Architecture In England

In a time when men wore hats and women wore, well, fewer hats but more of everything else, TW West embarked on a rather ambitious expedition into the brick-and-mortar wilderness of England’s architectural heritage. “Architecture In England,” published in the swinging year of 1966, is not just a book; it’s a period piece that dares to look at buildings as something more than mere constructs designed to keep the rain off your head. No, dear reader, this is a deep dive—perhaps even a belly flop—into the very soul of what makes English architecture tick (or, more likely, tick over).

Picture yourself, if you will, perched on a rickety old armchair in a dimly lit study, sipping tea that has definitely gone cold. The type of ambiance that demands a good read about the gothic spires and crumbling castles of yore. Here, West takes us by the hand and leads us through time, like a tour guide who’s slightly lost his way but still insists on taking you to all the best spots—even if they’re not quite what you bargained for. Expect an odd collection of illustrations that may or may not resemble the architectural wonders they claim to depict, all accompanied by prose that is both enlightening and possibly laced with an unintentional dose of British sarcasm.

The book is not merely a catalogue of what to see in England; it is a love letter to the peculiarities of British building styles. West delves into the various periods and their architectural oddities, from the bewildering Romans who introduced the arch (how dare they!) to the Tudors who thought, “Let’s add a few more gables, just for fun.” A journey through the ages will reveal the sorts of structures that England has been proud of—or at least mildly indifferent to—over the centuries.

But don’t be fooled; this is no dry academic treatise. No, this is a book bursting with curious insights, ranging from the utterly mundane to the delightfully bizarre. Expect to learn about:

• How many times a medieval castle attempted to be both a fortress and a family home (spoiler: it rarely succeeded).
• The outrageous lengths to which they went to avoid a flat roof (because who wants to look up at a ceiling that isn’t pitched?)
• The inexplicable love affair with brick that swept through the Victorian age like a fashion trend gone awry.
• Why an unassuming cottage could very well be the key to understanding the British psyche (hint: it involves tea).
• And, of course, the endless debates on whether or not modern architecture has truly “arrived” or if it’s just wandering in circles like lost tourists.

As you meander through West’s eloquent musings, you might find yourself chuckling at the absurdity of it all, or perhaps wondering how on earth we’ve managed to keep our buildings standing this long. The 1960s were an era of bold experimentation, both in architecture and in, well, just about everything else. West captures this zeitgeist perfectly, even if it does mean he sometimes gets lost in the weeds—or, in this case, the bricks.

Condition: This volume comes to you used, which means it has weathered more than just time; it has survived coffee spills, the occasional cat nap, and numerous debates over whether or not it counts as a coffee table book. Expect some yellowing pages and perhaps a faint musty smell that adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the reading experience. The cover bears the scars of its past—like a well-loved armchair, it has character, or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.

In conclusion, if you find yourself in need of an ill-timed respite from modern architecture—or if you simply feel like indulging in a good old-fashioned British literary jaunt—“Architecture In England” is here for you. Available now at Crappy Old Books, where we believe the best books are the ones that come with a little bit of history (and perhaps a dash of irony).

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