MARGARET Thatcher's feisty former press secretary Sir Bernard Ingham has left the histrionics of politics behind to concentrate on the history and landscape of his home county.

In two new books, Yorkshire Castles and Yorkshire Villages, Sir Bernard uncovers the bloody, often romantic stories behind the county's rich and turbulent past through its impressive castles and fascinating villages.

Pre-historic man, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans all left their mark on Yorkshire with their forts and burial sites.

Then came the Middle Ages and medieval barons with their mighty castles and the need to defend the region from marauding Scots.

In Yorkshire Castles Sir Bernard tells the stories behind 54 of Yorkshire's magnificent castles and fortified houses.

He says that Mary Queen of Scots was a prisoner at Bolton Castle in Wenslydale; Consiburgh inspired Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe; and Pickering Castle began as William the Conqueror's first royal castle and was visited by most English kings between 1100 and 1400.

Beautifully illustrated with pictures from the country's top photographers, Yorkshire Castles is a wonderful guide to our heritage.

In Yorkshire Villages Sir Bernard admits that in the early stages of compiling the book much time was spent attempting to define exactly what a village is.

Being unable to reach a conclusion, he decided to do what any self-respecting Yorkshireman would do and made up his own mind.

The result is a collection of 59 villages - chosen not necessarily for their beauty or fame but because they have an interesting tale to tell.

Sir Bernard describes how Aldborough near Boroughbridge grew first as a military camp for the Roman Ninth Legion, how legend has it that Dick Whittington was born in Appletreewick and how Coverham produced Miles Coverdale who translated the first printed English Bible.

More than just another book of pretty pictures, Yorkshire Villages seeks to show those with an itch to explore the county what they are missing.

From his home near Croydon in Surrey, where he has lived for the last 36 years, Sir Bernard told Wharfedale Newspapers how he came to produce the books.

"I spent last summer and autumn reading up and wrote them last winter. For several years I have had it in mind. I have always wanted to write a book about Yorkshire.

"My first opportunity was in 1999 with the Yorkshire Millennium account for Dalesman Publishing.

"I told them if they wanted me to write another I would do. They said they would like me to write two. I said with a gulp 'yes'."

But when he set to work, the former Yorkshire Post journalist, who was born in Hebden Bridge, said he was quickly faced with a major dilemma.

"Villages was easy until I came to make the choice - you are literally spoiled for choice. I chose those villages that had a tale to tell - everyone will say you made the wrong choice but it is my choice.

"I stopped at Castle Howard before the age of Grand Houses. I could have written a lot more but the important thing is to get people to read it."

Although his home is many miles away, Sir Bernard said he still managed to find time to visit Yorkshire frequently, often staying at his brother's farm in Triangle, near Halifax.

Asked to reveal his own particular favourite village, Sir Bernard said: "My favourite village is Luddenden where I had my first job as a reporter.

"It was on the pack horse route from Lancashire to Yorkshire. Branwell Bronte used to drink in the Lord Nelson Inn there when he was station master at Luddenden Foot.

"I used to go into the working man's club, the post office and the Methodist church looking for news. There is a lovely churchyard - if Gray was alive today he would have written another elegy. I have enormous affection for that place."

Unsurprisingly, the Wharfedale village of Bolton Abbey has been included in the book along with the more obvious beautiful places in the county such as Grassington, Aysgarth and Robin Hood's Bay.

Although, as Sir Bernard expects, some may disagree with his choices there is a fair representation of villages from across Yorkshire, from Marsden, near Huddersfield, Stamford Bridge in the Vale of York, to Flamborough on the North Sea Coast.

With Yorkshire Castles, Sir Bernard has mined a particular rich vein of the county's fascinating turbulent past.

Particularly pleasing is the fact that he has included ancient fortresses such as Skipsea, Cawthorn Roman Camps, Ravensworth and West Ayton where tangible remains are pretty thin on the ground.

Sir Bernard has obviously done the research and is well versed in his subjects. That is why I found both books a little disappointing because I am sure he could have written a much more comprehensive survey to accompany the excellent illustrations.

But as it is, the books will surely prove popular among readers who share Sir Bernard's interest in the Yorkshire Landscape.

Yorkshire Castles and Yorkshire Villages were published in hardback this month by Dalesman, costing £11.99 each.