The drastic railway closures of the 1960s led to the slow decay and re-purposing of hundreds of miles of railway infrastructure. Though these buildings and apparatus are now ghosts of their former selves, countless clues to our railway heritage still remain in the form of embankments, cuttings, tunnels, converted or tumbledown wayside buildings, and old railway furniture such as signal posts. Many disused routes are preserved in the form of cycle tracks and footpaths. This colourfully illustrated book helps you to decipher the fascinating features that remain today and to understand their original functions, demonstrating how old routes can be traced on maps, outlining their permanent stamp on the landscape, and teaching you how to form a mental picture of a line in its heyday.

The English have a love affair with the period house. They find the intoxicating blend of history, rustication and detailed styling more appealing than the plain and synthetic houses of recent years. The Edwardian house comes in all shapes, sizes and materials. It was essentially conservative in design, often harking back to a romantic age with elaborate but solid constructions. Garden Cities and suburbs were planned on a larger scale than ever before. There was a feeling of space and comfort that would disappear in the turmoil and tragedy of the First World War.

From the Houses of Parliament to the Midland Hotel at St Pancras and Strawberry Hill House, Gothic Revival buildings are some of the most distinctive structures found in Britain. Far from a copy of medieval buildings, it was a style full of colour and invention, in which its exponents created a daring new approach to design. Throwing out the old Classical rule book, Gothic Revival architects like Pugin and George Gilbert Scott designed buildings which were asymmetrical in form and visually expressive of their function. The movement went beyond just bricks and mortar and had a strong moral code, the influence of which was still felt into the 20th century. In this illustrated book, Trevor Yorke tells the story of the Gothic Revival from its origins in the whimsical fancies of the Georgian Period through to its High Victorian climax.

The Trench - Life and Death on The Western Front - with a Foreword by Michael Morpugo.The horrors of the First World War scarred an entire generation at the beginning of the twentieth century. Now, one hundred years later, we are asked to reflect upon it and remember what a disastrous episode of history it was. During the next four years many thousands of people, especially the young in school parties, will visit the battle sites of the Western Front in France and Belgium,with their museums, memorials and trench reconstructions. These last were the setting for so much of the carnage. This book offers a brief, straightforward, illustrated history of the First World War in some 96 pages. In particular, it explains the trenches and what it was like to live and fight in them. Using his own diagrams, illustrations, and maps, author Trevor Yorke explains the architecture of them, with their command posts, sally points, tunnels, machine gun nests, duck boards, and sleeping billets. There are chapters to explain tactics, weaponry, and daily life. There are special features on the introduction of new weapons of war, such as tanks, early aeroplanes, and the first use of poison gas.The political events throughout the war are described in outline. There are summaries of the major battles and there is information about special places to visit in France and Belgium including key museums, battle sites and memorials.These can bring home to us a real understanding of the unique inhumanity of the war, and why the date 1914 - 1918 require all generations of today to remember and learn from them.As Michael Morpurgo says in his foreword:'As we begin to mark the centenary of the First World War, we should honour those who died, most certainly,and gratefully too, but we should never glorify. During these next four years of commemoration, we should read the poems, the stories, the history, the diaries, visit the cemeteries - German cemeteries as well as ours - they were all sons and brothers and lovers and husbands and fathers too.'

A beautifully illustrated guide to the world of Victorian stained glass and its manufacturers and designers. Victorian stained glass - magnificent, colourful and artistic - adorns countless British churches, municipal buildings and homes. Across the decades, several artistic movements influenced these designs, from the Gothic Revival, through the Arts and Crafts Movement and into Art Nouveau as a new century dawned. Historian Trevor Yorke shows how craftsmen re-learned the lost medieval art of colouring, painting and assembling stained glass windows - but also, in this age of industry, how windows were templated and mass produced. Showcasing the exquisite glass generated by famous designers such as A.W.N. Pugin, Pre-Raphaelites William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones, and by leading manufacturers such as Clayton and Bell, this beautifully illustrated book introduces the reader to many wonderful examples of Victorian stained glass and where it can be found.

The Georgian and Regency house conjures up a distinct and much admired image. Elegance, refinement and beautiful proportions have made this period an inspiration for later architects and a popular choice for today's house buyer. Using his own drawings, diagrams and photographs, author Trevor Yorke explains all aspects of the Georgian and Regency house and provides a comprehensive guide to the houses of this notable peiod. The book is divided into three sections, outling the history of the period; stepping inside the different rooms and their fittings, what they were used for and how they would have appeared; and the final section contains a quick reference guide with notes on dating houses, suggestions for further reading, a glossary of unfamiliar terms and details of places to visit.

Victorian pumping stations are colourful cathedrals of utility. Their imposing and striking exteriors enclose highly decorative cast-iron frames, built to encage powerful steam engines. They are glorious buildings which display the Victorians' architectural confidence and engineering skills. More than that, they represent a key part of the story of urban development and how our towns and cities were shaped in this period of ground-breaking invention and civic pride. In this illustrated guide, Trevor Yorke tells the story of Victorian pumping stations and explains why they were built in such a flamboyant manner, describing their architectural features and showing how their mighty steam engines worked. He includes examples of their glorious interior decoration from pumping stations across the country and provides a detailed list of those which are open to visitors.

A compact and useful guide, filled with detailed drawings, to help put a date on the variety of buildings one sees when travelling through Britain. This guide covers an immense range of structures and styles from 1500 to 1950. In addition, it includes a glossary of architectural terms and a historical time chart. This book will prove an invaluable companion, whether visiting grand houses open to the public, or just simply strolling the streets of villages, towns, and cities.

From the beautiful simplicity of an ancient clapper bridge to the elegant, sweeping lines of a modern suspension bridge, these structures delight the eye and complement their surroundings. But what do we really know about them? Why and when were they built? What exactly does a particular part do? And, most importantly, why don't they fall down? In this easy-to-follow book, Trevor Yorke uses his own illustrations, diagrams and photographs to explain the basic principles of construction and styles of bridges so the reader can better appreciate them, recognise how they work and from what period they date. Along the way you'll take a closer look at arched bridges through the ages, from Roman & Medieval times to the Georgian era, as well as more modern cast-iron steel & concrete bridges. Beam, truss and girder bridges are explained in detail, as are cantilever structures, suspension bridges, moving bridges, aqueducts and viaducts. Through diagrams and photos, the finest examples of each style and period are brought to life - for example, the first iteration of London Bridge, Sonning Bridge in Berkshire, Ironbridge in Shropshire, the Menai Suspension Bridge and many more. Towards the back of the book you'll find a quick reference guide with a list of bridges to visit and a glossary to explain any unfamiliar terms. You'll never look at another bridge in the same way again.

The local church is a familiar landmark in every town, city and village. The story of its past is the story of the people for whom, down the centuries, it was the centre of the community. But how many people actually understand the reason for it being built in that particular place, how it was constructed, or why it was decorated in such a style? Discovering this information can sometimes be difficult due to the diversity of local building materials used, and to the renovation and rebuilding of more recent years. But there are always clues, both inside and outside. In this informative guide, Trevor Yorke places the period styles of church fabric and decoration into an easy to read form that is packed with photographs, pictures, and diagrams. His simple but graphic approach will be welcomed by all for whom a visit to a church is also a brief journey through time itself.

From the majestic rows of gleaming white terraces in West London to the grid of red-brick houses in northern mill towns, the legacy of the Victorian era can be found in every area of the England. Using his own drawings, diagrams and photographs, author Trevor Yorke explains all aspects of the Victorian house and provides a definitive guide for those who are renovating, tracing the history of their own house, or are simply interested in this notable period of history. The book provides a background to different phases of design throughout the Victorian age from 1830 to 1902. Various areas are considered in detail, including: the layout and use of rooms; fixtures and fittings; sources of heat and lighting; domestic machinery such as kitchen ranges and laundry equipment; gardens and outbuildings. Also included is a quick reference time chart with drawings of the period details that can help date them and a glossary of the more unfamiliar architectural terms.

Timber framed buildings, whether they are medieval halls, barns, grand houses, or picturesque cottages, form one of the most delightful features of our historic towns and countryside. They catch our imagination as we admire the skill and craft of the carpenters who created them, with a strength and quality that has seen many of them survive for over six centuries. Using his own photographs, drawings and detailed diagrams, Trevor Yorke helps us to understand what such buildings may have originally looked like, the challenging technology behind their construction, how they have changed over the years, and the details by which we can date them. He also lists some of the prime examples that are open to the viewing public.

This illustrated, easy reference guide is packed with all the information you need to help you date English furniture and bring its history to life. The book looks at many different furniture types, showing how form, style and the types of wood used changed from the Tudor period through to the Art Deco years of the 1930s. It highlights key details, what to look for when dating furniture, and introduces significant furniture designers and their importance. There's also a look at how changes in English society and fashion resulted in the introduction of specific pieces. The book should appeal to those who love antique shows on TV, and looking round antique shops and country houses, but would like to know more about furniture and the stories behind it.

The roof lines of our towns and cities are places seldom looked at from below. Yet they contain a world of architectural delights. This easy to follow guide includes hundreds of photos and drawings of rooftops and their features from around the country and offers a fascinating glimpse into this overlooked aspect of Britain's architectural history. Just above the shop fronts, offices, banks and public buildings lie elaborate chimneys, fancy ironwork, and terracotta mouldings of mythical beasts. Our own homes too can have roofs decorated with intricate bargeboards, elegant parapets and patterned tiles. Each one has a specific role and their style can reveal much about the history of the building.

This is a guide to the style of houses built in the 1930s. Tradition continued to dominate the outside while inside art deco was all the rage. It contains many photographs and detailed drawings.

Are you ready to step inside the world of period homes? To unlock the secrets of the iconic buildings we see throughout the cities, towns and villages of Britain? Then this is the book for you. Period homes are all around us. Not only are they charming homes for those lucky enough to live in them, but they also give the community in which they're set a distinguished character and a link with the past. Yet sometimes it's hard to know exactly which features to look at in order to date these buildings. Or what to look for if you need to replace an original fitting. This book aims to help the reader recognise the common architectural styles and original features from each period, whether they just want to find out more about a particular property, or are trying to restore one. If you're in the middle of a renovation, for example, and you want to know which original window style you should be installing, you'll find it here. All styles and periods are covered - from graceful Regency terraces with elegant iron balconies and muscular Victorian houses with colourful stained glass, to Edwardian homes with white patterned timber work, and stylish 1930s semis with curved suntrap windows. From glasswork and doors to fireplaces and floors (plus everything in between) this is a treasure trove of information about the British period homes we love.

Gothic style transformed the urban landscape from the mid 19th century. In this new book, discover how leading architects reinterpreted Medieval buildings to create a dynamic style which spread from Victorian England to the other side of the Atlantic. In this full colour illustrated guide the author uses his own drawings and photographs to show the reader some of the leading buildings of the time, and explain how to identify the style on more ordinary houses and how to recognise the details inside and out which characterise it. Trevor Yorke is a hugely popular artist and writer about architectural themes. His books include British Architectural Styles; Georgian & Regency Houses Explained , and Art Deco House Styles.

The lively styles of the period are still highly sought after by house buyers and homeowners today. This is the perfect book for those who want to learn more about the artistic influences of these years. Illustrated in full color throughout.

The commanding bulk of King Henry VIII in his full regalia, and Queen Elizabeth I with her fiery red hair, are mighty royal figures who still hold our fascination over four hundred years on. The Tudor period they dominated is still personified by the houses that remain standing in England's towns and villages. Black and white timber framed buildings 'jettying' out between more recent bland structures, and rambling rows of quaint cottages around a green; these are as much the iconic image of England as that of the monarchs themselves. This book sets out to explain the rich range of houses built during the Tudor period. It is divided into five sections, looking firstly at the general changes in society and how they affected the housing of the period. The second section explains the structure of the houses and the different materials used. There is a chapter on the styles of timber frame, brick, and stone houses, together with dating details. There is a section on interiors, with information about original features, and finally some details about the gardens and landscapes that surrounded the larger Tudor homes. There is also a Glossary, and a Quick Reference Guide that helps to identify the use of Tudor styles in houses of the Victorian and more modern eras.

Cotswold Cottages have a warm beauty unequaled in rural Britain. The cottages have a character that has been determined by changes in local industry and farming, as well as by the properties of the building materials used, including the hard, honey-colored, Cotswold stone. Even the details like the tiny hinged windows, old planked doors and ironwork fittings were usually formed by local hands and have a style unique to the area. The Cotswold Cottage describes the key characteristics which define these cottages, their history and form, what they are made from, their interiors, and the colorful gardens around them. Trevor Yorke's carefully drawn diagrams and photographs, together with his easy-to-follow text, provide a wonderful introduction to these much loved Cotswold homes.

The English canal network becomes increasingly popular and widely used each year. The main aim of this book is to explain how everything works - from locks and lifts, to tunnels and towpaths. Stan Yorke, a life-long narrow boat enthusiast, explains in an easy-to-understand manner the story of the canals. In this he is ably assisted by his son Trevor's superb drawings and diagrams. The book is divided into three clear sections. The first describes the history of the canals, the second looks at their structures and features, and the third suggests special sites of interest around the country, which can be visited by foot or by boat.