England is fortunate to have a rich heritage of old houses. Whether town mansion or rich country cottage, they are a source of increasing price and interest. But how much do we know about these buildings? When and how they were built? And for whom?
'Tracing the History of Houses' outlines the history and development of English homes from the Saxon aisled hall up to the present day. The changing styles of architecture and building materials are covered and special note made of regional variations. There is a step-by-step guide to accuracy dating houses, which includes walls and roofs, windows and doors, floors, fireplaces, staircases and chimneys. Identification is made easy with over 80 specially commissioned illustrations.
Originally published in 1991, this book has been completely revised, updated and expanded and now includes more information and illustrations on the 20th century. Written in a simple and approachable style it will be invaluable to local historian, family historians and everyone who takes and interest in the past around them.
Contents:
Introduction
Section 1: The House in History
- The Saxon and Medieval Periods
- The Sixteenth Century
- The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
- The Nineteenth Century
- The Twentieth Century
Section 2: The House in its Region
- Southern England
- Eastern Counties
- Central England
- Northern Region
Section 3: The House in Detail
- The Roof
- The Walls
- Windows
- Doors
- Floors and Ceilings
- Staircases
- Fireplaces and Chimneys
Section 4: Care in the Historic House
Section 5: How to Date a House
- When Was it Built? A Step-by-Step Guide
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
