Volume I: Superior Force : the conspiracy behind the escape of Goeben and Breslau Volume II: Straits : British Policy towards the Ottoman Empire and the Origins of the Dardanelles Campaign Volume III: The Millstone : British Naval Policy in the Mediterranean, 1900-1914, the Commitment to France and British Intervention in the War These books provide a comprehensive account of British naval and diplomatic policy in the two decades prior to the Great War, focusing in particular on the escape of the German ships Goeben and Breslau [Superior Force], the origins of the Dardanelles Campaign [Straits], and the political and diplomatic imperatives behind the British decision to enter the war in August 1914 [The Millstone]. Signed copies of Superior Force are available at £25.00 plus postage.  Please note that "Straits" and "The Millstone" are now out-of-print; however, e-book versions are available at £14.95 each.

While virtually all of the Gansey patterns shown on our website are traditional, there is nothing to stop the dedicated the knitter designing his or her own pattern, and this is the case with Sue Taylor, a personal friend and who has been knitting for us for many years. Entitled “Barrow Haven” after an area on the south bank of the Humber, four miles east of the Humber Bridge. The waterside haven is half a mile from Barrow-upon-Humber and opposite the port of Kingston-upon-Hull on the north bank. Sue notes that it has been remarked several times why is there not a Gansey for Hull or Grimsby? While there is the Humber Keel pattern, referring to the keel boats that sailed the inland waterways the Humber and the East coast, there was no coastal pattern local to her area. The new Gansey design features: • The centre is the tree of life for the timber trading. The Humber at the haven has a slight curve and a deep water channel allowing cargo ships from the Baltic Sea and Scandinavia to trade from this small haven, the main product being timber. • A group of cables, the most recognized symbol of maritime users and knitters worldwide. • The boat, a cobble the traditional work horse of the Humber and inland waterways as well as the near east coast. This is the symbol to commemorate the life’s work of John Harrison who invented a chronometer that gave us perfect time keeping his invention was a gift to the civilised world and maritime in particular. His invention is housed in the maritime museum in Greenwich on the river Thames. • The zig-zag is to represent the tides of the River Humber. • The tile pattern at the sides is inspired by the floor at the old tile restaurant on the Humber bank at Barton. The Humber mud has fed the brick and tile factories along the Humber Bank the colour is a gentle terracotta also used to make plant pots. Sue’s Gansey is available for immediate sale: it has been knitted in 5-ply worsted Guernsey wool (colour “Moonlight”) and is a size 44 (suitable for an actual chest size of 40 or 42 inches), while it measures 28 inches in length with 21-inch sleeves. It is priced at £570.00 plus postage.

A Tribute to my wife, Lesley Over   the   years   the   one   question   we   were   asked   more   than   any   other   was,   “how   did   it   all   start”?   And   the   answer   was   deceptively simple.   Lesley   had   been   an   Antique   Dealer   since   the   early   1970s   in   the   West   Riding   before   moving   back   to   Flamborough   in   1981 where,   in   an   outbuilding   to   the   Manor   she   had   lovingly   restored   over   two   years,   she   established   a   small   shop   selling   Antiques. She   wished,   however,   to   broaden   the   range   of   goods   and,   at   the   time,   there   was   talk   of   a   Marina   being   developed   at   nearby South   Landing,   so   Lesley   added   a   small   selection   of   good   quality   marine   knitwear   and   Breton   shirts.   The   shop   duly   opened,   with signs   announcing   “Antiques   and   Sweaters”.   Although   the   Marina   never   eventuated,   she   continued   to   sell   the   bought-in   knitwear until,   one   day   soon   after,   she   was   approached   by   someone   who,   having   seen   the   signs,   inquired   if   she   offered   “Antique Sweaters”.   Not   sure   precisely   what   the   customer   was   wanting,   more   questioning   soon   revealed   that   it   was   the   hand-knitted   (in one    piece)    traditional    Fishermen’s    Ganseys.    Always    ready    for    a    challenge,    Lesley    contacted    a    friend    in    the    Village,    Nora Woodhouse, who was still knitting Ganseys, ascertained what was involved, then advertised for knitters. In   those   pre-internet   days,   replies   were   slowly   received   and   it   was   then   a   laborious   task   of   sending   our   wool,   needles,   charts   and instructions   to   prospective   knitters   and   waiting   up   to   eight   weeks   for   the   finished   garment.   Some   knitters,   having   done   one, decided   “never   again”   while   others   were   not   quite   up   to   the   standard   Lesley   was   searching   for.   However,   eventually,   a   core   of excellent   knitters   was   formed   and,   from   1982,   Ganseys   were   offered   for   sale.   The   business   continued   in   a   small   way   throughout the   1980s   and   into   the   1990s,   gradually   growing,   until,   in   1997   our   web-site   was   launched.   This   had   the   effect   of   making   Ganseys available   worldwide   and   we   have   continued   to   this   day.   Many   of   our   knitters   have   been   with   us   for   years   (in   one   case,   forty years)   and   we   pride   ourselves   on   producing   a   heritage   garment   in   the   way   it   was   traditionally   done:   in   one   piece   using   finest quality 5-ply worsted wool. With   the   growing   interest   in   traditional   crafts,   more   books   on   Ganseys   have   appeared   over   the   years   and   other   sites   have   been dedicated   to   the   Gansey   but   I   doubt   it   would   have   happened   to   the   same   extent   had   it   not   been   for   Lesley   and   a   chance conversation all those years ago. Sadly,   Lesley   passed   away   suddenly   in   September   2025   but   the   tradition   lives   on,   with   all   our   wonderful   knitters   continuing,   to honour her memory. But, after forty-two years together, I have lost my soulmate.