England's Villages: An Extraordinary Journey Through Time

Description

Villages have existed in a similar form for millennia: but where did village halls come from, and why do they matter? What defines a modern village, and when does a village become a town? Take a charming, unexpected journey through the quirks of English villages through the ages in the excellent company of Dr Ben Robinson. Discover why no village could ever truly claim to be roman; why churches sometimes appear far outside of village boundaries and what happens when a village moves, and why that matters. A compelling mix of archaeology, anthropology and architecture, England's Villages is the perfect Christmas gift for the amateur historian in your life.

Dr Ben Robinson is a British archaeologist and television presenter. Ben's television and radio work includes many research and on-screen contributions to archaeology and history programmes. He has taken Griff Rhys Jones for a microlight flight, kept Rory McGrath upright as he 'slodged' on stilts, immersed himself in a mist of preservative to show Mary-Ann Ochota prehistoric boats, shared a balloon over Bristol with Helen Mark of BBC Radio 4's Open Country, and has helped the Travel Channel's Expedition Unknown in its quest to find King John's treasure. Ben has co-presented two series of Channel 4's Britain's Most Historic Towns with Professor Alice Roberts. He has also presented the BBC series Pubs, Ponds and Power: The Story of the Village and Villages by the Sea.

'Villages are the ancient heart and soul of rural England. Ben Robinson's book vividly explains the complexity of their history and why we must cherish them for future generations.' * Francis Pryor * 'Dr Ben Robinson reveals how England's Villages have a dynamic and turbulent history which belies their sleepy image.' * Choice Magazine * 'A fascinating, often surprising history, full of twists and turns, of something as apparently simple as a village. I was raised in a village (though I left it for the big city) so this book helped me understand the village part of my childhood.' * Rachel Morris, author of The Museum Makers *