QueenSpark Books

QueenSpark Books QueenSpark is the UK's longest-running non-profit community publishing and writing organisation, bas

QueenSpark is the UK's longest-running non-profit community publishing and writing organisation, based in Brighton and Hove. We publish books about local people's lives, run creative writing projects and facilitate oral history projects.

2017 is our 45th anniversary and we are planning on looking at life in Brighton in 1972,

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Registered Charity Number 1172938

๐ŸŒ† ๐€ ๐‚๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐จ๐ง ๐‡๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ: ๐’๐ก๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ž๐ž๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐’๐ญ๐ซ๐ž๐ž๐ญ ๐“๐ซ๐š๐๐ž๐ซ๐ฌโ€œ๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘™ ๐‘ โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘Ž ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘๐‘–๐‘Ž๐‘™ ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘–...
06/01/2025

๐ŸŒ† ๐€ ๐‚๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐จ๐ง ๐‡๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ: ๐’๐ก๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ž๐ž๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐’๐ญ๐ซ๐ž๐ž๐ญ ๐“๐ซ๐š๐๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ

โ€œ๐‘‡โ„Ž๐‘’ ๐‘ ๐‘š๐‘Ž๐‘™๐‘™ ๐‘™๐‘œ๐‘๐‘Ž๐‘™ ๐‘ โ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘ ๐‘’๐‘Ÿ๐‘ฃ๐‘’๐‘‘ ๐‘Ž ๐‘ ๐‘œ๐‘๐‘–๐‘Ž๐‘™ ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘Ÿ๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ ๐‘’ ๐‘–๐‘› ๐‘๐‘Ÿ๐‘œ๐‘ฃ๐‘–๐‘‘๐‘–๐‘›๐‘” ๐‘Ž ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘๐‘ข๐‘  ๐‘“๐‘œ๐‘Ÿ ๐‘›๐‘’๐‘–๐‘”โ„Ž๐‘๐‘œ๐‘ข๐‘Ÿโ„Ž๐‘œ๐‘œ๐‘‘ ๐‘™๐‘–๐‘“๐‘’.โ€

Explore how shopping in Brighton has evolved over the years - https://archive.queensparkbooks.org.uk/shops-book/ ๐Ÿ›๏ธโœจ

This fascinating book, first published in 1974, takes you on a journey from the early 1900s, showing how the cityโ€™s shopping landscape has transformed over the decades.

Discover our other archived local history books for FREE - https://archive.queensparkbooks.org.uk/

05/01/2025

Brighton through the years โ™ฅ๏ธ

๐ŸŽฉA Century of Brighton History: Brightonโ€™s Unforgettable Customers ๐Ÿ‘’As part of A Century of Brighton History, weโ€™re divi...
02/01/2025

๐ŸŽฉA Century of Brighton History: Brightonโ€™s Unforgettable Customers ๐Ÿ‘’

As part of A Century of Brighton History, weโ€™re diving into The Other Side of the Counter, Marjorie Gardinerโ€™s memoir of working in Brighton shops.

One customer bought the priciest hat for her husbandโ€™s funeral, saying, โ€œHe gave me a bloody awful life, so Iโ€™m giving him a bloody good send-off!โ€ ๐Ÿ˜‚

Discover more of Marjorieโ€™s memorable moments and the characters who came through her shop doors!

๐Ÿ”— Read her full story here: https://rebrand.ly/QueenSparkArchive

๐Ÿ“š A Century of Brighton History: ๐ŸŽฉ When Hats Were Essential Fashion!In the 1930s, every respectable Brighton woman wore ...
30/12/2024

๐Ÿ“š A Century of Brighton History: ๐ŸŽฉ When Hats Were Essential Fashion!

In the 1930s, every respectable Brighton woman wore a hat. Marjorie Gardinerโ€™s memoir shares the stories behind Brightonโ€™s hat cultureโ€”from elaborate bird-trimmed hats to everyday essentials.

Explore the world of millinery in The Other Side of the Counter!

๐Ÿ”— Free in our archive: https://rebrand.ly/QueenSparkArchive

โ€

In the 1890s there was a lively fish market on Brighton seafront ๐ŸŽฃ๐Ÿ“ธ: Brighton & Hove Museum
29/12/2024

In the 1890s there was a lively fish market on Brighton seafront ๐ŸŽฃ

๐Ÿ“ธ: Brighton & Hove Museum

A Century of Brighton History: From Our ArchiveAn autobiography of a working class girl living in the Sussex countryside...
26/12/2024

A Century of Brighton History: From Our Archive

An autobiography of a working class girl living in the Sussex countryside, Little Ethel Smith vividly highlights the instability of life in service in the 1920s.

One of many books written by local people from our extensive archive. QueenSpark Books - community publishing since 1972.

Available as a PDF https://queensparkbooks.org.uk/books-projects/little-ethel-smith-story-told/ #

We've been telling the stories of ordinary Brightonians for more than 50 years - because they matter ๐Ÿ‘Image shows Gerrar...
23/12/2024

We've been telling the stories of ordinary Brightonians for more than 50 years - because they matter ๐Ÿ‘

Image shows Gerrard's Court in the 1920s as featured in our book 'Backyard Brighton.'

๐Ÿ“ธ: Brighton & Hove Museums

Journey through the 20th century with QueenSpark Books!Our free archive books capture the evolution of Brighton, from th...
23/12/2024

Journey through the 20th century with QueenSpark Books!

Our free archive books capture the evolution of Brighton, from the early 1900s to the end of the century. Discover how shopping habits, diverse communities, and everyday life have shaped our vibrant city.

Whether you're a history enthusiast or just curious about the past, our collection offers a fascinating window into Brighton's rich heritage throughout the 20th century.

๐Ÿ”— Start exploring: QueenSpark Books Archive - https://archive.queensparkbooks.org.uk/

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ“– A Century of Brighton History: Brightonโ€™s Graphic War ๐Ÿ“–๐ŸŒExplore the impact of World War I on Brighton with Brightonโ€™s...
22/12/2024

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ“– A Century of Brighton History: Brightonโ€™s Graphic War ๐Ÿ“–๐ŸŒ

Explore the impact of World War I on Brighton with Brightonโ€™s Graphic War, a unique graphic novel that delves into the cityโ€™s untold wartime stories. From Indian soldiers at the Royal Pavilion to suffragettes, conscientious objectors, and the daily lives of families torn apart by conflict, this book vividly illustrates how life in Brighton changed from 1900 to 1920. ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธโœจ

Created by 15 young writers and artists, with a cover by Childrenโ€™s Laureate Chris Riddell and a foreword by Comics Laureate Dave Gibbons, this book captures an essential chapter of Brightonโ€™s history. Get your eBook via the website - https://queensparkbooks.org.uk/books-projects/brightons-graphic-war-2/

๐Ÿ“šBrighton Bound โ€“ Get your copy now!Explore 100 years of migration in Brighton through the powerful stories and photogra...
21/12/2024

๐Ÿ“šBrighton Bound โ€“ Get your copy now!

Explore 100 years of migration in Brighton through the powerful stories and photographs in Brighton Bound, QueenSparkโ€™s latest book! ๐Ÿ“šโœจ

Written in partnership with Hopeful Solidarities - this book captures the lives of those whoโ€™ve shaped our city, and asks why, in 2024, some can no longer afford to stay. ๐ŸŒ

๐Ÿ”— Available via our website: https://queensparkbooks.org.uk/brighton-bound-queensparks-new-book-is-out-now/

๐€ ๐‚๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐จ๐ง ๐‡๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ:๐‡๐š๐ซ๐ ๐–๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐š๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ž๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐งBrightonian Albert Paul left school at the age of 14 and beg...
19/12/2024

๐€ ๐‚๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐จ๐ง ๐‡๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ:๐‡๐š๐ซ๐ ๐–๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐š๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ž๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง

Brightonian Albert Paul left school at the age of 14 and began work as a carpenter, rising from the position of apprentice to that of master craftsman a job he remained in for life.

This book vividly describes his working life from 1917 to 1968.

Download a free PDF from our archive to read his story now - https://archive.queensparkbooks.org.uk/hard-work-and-no-consideration/

๐ŸŽ The Perfect Gift for Brighton Lovers!QueenSpark Book's celebrate the people of Brighton & Hove with a unique collectio...
17/12/2024

๐ŸŽ The Perfect Gift for Brighton Lovers!

QueenSpark Book's celebrate the people of Brighton & Hove with a unique collection of stories and histories. From vivid memoirs to beautiful photo collections to collaborative projects, our books connect the past to the present.

Whether a gift for you or someone who loves this incredible city, each book is a treasure to be enjoyed and cherished.

๐Ÿ“š Your perfect gift available from:-
Kemptown Bookshop https://www.kemptownbookshop.co.uk/
Or our website https://queensparkbooks.org.uk/bookshop/

โœจ10 year anniversary of Brighton Trans*formed ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€โšง๏ธIn 2014, thanks to the Lottery Heritage Fund, we ran a listening proj...
16/12/2024

โœจ10 year anniversary of Brighton Trans*formed ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€โšง๏ธ

In 2014, thanks to the Lottery Heritage Fund, we ran a listening project called Brighton Trans*Formed to record the stories of Brighton's Transgender Community.

Speaking about the testimonies of those involved, Rory Finn and E-J Scott explain in the introduction...

โ€œ...๐’„๐’๐’๐’•๐’“๐’Š๐’ƒ๐’–๐’•๐’๐’“๐’” ๐’๐’†๐’• ๐’–๐’” ๐’Š๐’๐’•๐’ ๐’”๐’๐’Ž๐’† ๐’๐’‡ ๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’Š๐’“ ๐’Ž๐’๐’”๐’• ๐’Š๐’๐’•๐’Š๐’Ž๐’‚๐’•๐’†, ๐’‰๐’†๐’‚๐’“๐’• ๐’ƒ๐’“๐’†๐’‚๐’Œ๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐’‰๐’†๐’‚๐’“๐’• ๐’˜๐’‚๐’“๐’Ž๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’”๐’•๐’๐’“๐’Š๐’†๐’”โ€

๐Ÿ“ทSharon Kilgannon

Brighton Trans*Formed ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€โšง๏ธ available to buy here - https://queensparkbooks.org.uk/books-projects/brighton-transformed-2/?portfolioCats=54

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Remembering Brighton
Remembering Brighton

Brighton through the years โ™ฅ๏ธ

Remembering Brighton
Remembering Brighton

Brighton through the years โ™ฅ๏ธ

Remembering Brighton
Remembering Brighton

Brighton through the years โ™ฅ๏ธ

Remembering Brighton
Remembering Brighton

Brighton through the years โ™ฅ๏ธ

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QueenSpark is the UK's longest-running non-profit community publishing and writing organisation, based in Brighton and Hove. We publish books about local people's lives and facilitate oral history projects. We are currently making our extensive archives accessible to a wider public, so keep checking here and on our website for updates and ways to get involved. Join us on Twitter: @qsbooks Registered Charity Number 1172938