HomeUnited KingdomWith the publication of ‘Staffordshire’ today, the ‘Buildings of England’ series finally finishes a project begun in 1962 to update all of its volumes. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Pevsners’ after their founding editor, the books document the architecture of England county-by-county.
With the publication of ‘Staffordshire’ today, the ‘Buildings of England’ series finally finishes a project begun in 1962 to update all of its volumes. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Pevsners’ after their founding editor, the books document the architecture of England county-by-county.
July 21, 2024
With the publication of ‘Staffordshire’ today, the ‘Buildings of England’ series finally finishes a project begun in 1962 to update all of its volumes. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Pevsners’ after their founding editor, the books document the architecture of England county-by-county.
The first volume of the English series was published in 1951, and the last of the first editions in 1974. Most volumes are now in their second, third, or even fourth edition, but poor Staffordshire had to wait until today for its update. Keeping the series up-to-date is a bit like painting the Forth Bridge, as so much changes from decade to decade.
*The* *Buildings of Wales* series was completed between 1979 and 2009, and *The* *Buildings of Scotland* between 1978 and 2016; both are now into their second editions. The Irish series (which covers the whole island) was begun in 1978 but is incomplete, and there’s a standalone volume on the Isle of Man.
[The series](https://yalebooks.co.uk/pevsner-architectural-guides/) is quite famous among people interested in architectural history, but I don’t know if they’re particularly well-known outside those circles. Either way, they’re a remarkable feat of research!
Ahhh, the architecture of Staffordshire.
Here’s a bottle kiln, another bottle kiln, a 1970s housing estate. No, don’t go there. Lichfield cathedral. Another 1970s housing estate. Tamworth. No, don’t go there either. A bottle kiln.
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The first volume of the English series was published in 1951, and the last of the first editions in 1974. Most volumes are now in their second, third, or even fourth edition, but poor Staffordshire had to wait until today for its update. Keeping the series up-to-date is a bit like painting the Forth Bridge, as so much changes from decade to decade.
*The* *Buildings of Wales* series was completed between 1979 and 2009, and *The* *Buildings of Scotland* between 1978 and 2016; both are now into their second editions. The Irish series (which covers the whole island) was begun in 1978 but is incomplete, and there’s a standalone volume on the Isle of Man.
[The series](https://yalebooks.co.uk/pevsner-architectural-guides/) is quite famous among people interested in architectural history, but I don’t know if they’re particularly well-known outside those circles. Either way, they’re a remarkable feat of research!
Ahhh, the architecture of Staffordshire.
Here’s a bottle kiln, another bottle kiln, a 1970s housing estate. No, don’t go there. Lichfield cathedral. Another 1970s housing estate. Tamworth. No, don’t go there either. A bottle kiln.