Villages of England - Tapa dura

From the stark drama of the Yorkshire Dales to the rich, warm limestone villages of the Cotswolds, Richard Turpin’s camera captures the very essence of the quintessential English village as it has unfolded and developed over the centuries.

Cottages, churches, village greens, markets, pub signs and the English love of gardening all play their part in this photographic journey which reflects the glory and diversity of village architecture and the rural landscapes that surround it.

Villages of England is organised under subject headings that encapsulate different facets of English village life, rather than on a strictly geographical basis. Chapters include: ‘Waterside Villages’, ‘Industrial Villages’, ‘The Village Church’ and ‘Timber, Clay & Stone’. Author Roger Hunt writes knowledgeably about the development of the English village as moulded by centuries of politics, laws, disease, conflict and changes in lifestyle, living standards and economics.

Across the length and breadth of England, picturesque, historic villages survive almost untouched by the often damaging hand of progress. From the stark drama of the Yorkshire Dales to the rich, warm limestone villages of the Cotswolds, Richard Turpin’s camera captures the very essence of the quintessential English village as it has unfolded and developed over the centuries.

Cottages, churches, and pubs are steeped in history, and the author reveals fascinating details about the lives and traditions of villagers since prehistoric times. Chapters based on facets of life show how industrial villages and coastal villages formed, and how village greens had many duties as the centre of public life.

'Villages of England' captures a way of life shaped by the conflicting forces of change and tradition, with perfect vistas and historical details of each location for a leisurely pictorial tour of delightful countryside.