British Towns
Oliver Benn (Photographer) London: Bouverie House, 1999. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Hardcover. Format is approximately 10.625 by 9.75. DJ is price clipped. 175, [1] pages. Color illustrations. Ink notation on fep. The contents includes: Medieval and Renaissance Towns: Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick; Georgian and Regency Towns: Edinburgh, Bath, Brighton; Cathedral Cities: Salisbury, Exeter, Lincoln: Market Towns: Ludlow, Richmond: Yorkshire, Saffron Walden: and Historic Ports: Cardiff, Conwy, and Dartmouth. Texts are by local authors. Photographer Oliver Benn has been a barrister, publisher, and jockey. He has worked for architects and interior designers, as well as for numerous magazines. He was commissioned to provide photographs for the Prince of Wales's A Vision of Britain. British Towns is Benn's fifth major book of photographs. From the cover: Having explored every aspect of Britain's capital in his recent Benn's London, photographer Oliver Benn casts his original eye over some of the most attractive and popular towns of England, Scotland and Wales. As with his previous books, people, activities and the contemporary scene are seen alongside the architecture, interiors and brief history. The 260 stunning color photographs are complemented by lively essays from local authors in each town. The towns featured in this book are chosen for their pictorial evocation of urban lifestyle throughout the ages, and are grouped under five thematic headings. The Medieval and Renaissance towns of Cambridge, Oxford and Warwick with their striking panoramas and atmospheric interiors are like a time capsule of an earlier age, but very much alive today as seats of learning and cultural attractions. The Georgian and Regency towns of Edinburgh, Bath and Brighton seem to retain the gracious air of eighteenth century life. The Cathedral Cities of Salisbury, Exeter and Lincoln remind us of the importance of our Christian heritage in the development of our urban centers. As Peter Richards points out in his Introduction: In essence, all towns are clusters of streets and houses that depend for their survival on commerce. Ludlow, Richmond in Yorkshire and Saffron Walden are fine examples of traditional but flourishing Market Towns. Finally, the identity of our island has always been bound up with the sea, with its lure to adventure and economic significance. This aspect is revealed by the historic but still active Ports of Cardiff, Conwy and Dartmouth.
Benn's photographs explore unfamiliar corners of towns we thought we knew and familiar places from unfamiliar angles: from above, from street-level and from the inside. The British town is shown as: a magnificent diversity of buildings and townscapes. Condition: Very good / Very good.
Keywords: Medieval towns, Renaissance Towns, Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick, Georgian Towns, Regency Towns, Edinburgh, Bath, Brighton, Cathedral Cities, Salisbury, Exeter, Lincoln, Market Towns, Ludlow, Richmond, Yorkshire, Saffron Walden, Ports, Cardiff, Conwy
ISBN: 0953277119
[Book #85290]
Price: $125.00