The city of Norwich is renowned for its Norman castle, its cathedral and flint city walls, parts of which are still visible today. It is, and was, a ‘Fine City’, the largest walled town in England during the Middle Ages, a rich provincial city still with many well-preserved medieval buildings and, reputedly, once having a church for every week and a pub for every day of the year! Originally published in 1994, this newly revised and updated edition presents an overview of the history and de...

This is the changing story of Britain as it has been preserved in our fields, roads, buildings, towns and villages, mountains, forests and islands. From our suburban streets that still trace out the boundaries of long vanished farms to the Norfolk Broads, formed when medieval peat pits flooded, from the ceremonial landscapes of Stonehenge to the spread of the railways - evidence of how man's effect on Britain is everywhere. In The Making of the British Landscape, eminent historian...

In the Middle Ages monasteries were among the greatest owners of land in Britain; today their influence on the landscape can be seen not only in the magnificent monastic ruins, but also in earthworks, patterns of landholding and even industrial remains. Mick Aston examines the place of monasteries in the landscape - how they affected and were affected by the countryside in which they were built. He explains how monasticism arrived in Britain - growing from austere beginnings to rich and po...

England's villages have survived, developed, and thrived over hundreds of years. But what makes a village and how has that changed over time?Take a charming and unexpected journey through the quirks of England's villages throughout the ages in the excellent company of Dr Ben Robinson, expert archaeologist. Join him in visiting villages from prehistoric, to Roman, to medieval times, all the way through to today's modern, urban villages. Discover how landowners, governments and commu...

A fascinating guide to decoding the secret language of the churches of England through the medieval carved markings and personal etchings found on our church walls from archaeologist Matthew Champion.'Rare, lovely glimmers of everyday life in the Middle Ages.' -- The Sunday Times**'**A fascinating and enjoyable read' -- ***** Reader review'Superb' -- ***** Reader review

Enjoy all that out of London has to offer, and discover the heritage and history behind the scenes in some of England's most picturesque places, such as Bath, Canterbury, Royal Winchester and Stratford. With stories and advice drawn from the expertise and knowledge of the famous London Walks Company and its small army of guides, this book is perfect for tourists who want to experience English life beyond Trafalgar Square, as well as for Londoners keen to step off the Circle Line and discov...

A look at how our ancestors shaped the South Yorkshire human landscape over the centuries from the author of The Grass Roots of English History.South Yorkshire has some of the most varied countryside in England, ranging from the Pennine moors and the wooded hills and valleys in the west to the estate villages on the magnesian limestone escarpment and the lowlands in the east. Each of these different landscapes has been shaped by human activities over the c...

From awe-inspiring Norman castles, to the skyscrapers of today, Simon Thurley explores how the architecture of this small island influenced the world.The Building of England puts into context the significance of a country’s architectural history and unearths how it is inextricably linked to the cultural past – and present.Saxon, Tudor, Georgian, Regency, even Victorian and Edwardian are all well-recognised architectural styles, displaying the influence of the events that ma...

One of three smaller, more specific e-books, abridged from Philip Nixon's Exploring Durham History.The colourful threads that run through County Durham history have produced a rich tapestry of history, and this edition's focus on western County Durham is sure to appeal to all local history enthusiasts.

One of three smaller, more specific e-books, abridged from Philip Nixon's Exploring Durham History.The colourful threads that run through County Durham history have produced a rich tapestry of history, and this edition's focus on eastern, northern and southern County Durham is sure to appeal to all local history enthusiasts.

The Lake District was, until the 19th century, a remote, neglected and inaccessible part of England. Before the arrival of good road and rail networks and tourism it had been home to successive generations of very tough people: prehistoric peasant farmers, small Roman garrisons, Norse and Saxon settlers, monastic tenants and, after the Dissolution of the monasteries, the doughty farming families of yeomen or 'statesmen' and communities of miners and quarry workers. Each group has left its ...

English villages conjure up rural harmony and a history of happy communities woven into the broader pageant of England’s past. But each of them has a different story to tell, and it is usually a vibrant and an interesting one—a long way from those histories that become mere lists of changing lords of the manor. Trevor Yorke, using his own colour illustrations and photographs, describes the changes that took place over the centuries, both through the buildings and the occupations of the peo...