books about vernacular architecture

[Wren]

I am about to go mad on Amazon and finger is hovering over the 'proceed to checkout' button.
Going for:
Houses and Cottages of Britain: Origins and Development of Traditional Buildings (Building Heritage) - RW Brunskill
Cottage Architecture (Discovering) - Christopher Powell
Traditional Farm Buildings (Discovering) - J.E.C. Peters
Barns of the Yorkshire Dales - Bill Bryson

But can't decide between these two and they sound quite similar, think will go for the first one.
Illustrated Handbook of Vernacular Architecture - R.W. Brunskill
Traditional Buildings of Britain: An Introduction to Vernacular Architecture (Vernacular Buildings) - RW Brunskill

If anyone has any thoughts feel free to comment.
(P.S. also if this thread is deemed too trivial feel free to delete if/when appropriate.)

 

[Anonymous]

Ron is the major expert. Buy all he writes.

 

[Wren]

Thank you.
This forum needs you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Stephen]

Anything by R Brunskill

I have several in my office and refer to them now (after many years in the 'game') probably a couple of times a month.

I particularly like Timber Building in Britain and Brick Building in Britain

 

[essexbearhunter]

Could I post a slightly off-centre suggestion and suggest a look at:
Alec Clifton-Taylor's "The Pattern of English Building" .
It deals with the building materials and thus spans every class & type - from barn & cottage to mansion - and seems to encapsulate, somehow, the very essence of traditional buildings that epitomise the most attractive face of England.

My copy - bought about 1973 for £4.00 - remains an inspiration....I just need several hundred lives to work through all the lessons of the local styles that it provides commentary on.

 

[Carol]

For a local viewpoint, Traditional Houses of Somerset by Jane Penoyre, full of very detailed drawings and photographs, from Montacute House to tiny rural cottages plus an interesting section on agricultural buildings.
ISBN o 86183 407 0

Or Discovering Timber-framed Buildings by Richard Harris is a good starting point.