In the original dustsheet. Black cloth binding with gilt title on the spine.

• F.B.A. provides an in-depth photographic presentation of this item to stimulate your feeling and touch. More traditional book descriptions are immediately available.

The village remains a quintessential and much-loved treasure of the English countryside. This rural idyll has inspired generations of great poets, novelists and artists including the likes of Constable, Hardy, Wordsworth, as well as providing the picturesque setting for modern TV series such as Lark Rise to Candleford and Cranford. The English Village celebrates all that is unique and loved about a typical village – the pub, the green, the school, the church, the pond, the local shop and more – as well as exploring how the village has changed over the centuries. Also includes fascinating information on the origins of village names – Siddington, for example, means the farm of the valley (sidd: valley, in: belonging to, ton: farmland). Filled with facts, figures, customs and lore, there is a wealth of fascinating information to be discovered in this charming book.

Reviews:

• A perfect introduction to the subject ― Yorkshire Evening Post

• Jam-packed with interesting facts … celebrates all aspects of village life ― Family History Monthly

• A quirky and fascinating look at more than 15 centuries of rural dwelling, covering everything from cottage industries to rustic superstitions ― Countryside Voice

Martin Wainwright MBE is a British journalist and author. He left The Guardian after 37 years at the end of March 2013. He was born in Leeds, and educated at Shrewsbury School and Oxford University. His father Richard Wainwright was the Liberal MP for Colne Valley (1966–70, February 1974–87) after a career in accountancy. Wainwright was The Guardian’s Northern Editor for seventeen years until the end of 2012, when he was succeeded by Helen Pidd. His contributions to the newspaper have mostly reflected this emphasis but not exclusively. He has written several books on northern or countryside topics, including a biography of the unrelated Alfred Wainwright and a guide to the Coast to Coast Walk. Other books are on the Morris Minor and Mini cars. He writes a blog about another interest, moths. Wainwright was awarded an MBE in the 2000 New Year Honours, “For services to the National Lottery Charities Board in Yorkshire and Humberside.” He was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Leeds in 2013.