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BBC Radio London - Robert Elms Show, 10 May 2006
It’s a book I think everyone should have - Robert Elms, BBC Radio London, 10 May 2006
Camden New Journal, August 2006
This admirably structured and coherent book draws attention to the uncontrived diversity in London’s architecture - Maxwell Hutchinson, past-President RIBA
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's easy to think we don't need yet another book on London, but this one really does tell you something new.
Featuring some of the most extraordinary buildings in the country - new ones and old ones, inner-London as well as the suburbs - and with at least 150 photos illustrating them all, it's a guide to a city I barely new existed.
Weird castles and tottering towers, underground warrens, wacky houses you can't believe ever got planning permission, secret government installations, it's all in here...plus a guide to those old grand-looking gentlemen's clubs in and around Pall Mall: which is which, what goes on inside them, and what happened when the police raided one of them thinking it was a posh brothel...
With detailed descriptions of each of them, and some quirky historical background to the older ones, this is one of the most imaginative books on the capital I've seen in a long while.
Featuring some of the most extraordinary buildings in the country - new ones and old ones, inner-London as well as the suburbs - and with at least 150 photos illustrating them all, it's a guide to a city I barely new existed.
Weird castles and tottering towers, underground warrens, wacky houses you can't believe ever got planning permission, secret government installations, it's all in here...plus a guide to those old grand-looking gentlemen's clubs in and around Pall Mall: which is which, what goes on inside them, and what happened when the police raided one of them thinking it was a posh brothel...
With detailed descriptions of each of them, and some quirky historical background to the older ones, this is one of the most imaginative books on the capital I've seen in a long while.
59 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a London Cabbie I pride myself on the knowledge I have not only of routes through and around London, but also the many interesting and different places hidden away or just not thought about as we pass along the busy thoroughfares of London. I think that the cabbies will like this one.
This is a book about London and its peculiar architecture, which we pass everyday in the cab without so much as a second glance. One hundred buildings are identified as being the strangest and enigmatic. The introduction describes London as lacking an urban masterplan and is shown in contrast to Nazi Berlin, Paris or even Babylon. London's chief glory lies not in the theatrical effect of triumphant avenues aligned along carefully drafted axes, or meticulously planned grid of street and square, but rather in its many historic and often highly individual buildings.So the introduction goes.
The book is full of excellent black and white photographs, that show the buildings in a light, which could not be done justice in colour strange as though they might seem. With each photograph most of which are full page, the author gives a brief pen portrait of each location, which includes a history.
The book has ten chapters and each section deals with a specific aspect of architecture. For example, in the first chapter entitled "Tudor Manor Born" the author introduces Abbot's House, Deans Yard, Westminster moving on to Albany and Piccadilly. Crosby Hall features and once we have read through the text we discover that Crosby Hall was moved brick by brick from the City to its current site in Chelsea in 1908. You will pass it on Cheyne Walk just after Danvers Street. There always seems to be something going on there and it looks as though the builders will be there for a while longer.
Not only does the book describe and illustrate interesting buildings within central London, the author also brings to our attention many other buildings which we might only know about if we lived in a particular locality. For example Severndroog Castle? Who? you might say. This is located in Castlewood Park, SE18. Many of us cabbies who did the knowledge will probably have seen the tower at Clock Tower Place N7. The story associated with this tower is that after several hundred years of cattle slaughter in the city it was decided to transfer the trading of livestock to Islington. The story goes that this market attracted the ne'er do wells and there was a large illegitimate trade attached to the market with thieves running alive. After the war it was knocked down for development and the more legitimate traders moved to Bermondsey. Hence the New Caledonian Market, which still exists today in Bermondsey Street by Long Lane.
There are many other illustrations and descriptions and the book would be an interesting addition to the bookshelves of those cab drivers who are interested in the aspects of London presented here. Most enjoyable and worth the purchase.
This is a book about London and its peculiar architecture, which we pass everyday in the cab without so much as a second glance. One hundred buildings are identified as being the strangest and enigmatic. The introduction describes London as lacking an urban masterplan and is shown in contrast to Nazi Berlin, Paris or even Babylon. London's chief glory lies not in the theatrical effect of triumphant avenues aligned along carefully drafted axes, or meticulously planned grid of street and square, but rather in its many historic and often highly individual buildings.So the introduction goes.
The book is full of excellent black and white photographs, that show the buildings in a light, which could not be done justice in colour strange as though they might seem. With each photograph most of which are full page, the author gives a brief pen portrait of each location, which includes a history.
The book has ten chapters and each section deals with a specific aspect of architecture. For example, in the first chapter entitled "Tudor Manor Born" the author introduces Abbot's House, Deans Yard, Westminster moving on to Albany and Piccadilly. Crosby Hall features and once we have read through the text we discover that Crosby Hall was moved brick by brick from the City to its current site in Chelsea in 1908. You will pass it on Cheyne Walk just after Danvers Street. There always seems to be something going on there and it looks as though the builders will be there for a while longer.
Not only does the book describe and illustrate interesting buildings within central London, the author also brings to our attention many other buildings which we might only know about if we lived in a particular locality. For example Severndroog Castle? Who? you might say. This is located in Castlewood Park, SE18. Many of us cabbies who did the knowledge will probably have seen the tower at Clock Tower Place N7. The story associated with this tower is that after several hundred years of cattle slaughter in the city it was decided to transfer the trading of livestock to Islington. The story goes that this market attracted the ne'er do wells and there was a large illegitimate trade attached to the market with thieves running alive. After the war it was knocked down for development and the more legitimate traders moved to Bermondsey. Hence the New Caledonian Market, which still exists today in Bermondsey Street by Long Lane.
There are many other illustrations and descriptions and the book would be an interesting addition to the bookshelves of those cab drivers who are interested in the aspects of London presented here. Most enjoyable and worth the purchase.
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you thought you knew London, think again. David Long's book combines in-depth research, with a talent for quirky anecdote. Such human-interest brings the tasteful black and white photos to life and distinguishes Spectacular Vernacular from other, sometimes fusty, architectural manuals. It's easy to dip into as it deals with one building at a time - text facing photograph - so there's no need to flip back and forth between pages. Once your curiosity is piqued, however, it is hard to put down. Will appeal to Londoners, and visitors alike.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Two delighted dads
Well first I got this book for my dad's 81st birthday- lived in London his entire life and loves art and architecture. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Tess
Spectacular vernacular London's most extraordinary buildings
I was eagerly awaiting this book but was most disappointed when it arrived. I expected more pleasing and coloured photographs of the buildings In question and found a lot of the... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mrs. Pm Hutchings
... and romantic semantics
Exploration and discovery are endeavours as romantic as love, and lovers of London will find this book an emporium of romantic detail to set their imaginations soaring. Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2009 by RoseC
Proceed with caution
I have made hundreds of purchase from Amazon and this is my first review motivated by wasting my money. Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2009 by sylvesterdakat
An Authentic 5-star Original
Looking for a new book on London - for a friend rather than myself - I happened on this one and was persuaded by the fact that it's got so many five-star ratings. Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2008 by West London Gal
So THAT'S what that building is!
One of THE most imaginative books on the capital, which really does reach the parts other books don't. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2006 by D. Franks
The Underbelly
An honest and real guide to the buildings that makes London what it is and isn't. It's also a partial explanation for why the English are who they are. Read more
Published on 17 July 2006 by Alexander JW Hill
Spectacular Erections
A book about architecture in London? Puh-lease. Life's simply too short. But wait a minute, this is actually quite fun. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2006 by Brian Pike
The secret's out
I've lived in London for 30 years, but I must have spent most of that time walking around with my eyes closed. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2006 by Matthew Carter
Box of Chocolates
If like me,you have spent endless hours tramping the streets of London ,looking through the doors and gates of buildings, wondering, what goes on there? Read more
Published on 14 May 2006 by Rasabag
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