Architecture of England, Scotland, and Wales

Book excerpt: The British terrain is a gold mine for the student of architecture. Ranging in era from ancient times to the present day—from Stonehenge to the Millennium Dome—this volume's 76 entries include palaces, castles, bridges, churches, country houses, and various public buildings and monuments, as well as such well-known features of British architecture and design as terraced houses, suburban semi-detached houses, and public telephone kiosks. Detailed yet accessible to nonspecialist readers, the alphabetical entries also provide cross-references and lists of additional information sources in both print and electronic formats. Appendixes list the entries by location, architectural style, and architect/designer; explain the defining characteristics of major British architectural styles; and discuss the importance of the Crown, peerage, and Parliament in British architectural history. Besides a detailed subject index, the volume includes a timeline, a general bibliography, a glossary of architectural terms, and an introduction that traces the development of British architecture from prehistoric and Roman times to the 21st century. Written by an associate professor of architecture at Oklahoma State University, Architecture of England, Scotland, and Wales, part of Greenwood's Reference Guides to National Architecture series, presents architectural biographies of these countries' most famous and significant structures.