ENGLAND'S VILLAGES: An Extraordinary Journey Through Time

Written by the host of BBC2's Villages by the Sea, here is a charming and unexpected journey through the quirks of England's villages throughout the ages. Dr Ben Robinson is an expert archaeologist, and we join him visiting villages from prehistoric to Roman to medieval times, all the way to today's modern, urban villages. We discover how landowners, governments and communities have shaped villages and why village greens, pubs and village halls exist, and the real meaning behind the names like Bunny, Yelling, Lover, Great Snoring and Slaughter. Entirely new villages are still being built today, but when did the first villages appear and why is this form of settlement so enduring and endearing? This is a compelling hefty tome studying archaeology, history and architecture, and at once a thoughtful, and enlightening look at our oldest homes and extraordinary heritage. There are amazing aerial images such as RAF Alconbury with its Cold War runway gradually disappearing as a new type of village is born with industrial parks, housing developments, schools, greens and a cricket pitch. Or we see the beautiful brickwork of the terraced houses in Cromford, Derbyshire, built by Richard Arkwright in 1776-77 to house his textile workers, alongside other colour photographs of late 15th century small bricks laid in English bond, and a 19th century gault brick wall in Flemish bond of various colours. Hugely entertaining, 421pp, many colour plates.