York in 50 Buildings

In 50 Buildings

by Andy Graham

From its earliest days as a Roman legionary fortress, through the Middle Ages when the town grew as a major trading centre and became Henry VIII’s northern capital; through the grandeur and decadence of Georgian York and into the nineteenth century when the city became an important railway hub, confectionery manufacturer and pioneer of social housing, to its current status as a majour tourist destination and sustainable city, York has a proud and distinctive identity. This extraordinary history is embodied in the rich architecture that has shaped this beautifully preserved city, famed for its Gothic cathedral. York in 50 Buildings explores the history of York through a selection of its greatest architectural treasures. From the magnificent medieval York Minster to the first neoclassical building in Europe, this unique study celebrates York’s architectural heritage in a new and accessible way. Local architectural historian and photographer Andrew Graham guides the reader on a tour of the city’s historic buildings and modern architectural projects.

96 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2018

Reviews

[Ben Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up in York to guide us around the city and give some insight. Sometimes after Anna and I reached one of the 50 sites, I would boldly read the entries aloud. I sort of expected them to be witty, quaint or clever. They were mostly just informational, kind of like a textbook. Consequently, my bold readings faded, and I usually trailed off and summarized the text so that we could move on to the next one.

The issue might be that I couldn’t really tell, based on the tone, if the author loved York or not. As a tourist, you want to love the city you are touring, and you want the guide to help you do that. You would expect lots of funny anecdotes from a book like this, but those were few and far between.

Oh well. We still had a lovely time in York.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super introduction to both the history and architecture of York. The book is written in a simple format, making it easy to dip into or to read as a summary of the timelines of the city. We shall use the book in 2022 as a basis for walks and exploration: it’s a great companion to help you see beneath the superficial. Look forward to book number 2, with maybe more depth/ detail.