Essex

Essex. James Bettley and Nikolaus Pevsner et al. Yale University Press. £29.95. xx + 939 pages. ISBN 978-0-30011614-4. This addition teethe Buildings of England series reminds us that Essex is much more than the backyard of London or the home of `Essex Man`. This new edition takes the place of the 1965 revision of Pevsner`s original volume, published in 1954. As Mr Bettley reminds us, Essex has over 14,000 listed buildings, many of which are vernacular: his work benefits from the `vastly improved knowledge and understanding` of these structures in recent decades. This volume pays more attention to agricultural and industrial buildings, workers` housing, and the 19th and 20th centuries. The format is the usual one for this series: extensive introduction (topography, geology, chronological survey) followed by the main section devoted to the county`s rich and varied architectural possessions. The new volume is the result of many years` hard work and has improved the 1965 publication considerably. It should do much to correct our views of this often ignored and under-valued county. (C.W.)

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