Author | Andrew Ziminski FSA |
---|---|
Illustrator | Clare Venables |
Country | United Kingdom |
Publisher | John Murray |
Publication date | 5 March 2020 |
Pages | 366 |
ISBN | 978-1473699762 |
Website | www |
The Stonemason: A History of Building Britain is a book written by Andrew Ziminski, published by John Murray in 2020. [1] The book is divided into four parts, combining a chronological and geological approach, with each part concentrating on a single type of stone and how it is used in a particular architectural style and period. [2] Partly an autobiography, [3] the book features examples that are principally drawn from the author's own work in an area broadly corresponding to Wessex, [4] and chapters are arranged to reflect the passage of a single year, beginning and ending at Samhain. [5] Each chapter is preceded by a linocut print produced by Clare Venables. [6]
The first part, "Sarsen", describes the neolithic structures around Avebury and Stonehenge, beginning at West Kennet Long Barrow. This is followed by "Limestone", which describes the Roman baths of Aquae Sulis and some surviving Anglo-Saxon churches, such as St Laurence's Church, Bradford-on-Avon. "Marble" considers the rise of Gothic architecture, and the influence of Purbeck Marble, which like other types of Purbeck stone is in fact a type of limestone. Finally "Concrete" discusses the influence of the Industrial Revolution on architecture around Bath, Somerset, and particularly the role played by the Kennet and Avon Canal and the Great Western Railway.
As well as being a working stonemason, Ziminski is a William Morris Craft Fellow at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. [7]
Ziminski's second book, Church Going, his guide to the history and architecture of churches in Britain, was announced in March 2023. [8]
The book has received many positive reviews. In The Daily Telegraph Christopher Howse writes that "The mark of Ziminski's approach is that he knows what he is doing" and that "Ziminski is no mere recorder of impressions. He brings plenty of helpful information from history, geology and architecture." [9] In The Sunday Telegraph Robert Leigh-Pemberton compares Ziminski to William Morris, concluding that "Ziminski is undertaking something more profound than the charm of this delightful book first suggests." [10]
In The Spectator Harry Mount notes his "unparalleled understanding of this country's stones", [4] while in Literary Review Will Wiles emphasises "the remarkable way that Ziminski weaves together architecture, craft, landscape, archaeology and natural history". [11] In History Today Gillian Darley describes Ziminski as "thoughtful, observant and well-informed", [1] while in The Times Literary Supplement Emma Wells writes that "Absorbing and engaging, The Stonemason perfectly captures the genius loci of the British landscape and its ancient buildings." [2]
In The Times Jonathan Morrison praises the book as "uncompromisingly learned" and containing "moments of great lyricism", but notes that "the greatest regret is that you do not emerge feeling that you understand the stonemason's craft that much better". However he concludes that "Ziminski fills you afresh with a longing to visit one of the most extraordinary regions in the world". [12] Writing in the Evening Standard, Julian Glover describes the book as "compelling", "rooted in the making of England", and "a magical read". [13]
Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. Stonemasonry is the craft of shaping and arranging stones, often together with mortar, to form structures.
Sir John Soane was an English architect who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. The son of a bricklayer, he rose to the top of his profession, becoming professor of architecture at the Royal Academy and an official architect to the Office of Works. He received a knighthood in 1831.
Bradford-on-Avon is a town and civil parish in west Wiltshire, England, near the border with Somerset, which had a population of 10,405 at the 2021 census. The town's canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants make it popular with tourists.
Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It developed around Devizes Castle, an 11th-century Norman castle, and received a charter in 1141. The castle was besieged during the Anarchy, a 12th-century civil war between Stephen of England and Empress Matilda, and again during the English Civil War when the Cavaliers lifted the siege at the Battle of Roundway Down. Devizes remained under Royalist control until 1645, when Oliver Cromwell attacked and forced the Royalists to surrender. The castle was destroyed in 1648 on the orders of Parliament, and today little remains of it.
Melksham Without is a civil parish in the county of Wiltshire, England. It surrounds, but does not include, the town of Melksham and is the largest rural parish in Wiltshire, with a population of 7,230 and an area of 29 square kilometres.
Lockeridge is a village in Wiltshire, England. It lies at the edge of the West Woods in the Kennet Valley, 2.9 miles (4.7 km) west of Marlborough, 3.1 miles (5.0 km) east of Avebury and 10.5 miles (16.9 km) south of Swindon. It is 0.6 miles (0.97 km) south of the A4 road which was historically the main route from London to the west of England. Lockeridge Dene is a hamlet immediately southwest of the village.
Galleting, sometimes known as garreting or garneting, is an architectural technique in which spalls are pushed into wet mortar joints during the construction of a masonry building. The term comes from the French word galet, which means "pebble." In general, the word "galleting" refers to the practice while the word "gallet" refers to the spall. Galleting was mostly used in England, where it was common in South East England and the county of Norfolk.
Purbeck Marble is a fossiliferous limestone found in the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula in south-east Dorset, England. It is a variety of Purbeck stone that has been quarried since at least Roman times as a decorative building stone.
Roger Moorhouse is a British historian and author.
The Diana Chronicles is a 2007 British biographical book by Tina Brown that chronicles the life and death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The book's release coincided with the increased attention Diana had received leading up to the tenth anniversary of her death in 1997. Brown writes in a preface: The biography was based on over 250 interviews with men and women – members of Diana's intimate circle, associates in her public life and partners in her philanthropy.
Alec Clifton-Taylor was an English architectural historian, writer and TV broadcaster.
Architecture criticism is the critique of architecture. Everyday criticism relates to published or broadcast critiques of buildings, whether completed or not, both in terms of news and other criteria. In many cases, criticism amounts to an assessment of the architect's success in meeting his or her own aims and objectives and those of others. The assessment may consider the subject from the perspective of some wider context, which may involve planning, social or aesthetic issues. It may also take a polemical position reflecting the critic's own values. At the most accessible extreme, architectural criticism is a branch of lifestyle journalism, especially in the case of high-end residential projects.
Rupert Christiansen is an English writer, journalist and critic.
Wilcot is a village in Wiltshire, England, in the Vale of Pewsey about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Marlborough and 1.5 mi (2.4 km) northwest of Pewsey.
Westwood is a large village and a civil parish in west Wiltshire, England. The village is about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) southwest of the town of Bradford-on-Avon.
The Craftsman is a book by Richard Sennett about craftmanship and its importance to individuals and society.
Mary Spencer Watson was an English sculptor. Watson was born in London and spent most of her life in Dorset and was inspired by watching masons carving Purbeck stone, close to her family home there. Her works can be seen at Cambridge University and Wells Cathedrals, among other sites.
Eleanor Catherine Parker is a British historian and medievalist.
The Pottery Cottage murders were a series of murders committed in Eastmoor, Chesterfield between 12 and 14 January 1977. The murders occurred after William Thomas Hughes escaped from custody whilst being transferred from prison to court to face charges of rape and grievous bodily harm. Hughes stabbed two prison officers during his escape before holding a family of five hostage at Pottery Cottage for over two days, ultimately murdering four members of the family.