[MR] Book Review: English Architecture

[Groff, Garth (ggg9y)]

Noble Friends,

New at the University of Virginia Fine Arts Library: VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE, Vol. 43 (ISSN 0305-5477; our call number NA1 .A12 V4 v.43). This piece is a scholarly journal, issued annually by Maney Publishing Co. The current volume is devoted largely to English middle ages architecture, and features several articles on domestic buildings of the time. Among the articles of special interest to Scadians is "Saw Marks in Vernacular Buildings and their Wider Significance" by Duncan James, which demonstrates how logs were squared for building construction, with illustrations of the tools and techniques. This is followed by "An Early Fifteenth-century Warwickshire Cruck House using Joggled Halvings" by Nat Alcock and Dan Miles, exploring a specific surviving house and demonstrating features of its construction. "The Provision of Services in Medieval Houses in Kent" by Sarah Pearson discusses how various houses were laid out, concentrating on their kitchens and other amenities, illustrated by numerous cut-away views. All three articles numerous color photos. Not building a cruck house any time soon? No problem. This work still has lots of interesting material which will help us understand domestic architecture of the period. You can probably obtain this volume through interlibrary loan via your local branch.

Yours Aye,

Lord Mungo Napier, The Archer of Mallard Lodge
Read "The Tale of Mungo Napier":
http://people.virginia.edu/~ggg9y/napier1.html