A Short History of British Architecture

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Architecture wields great power – a beautiful building inspires awe, an ugly building can oppress – and is an art form unique in being all around us, all the time. But despite its importance and its ubiquity, architecture is a mystery to all but the elite few. In this spectacular history, Simon Jenkins reveals why Britain looks the way it does.

Starting with the earliest neolithic structures that have survived to today, we chart the arrival of classical and gothic styles from Europe, and see how generations of visionary architects and controversial planners picked their side and argued vehemently, only to be pummelled by another, more dogmatic European ideology: modernism, which swept across post-war Britain, pouring concrete on our landscapes and scorn on the wishes of the British public at large.

These characters have flaming passions and narrow-minded flaws, and the personalities of the buildings they left behind are even more vibrant. From smart classical terraces such as The Circus in Bath, and our glorious gothic cathedrals like York and Lincoln, to iconic brutalist monoliths such as Park Hill estate in Sheffield, we meet this island’s most confident and captivating buildings, and uncover hidden gems whose faraway influences can be seen on their walls: like Portmeirion, an enchanting baroque village nestled on the unlikely shores of North Wales, or Scotland’s Caerlaverock Castle with its echoes of Constantinople.

More recently, we chart the rise of conservation movements and nimby locals – who, depending on your point of view, either save our most important treasures or petulantly block innovation – and see what could have become of Britain’s cities had some of the more outlandish plans not been stopped. Understanding this chaotic history leads to a new appreciation for the wonderfully diverse buildings that surround us, bringing renewed joy even to familiar streets.Simon Jenkins is author of the bestselling A Short History of England, A Short History of Europe, Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations, England’s Thousand Best Churches and England’s Thousand Best Houses. He is a former Editor of the Evening Standard and The Times, and columnist for the Guardian.GB

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