Tales from the Towers: the Unofficial Story Behind Alton Towers, Britain's Most Popular Theme Park

Book excerpt: Discover the amazing true story behind the world's most extraordinary theme park! A two hundred-year-old mansion, decaying and largely abandoned. A deep, foreboding valley hosting pretty gardens and dozens of bizarre and unusual structures. A terrifying plunge into Oblivion, and a mysterious alien beast known as Nemesis. All of these things can be found in one truly unique place: Alton Towers. But how on earth did they get there? The story behind the UK's most popular theme park is just as thrilling and full of twists and turns as the rollercoasters that attract millions to the park every year. Prepare to be sucked into a tale of daring invention, personal tragedy, wanton destruction and brilliant creative minds... "While in reality, this is a work of non-fiction, recounting true events and factual details, it captivates and engages readers like a fantasy story." - Airgates Attraction News Two hundred years ago, a wealthy earl began the transformation of a barren patch of land in rural Staffordshire into the site of a stunning gothic mansion surrounded by eye-wateringly beautiful gardens. Mocked and ridiculed by his peers for his strange tastes and outlandish ideas, he nevertheless succeeded in attracting people from far and wide to come and marvel at his creations. Less than 50 years later, the house stood desolate and empty. The genius architect who had helped the earl's successor complete his vision lay dead at 40, having spent many of his final months incarcerated in London's brutal Bedlam mental asylum. How had the mighty fallen so far, so fast? It didn't end there. The earl's descendants fought bitterly over Alton Towers - and with each other - until finally the near-ruined property was sold into private hands in the 1920s. In "Tales from the Towers", you can experience what it was like to visit the estate in its early years as a tourist attraction, when spectacular fetes, fairground rides and exotic animals were all part of the appeal. As well as documenting - for the first time - the full and fascinating history of Alton Towers, "Tales from the Towers" also explains exactly how the park's most popular rides - such as Nemesis, Oblivion and The Smiler - were created. It even takes an in-depth look at rides that were designed for the park but never built, enabling you to take a voyage of discovery and imagine what might have been. What reviewers say about "Tales from the Towers" "This excellent book may call itself the UNOFFICIAL story behind Alton Towers, but actually it has the merit to become the OFFICIAL story. It is meticulously researched, well-written, and highly insightful. I had assumed that I would find within the sections of the story that involved my work many inaccuracies and myths, but nothing could be further from the truth. It tells the story exactly as I remember it happening!" - John Wardley, creator of Nemesis, Oblivion and Air "This is a book that anyone interested in Alton Towers should get their hands on." - Adam Perry, AltonTowersMemories.net "The book adds a new depth to the Alton Towers experience, and is a must-read for any park fan." - Airgates Attraction News "The level of detail about the park is incredible, everyone will enjoy it." - RideRater.co.uk Grab your copy now! "Tales from the Towers" is available in paperback format, or you can download it instantly to your Amazon Kindle or on your tablet or smartphone. You can even start reading right away for FREE by clicking the "Look Inside" button above or by downloading a sample to your Kindle. What are you waiting for? Start reading now and enjoy an adventure through time as you discover how Alton Towers developed into a place that has entertained tens of millions of people over nearly two centuries.