheer
determination in a different age.
Published in hardback by Pen & Sword, 2018. 208 pages. 40 black & white illustrations. £19.99
John Nichols' monumental History and Antiquities of the County of
Leicester has been the foundation of historical research in
Leicestershire since it was completed in eight massive volumes in 1815.
Nichols' Lost Leicestershire celebrates his devotion and commitment to the county by looking at how some of the buildings he illustrated two hundred years ago have survived to the present day.
Link to details on Amberley Publishing's website
Published in softcover by Amberley Publishing, 2015. 96 pages. 100 black & white and colour images. £14.99.
Content © Stephen Butt 2020.
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