The start of a brand new series from bestselling author Fay Keenan.Life in London has lost its sparkle for Stella Simpson. So when she gets the opportunity to escape to the country for a year, it seems too good a chance to miss. In the beautiful Somerset countryside, the majestic Roseford Hall has been painstakingly restored and is now ready for its grand opening. And as the writer in residence, Stella gets to see it all - from the rowdy resident peacocks, the hidden secrets of the Hall, to befriending the Lord of the Manor himself. At the other end of Roseford, single father, Chris Charlton is facing his own refurbishment woes. Rocked by a tragedy two years previously, his plans for crumbling Victorian wreck Halstead House are as stuck as he is. As Roseford Hall prepares to welcome a new era, and Halstead House's future is under threat, Chris and Stella find themselves drawn to one another. Can they finally leave their pasts behind, and will Chris and Stella be able to embrace their new beginnings together - or apart... Escape to the beautiful, idyllic English countryside with Fay Keenan. Romantic, feel-good and utterly charming, this is perfect for all fans of Julie Houston, Cathy Bramley and Holly Martin. What authors and readers say about Fay Keenan's novels: 'This novel has such a gorgeous setting. A lovely light read and the perfect book to pack in your suitcase and take on holiday. Recommended.' Della Galton 'A gorgeous rural romance full of warmth and charm.' Victoria Connelly 'Guaranteed to put a spring in your step. Feel-good, frisky and great fun with a hearty dash of romance and intrigue.' Julie Houston 'Moving, funny, thoughtful and romantic. Bring on the next one!' Jenny Kane 'This is a lovely and heart-warming story, that has a serious side hidden within the romance.' Amazon reviewer 'It was a wonderful book, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.' Amazon reviewer 'I was so engrossed in the storyline, which is thoroughly heart-warming, that I read the entire book without stopping. I always enjoy Keenan's books and am looking forward to the next one!' Amazon reviewer

The UK's housing stock has proved to be remarkably durable, as houses from the 18th and 19th centuries are still adaptable to the requirements of modern living. However, the need to respect the environment and to reduce energy costs presents a new set of challenges for the owners of period properties. In Renovations, Richard Wilcock analyses a host of cutting-edge projects to examine the challenges of adapting traditional house types; retaining historic features whilst introducing modern interventions. The book brings together more than two decades of research to showcase the best examples of domestic extensions and internal remodelling in the UK today. The carefully selected exemplar projects highlight advances in technology, including new glazing methods, improvements in flat roof construction and structural innovations in steel and lightweight timber that have revolutionised the nature of the small house extension and increased the palette of forms and materials available to the architect. Containing beautiful colour illustrations throughout, and pointing readers to more detailed technical sources of information, Renovations will provide inspiration for architects, designers and home owners alike.

Dominating the city from its volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle is one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. This natural stronghold has been occupied for thousands of years, shifting its shape as it was adapted for new uses and against new threats. The castle has long been a royal residence and a focus for national pride - a place of strength where kings and queens could enjoy relative safety in turbulent times, and national treasures could be securely stored. It has been at the heart of Scotland's major events, fought over, held and recaptured time after time. In fact, it is the most besieged place in Great Britain, and remained in military use well into the past century. Over the years Edinburgh Castle has attracted countless visitors with an interest in Scotland's dramatic history. This book invites visitors to explore the castle and learn about its extraordinary history and discover some of its fascinating secrets.

Discover all the foul facts about the history of fortresses with history's most horrible headlines: Crackin' Castles edition. The master of making history fun, Terry Deary, turns his attention to 50 foul castles across history. From which is the most haunted castle in Britain and why an army disguised themselves as cows to which castle defender used a frying pan as a shield. It's all in Horrible Histories: Crackin' Castles: fully illustrated throughout and packed with hair-raising stories - with all the horribly hilarious bits included with a fresh take on the classic Horrible Histories style, perfect for fans old and new the perfect series for anyone looking for a fun and informative read Horrible Histories has been entertaining children and families for generations with books, TV, stage show, magazines, games and 2019's brilliantly funny Horrible Histories: the Movie - Rotten Romans. Get your history right here and collect the whole horrible lot. Read all about it!

This is an inspirational reference book for anybody looking for ideas on how to plan a new home or remodel an existing one. Complete with 333 full colour illustrations of the house exteriors, it is designed for easy use with houses sorted by size and number of bedrooms. Fully indexed, it is easy to find any type of house plan - from bungalow to town house. All homes are UK specification and the book is produced in conjunction with the UK's biggest selling selfbuild magazine.

With a foreword by Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey who concludes that: `This is the world that Ruth Binney has brought so wonderfully to life in her book'. Inside the country house, what exactly were the duties of the master's valet and the lady's maid? How did these fit into the daily routine? And what were the protocols for visitors? The answers to these, and many more questions, are revealed in this entertaining and intimate guide to the self-contained world of the country house. Here you'll learn the rules of etiquette essential both upstairs and down -for both residents and visitors -marvel at the intricacies of housekeeping, and enter a bygone age of hunts, house parties and grand balls. All these aspects of country house life, and many more, are introduced here through the contemporary maxims used to instruct the members of the household and their guests, from running a large kitchen to entertaining royalty. Each is brought to life with both practical detail and direct, compelling quotes and illustrations from period manuals and advice books, giving every entry a totally authentic feel and `voice'. Rounding off the book is an informative list of houses to visit, stressing the features that relate directly to the descriptions included in the book.

The essential companion to discover the styles, architecture, form, significance and historical impact of castles from all over the world. How to Read Castles is a travel-size primer that takes a strictly visual approach to castle architecture, building up your vocabulary of castle types, styles and materials, and showing you how these aspects can be recognised across architectural features from the floor-plan and moat, to the towers and crenulations. Focusing on the 10th-16th century period, and crusading across the globe from a Welsh motte-and-bailey to a Japanese hirajiro, this is both an architectural reference and a visitor's guide showing you how to read the stories embedded in every castle's stones. Castles once dominated the landscape as seats of power and symbols of wealth and status, providing a means of control over borders, passes, routes and rivers. Armed with this book you will be able to unpick their histories and see how they shaped the land around them. From rugged coastline defences to soaring mountain fortresses, this book takes you on an international journey of discovery, exploring some of the most inspiring and impressive architecture history has ever seen.

Singapore Good Class Bungalow traces the development of stand-alone residential architecture in Singapore from its early days as a colony to the present. Expertly researched by noted academic and author Robert Powell, it is also a partial history of the architectural profession in Singapore, mentioning many of its eminent practitioners and their works. Alongside the iconic Singapore Shophouse and the 'Black and White' house, Singapore Good Class Bungalow brings the history of the island's detached residential architecture up to date. A detailed introduction is followed by a study of the evolution of the bungalow - from early plantation residences, through the late Victorian and Edwardian styles, Arts and Crafts and Art Deco inspired bungalows to post-Independence residences. The latter includes a history of how the Good Class Bungalow emerged through a planning and preservation initiative into a triumph for the architectural profession in Singapore. Featured in this ambitious book are singular examples of Modern Tropical Bungalow design together with sympathetic and expert restoration projects, linking architectural heritage with modern best practice.Singapore Good Class Bungalow showcases over 100 bungalows, mostly extant, and contains references to all the major phases of construction in the city-state. Beautifully photographed by award-winning photographer, Albert Lim KS, this is a welcome addition to the historical literature on Modern Singapore.