Whether it be head balancing champs, naked races, Derbyshire’s own Gretna Green, or a woman who lived in a bacon box – there’s probably a lot about Derbyshire you don’t know. Luckily, proud Derbyshire author Andrew Beardmore has dug deep to produce a brilliant new book: Derbyshire Unusual and Quirky.

Impressively illustrated, and including the cleverly worded 15-verse Shire-Ode, the author belies his serious historical research with a light touch, advising the reader to "prime the quirkometer" en route for a vast county-wide sweep of Derbyshire from prehistory to the present.

In his introduction, the author says that he thinks his book (Derbyshire: Unusual & Quirky) calls to mind Arthur Mee’s classic pre-war county travel books known as The King’s England, in that there have never been any others like it. That’s certainly true of this strange, eccentric and highly idiosyncratic volume. The title says it all: this is a most unusual and quirky book.

Nottinghamshire Unusual & Quirky is a real gem for those who think they know Nottinghamshire. Lavishly illustrated with beautiful photographs, maps and well-researched information, this book is written in a charmingly conversational style. It works as a reference book, but also has a wealth of quirky facts with which to astound. If you buy it as a gift, I promise you that you will find yourself reading it before you hand it over!

Nottinghamshire Unusual & Quirky: Everything you could possibly need to know about our wonderful county is included in this incredibly well-researched new book. Great to dip in and out of to take in the mass of facts offered. Where else could you find out the location of Harry Potter's grave, where cows are put on thatched roofs, and why an oven was made of gravestones?

A "travel" book containing conventional facts about Nottinghamshire along with a section titled Quirky Nottinghamshire devoted to bizarre happenings and strange events, and all sorts of other extraordinary facts and figures about 50 or so different places.

Leicestershire and Rutland Unusual & Quirky covers much that is weird and wonderful about both counties. Even the conventional history is interspersed with the book’s idiosyncratic “Quirk Alerts”; like anecdotes covering Roman latrine management, how Robin-a-Tiptoe Hill became so-named, and the meaning of bizarre local terms such as "Gongoozlers" and "Yawny Box".

Quirky facts abound, but there is much more to Leicestershire and Rutland Unusual & Quirky, as the entire history of Leicestershire and Rutland is also covered in detail from the Stone Age to the 21st century.

Meteorites in Barwell, murder in Broughton Astley and mauls in Market Bosworth – plus the last person to be put in Earl Shilton’s stocks was a man called Peg-leg Watts. This is some of the “unusual and quirky” history of Leicestershire and Rutland which has been unearthed in a new book, Leicestershire and Rutland Unusual & Quirky, by historian Andrew Beardmore.

A new book about Staffordshire reveals all that is weird and wonderful about the county, such as anecdotes about Hobbits popping up in prehistoric times, which town has a noisy peace memorial, Britain's unluckiest church and a man who danced for a dozen days. There is much more to the book than quirky facts, though, as the entire history of Staffordshire is also covered in detail from the Stone Age to the 21st century.

The quirky side of Staffordshire - from the location of the chimney sweeps' headquarters to an opening ceremony that destroyed the lock it was unveiling - is revealed in a new book, Staffordshire Unusual & Quirky.

If you think you know Staffordshire, read this fascinating and profusely illustrated book and think again...

Did you know that Lincoln Cathedral once stood taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza, Nettleton is home to a very unusual war memorial, and a Victorian workhouse boss from Holbeach faced a manslaughter charge after he treated an inmate's scabies? Well these are some of the bizarre yet fascinating tales in a brilliant new book by Andrew Beardmore called Lincolnshire Unusual & Quirky.

A new book has been published which celebrates the ‘quirky’ history of Lincolnshire – with several curious tales from the Sleaford area. Lincolnshire: Unusual and Quirky chronicles the county’s history - from the conventional facts to the most bizarre accounts - supported by around 450 glossy photos.

A new book has been published which celebrates the ‘quirky’ history of Lincolnshire – with several fun facts from the Boston area. Lincolnshire: Unusual & Quirky features the county in both its conventional and bizarre history – supported by around 450 glossy photos.

A new book on Lincolnshire revealing some of the area’s quirky and unusual history has now hit the shelves - and includes facts about Louth and Mablethorpe. Lincolnshire: Unusual & Quirky also includes 450 glossy photographs, showing some of the best sights there are to see in Lincolnshire.

A new book celebrating the ‘quirky’ history of Lincolnshire has been published – with several curious tales from the Skegness area. Lincolnshire: Unusual & Quirky chronicles the county’s history – from the conventional facts to the most bizarre accounts – supported by around 450 glossy photos.

Did you know that in about 986, Crowland Abbey became the first church in England to have a “tuned peal of bells”? This is just one of hundreds of fascinating facts uncovered by Derbyshire-based IT manager Andrew Beardmore in his new book, Lincolnshire Unusual and Quirky. Probably the most startling story is “A Hideous Happening in Holbeach” which involves a skin disease, sulphur and what is best described as the 19th century equivalent of a steam cabinet. Lincolnshire Unusual and Quirky is an eye-opening read, but maybe not for those of a nervous disposition.

Author Andrew Beardmore, 53, could be accused of having an almost unhealthy obsession with facts and figures. But he is doing well by it, having just published his must-read book, Lincolnshire - Unusual and Quirky - the fifth in a series of quirky books about English counties.

A great new book highlighting the more unusual aspects of Cheshire’s history aims to educate readers with its weird and wonderful factoids. Cheshire: Unusual & Quirky details both the conventional and wackier aspects of the county’s history, ranging from prehistoric times until the 21st century, and interspersed with snippets delivered as “quirk alerts”.