ENGLISH MEDIEVAL CHURCH TOWERS

NEW – The Diocese of Bath & Wells

The Diocese of Bath & Wells covers nearly the whole of the historic county ofSomerset which, by popular acclaim, is blessed with the most beautiful medieval church towers in the country. The praise is particularly aimed at the flat-top Perpendicular towers built from 1350 to the beginning of Henry VIII’s Reformation in the 16th century. David Ryan has captured in watercolours the rich variety of architectural styles, features and colours of 321 English medieval church towers across the diverse towns, landscapes and rich geology of of that ‘laughing summer field’ which is Somerset.

The Diocese of Oxford

In these beautiful watercolour illustrations, David Ryan, with the eye and training of an architect, has captured the rich variety of form, architectural styles, features and colours of 221 English medieval church towers across the Diocese of Oxford which spans the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The paintings allow the untrained and expert observer alike to appreciate how the ecclesiastical architecture of these ever present buildings, dotted across the English landscape, evolved from crude beginnings before 1066 to the glorious heights of the English Perpendicular of Henry VIII’s Reformation.

With a comprehensive glossary of architectural terms, illustrating figures, descriptions of each tower and complete references, these books will be of interest to locals, visitors and all those interested in studying medieval church architecture and the Anglo-Saxon, Norman and Gothic styles.

Authors

DAVID RYAN is a retired architect, a former member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and a creative spirit endlessly on the lookout for a new challenge. 

PHILIP HOWARD is a retired industrial scientist who went on to complete a master’s degree in science communication at Imperial College London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and is always looking to learn something new.