This book covers tragic happenings within the boundaries of the historic county of Cheshire from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. The tragedies cover a wide range of human and natural disasters, from accidents in carts, cars, trains and aircraft to the devastating effects of fire and floods. Some of the misfortunes that individuals suffered were caused by others, including their own family members, while others were industrial accidents or sheer bad luck. Crime also intruded on everyday life in this period, and others suffered through mental illness and self-harm.

This collection of tragic stories of misfortune and disaster gives a vivid insight into life in Cheshire in the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This book will fascinate anyone who wants to know more about the unfortunate history of this area in the north-west of England.

Paul Hurley has been a freelance writer since 2002 and has been writing professionally ever since. He has had magazine, local and national newspaper credits and has written several books for Amberley on the history of Cheshire, railways and other topics. Since retiring from the police in 2002 he has amassed a CV that takes in a three-part article in the Steam World magazine, one in the Backtrack magazine and many other magazine articles not relating to the railway scene. He lives in Winsford with his wife Rose and his hobbies are writing, travel, motorcycling and classic cars. Rose Hurley is a local historian who lives in Cheshire and is an expert in family history research.