Silent Sentinels : Scotland and the North of England - Kieron Blake

Silent Sentinels : Scotland and the North of England - Kieron Blake

Kieron Blake

£15.99
Pre-order

Published 15 October 2026

Order now and we’ll post it on publication day. We take payment today and hold your order until then; if the publisher moves the date we’ll email you, and you can cancel for a full refund at any point before it ships.

  • Pages · 96 pages, 100 Illustrations
  • Publication Date · 15/10/2026
  • Genre · Trains & railways: general interest
Collect in store Pick it up free from the shop in Oxford's Covered Market, usually quicker than the post.
Delivery Standard tracked £1.99, free on orders over £20. Express tracked £2.99.
Book Lovers' Happy Hour Three cocktails matched to your taste, three books chosen for you, an hour and a half at the bar. £60 per person. Book a place →
Silent Sentinels is an illuminating exploration of the statues and sculptures that grace the railway stations of Scotland and the North of England. Often overlooked by hurried travellers, these artworks transform bustling transit hubs into unexpected galleries where history, art, and public life converge. From grand monuments honouring engineers and war heroes to abstract installations that challenge our perceptions, these sculptures offer glimpses into the stories of the communities they inhabit and the historical moments they commemorate. Through richly detailed descriptions and historical context, Kieron Blake takes readers on a journey through time and space, revealing the artistic treasures hidden in plain sight. Each chapter sheds light on the statues' origins, the artists behind them, and their role in shaping our understanding of public spaces. Whether you're an art enthusiast, history buff, or curious traveller, this book offers a fresh perspective on the railway stations we pass through every day - inviting you to pause, look around, and uncover the stories carved in stone and cast in bronze.

Only at Gulp Fiction

Book Lovers' Happy Hour

An hour and a half at the bar, with three cocktails matched to your taste and three books chosen for you. Tell us what you like when you book, and we'll have them waiting when you arrive.

  • 1½ hours
  • £60 per person
  • 3 cocktails, 3 books
Book Happy Hour

Up to four of you can come — book a place each and choose the same time slot, then tell us who you're with. For larger groups, email gulpfictionbooks@gmail.com and we'll arrange it.

Three customers at the window table in Gulp Fiction, cocktails in hand beside a stack of books, with Oxford's Covered Market visible through the glass

Collect in store

Order online and pick it up from the shop. It's free, and usually quicker than the post.

Find us

Units 28–29, Covered Market, Oxford OX1 3DU. Mon–Wed 10–5, Thu–Sat 10–10, Sun 11–4.

Book a table

The bar is open late Thursday to Saturday. Reserve a table for a drink among the books.