This is a quirky compendium of little-known stories and facts about the beautiful heritage city of Christchurch. From an amazing tale about salmon from the Royalty Fishery, the story of how the Prior persuaded King Henry VIII to exempt the Priory Church from the Dissolution and the strange phenomenon of the river Avon 'freezing the wrong way round', it is full of stories to delight and entertain. A particular insight is provided into the Victorian culture of self-improvement, humour and moral pressure with the saga of events surrounding a relocated Town Hall , when the most whimsical, sardonic and downright controversial letters were written to the local paper. Whether dealing with such things, or the fact that the town is only here due to a geological quirk, or the invasion scare of 1539, both residents and visitors will find much to marvel at here.