Marion Hill has written over 20 books based on the lives of ordinary people and their extraordinary experiences, inspired by the vast archive of memorabilia, diaries, letters and photographs at Living Archive MK. Most have focussed on the various communities, eras and unique events that constitute the rich heritage of the city and its metropolitan borough.
Marion’s latest books include:
Tom Worker: Edited reminiscences of a Stony Stratford man (digital publication, 2022)
Building Bridges: Edited illustrated reminiscences celebrating Henry Aubrey-Fletcher KCVO Bt JP, Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire 2006-20 (digital publication, 2020)
Echoes and Reflections: Edited MK voices of the Holocaust (digital publication, 2020)
A Century of Campaigning: People’s stories about the Labour Party in MK 1917 -2017 available here: https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/online-shop/books/a-century-of-campaigning-peoples-stories-about-the-labour-party-in-milton-keynes-book
The Milton Keynes Song Book: 2017… a second volume is currently (2022) being prepared; this means there will be 75 published songs written by MK people about MK people available here: https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/local-history/topics/education/milton-keynes-songbook-schools
Some of Marion’s earlier books focus on particular areas of Milton Keynes:
What’s Netherfield to you? Residents’ views in 1996
Bigger, Brighter, Better: about Bletchley 1944- 1966 available here: https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/online-shop/books/bigger-brighter-better-2
The Story of the Original CMK: the vision and creation of MK’s iconic city centre available here: https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/online-shop/books/the-story-of-the-original-cmk
Calverton Manor Farm: rural life near Stony Stratford from the 1930s. Available here: https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/category/online-shop/books
Bradwell Then and Now: MK’s early railway community as it was – and is now.
Mud, Sweat and the Rule of Law: rugby football in the MK city area.
The Milton Keynes Book of Days of the Great War: People’s stories of the 1st World War from the area now covered by the Milton Keynes Metropolitan Borough. Available here:
Milton Keynes: a History and Celebration… with a quiz book!
Or they are books about particular times in Milton Keynes’ history:
Bletchley Park People: the extraordinary, ordinary people helping the war-effort. Available here: https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/online-shop/books/bletchley-park-people
Where the Lines Meet: Bletchley’s railway heritage from those who lived it. Available here: https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/online-shop/books/where-the-lines-meet
Memories of Milton Keynes: natives and settlers reminisce. Available here: https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/online-shop/books/memories-of-milton-keynes
Milton Keynes Through Time: the six towns and 43 villages of MK Borough.
Milton Keynes Then and Now: the new city area from 150 million years ago!
Other books written about places further afield include:
The Honeypot Killers: a ‘docu-fiction’ : the true story, 1880s–1918, of two brothers who killed to defend their territory, but received very different rewards…
Basildon in Old Photographs
Welwyn Garden City in Old Photographs
The Story of Bride Hall: the history and residents of a manor house near St Albans.
All proceeds from all Marion Hill’s books featured here go to Living Archive MK.
Comments about this page
I grew up in the MK locale in the late 40s, and emigrated to Australia in 1971, so I have some wonderful memories of tranquil village life before “progress” swallowed up and obliterated so much of the old rural world. I was delighted when a few years ago my brother posted me Marion’s book – Milton Keynes Through Time, oh how it brought the memories back. I had a query on one of the plates I wanted to raise up with her, but I don’t have her e-mail address.
Add a comment about this page