Countryside Books imprint: 48 books

The Tudor period was dominated by King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. The houses still standing from that time are typified by black and white timber framed buildings and rambling rows of quaint cottages around a village green. This book explains the rich range of domestic houses built during the...

Here is a compact and easy reference guide, filled with original drawings and diagrams in full colour, which detail the changing uses of space within houses over the centuries. The book shows developments in fashion, decoration, and furniture within different rooms and how these have steadily evolved...

Most of England’s country houses are packed with masterpieces of art and antiques. They also have vast landscaped gardens, often with lakes and fountains. Recent television series and films (such as Downton Abbey and Gosford Park) have spurred on the public’s interest in these grand and glamorous...

The majestic architecture of early railway buildings reflected the pride of the railway companies who commissioned them. These awe-inspiring structures ranged from classically-designed stations, waiting rooms and booking halls to mighty viaducts, tunnels and bridges. In this highly-illustrated book,...

If you explore our churchyards and cemeteries, you will be astonished at how much you can discover, not only about the people who are buried there and their standing in the local community but also about the history of the area. In this book, Trevor Yorke explains burial practices down the ages and...

A Georgian or 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. Whether it is the grand, symmetrical facades embellished with classical...

Abbeys of the middle ages remain some of the most wonderful of religious buildings. They were built with a firm sense of devotion, and with no expense spared, by communities which had a faith based upon venerable respect for the power and authority of the Church. The grace and majesty of their construction,...

Gothic is a potent word. For many people it conjures up images of dark, atmospheric castles, ruined abbeys, and horror stories set in misty graveyards. All this could not be further from the truth. Some 150 years ago Victorian Gothic architecture was a colourful, innovative and exciting departure...

English villages conjure up rural harmony and a history of happy communities woven into the broader pageant of England’s past. But each of them has a different story to tell, and it is usually a vibrant and an interesting one—a long way from those histories that become mere lists of changing lords...

The word 'REGENCY', although strictly covering the decade from 1811 when George III fell ill until his death in 1820, is used to refer to the latter years of the 18th century up until 1837, when Queen Victoria came to the throne. The era saw a good deal of change. The industrial revolution marked...

Bridges are the keys to communication and transport. But though functional, they also have an aesthetic and environmental value. Graceful and spectacular, they evoke a wide range of emotions. Yet few have visitor centres and the public’s obvious questions—such as how they were built; what a particular...

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...

All houses have a history to tell and the fascination with period properties is not confined to country houses with grand estates. Whether town, mansion or country cottage, old houses are equally worthy of pride and interest in their past.Tracing the History of Houses shows how to obtain an approximate...

This book answers the questions everyone really wants to ask when they visit Britain's magnificent castles. Bastions of heritage, some are majestically complete and full of menace; others are silent ruins shorn of their defences following the English Civil War. Just what did the grim...