The late Hazel Conway was the author of the first edition of this book, published by Cambridge University Press in 1991. After an early career in technical journalism she moved into education in architectural and design history, becoming Principal Lecturer in the School of Art History at what is now De Montfort University, Leicester. As a freelance architectural historian she lectured and led study tours widely and was a consultant or office-holder for many bodies including the Garden History Society, Victorian Society, English Heritage and the National Heritage Lottery Fund Paul Rabbitts is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and of the Royal Historical Society and Founder and Chair of the Parks Management Association. He has a career in parks management and has worked as a consultant in the parks and leisure sector. Having graduated in Geography he holds a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture from Edinburgh University. The author of over 30 books, he is also a Director and Trustee of the Gardens Trust, author and lecturer on public parks and a renowned expert on the Victorian and Edwardian bandstand. He is an avid and passionate advocate for the role public parks play within our communities.