Liz Gordon - Böcker

Situated between Bournemouth and the New Forest National Park, the Dorset coastal town of Christchurch has a distinctive historic character reflecting both its origins as a Saxon burh and its maritime associations. The earliest settlement was around the Saxon Minster church, on the site of the present Priory Church, and the town developed slowly northwards. Despite the rapid proliferation of housing estates from the late-nineteenth century onwards, the centre retains the character and charm of a historic town. This is further distinguished by its maritime connections, with the harbour, salt marshes and sandy beaches of Christchurch Bay still dominated by the Priory.In ‘Christchurch in 50 Buildings’, authors Paul Rabbitts and Liz Gordon take readers on an engaging and informative tour of the town highlighting a selection of its architectural gems and landmarks old and new. They feature a wide range of architectural styles and diverse selection of buildings and structures ranging from the Priory to pubs, castle to cottages and bridges to beach huts. Tracing the development of Christchurch through the centuries, this book celebrates the town’s ancient history and its many historic buildings, as well as its role as a popular tourist destination in Dorset.Illustrated throughout, this accessible and well-presented guide will appeal to residents and visitors alike.

With its magnificent Early English cathedral, timbered buildings and historic houses, Salisbury has a wealth of history and architectural treasures. Its story began 2,500 years ago when an Iron Age fort was built on Salisbury Hill, 2 miles north of the modern town centre, and developed into the town of Old Sarum. The origins of modern Salisbury (New Sarum) date from 1217 when the bishop relocated his seat to Church-owned land to the south of the hill. Work on the cathedral started in 1220 and a thriving town developed in the years that followed. Its woollen cloth industry, together with its location on the road from London to Exeter, brought trade and prosperity here.In this book, authors Paul Rabbitts and Liz Gordon take the reader on an engaging tour of Salisbury’s landmarks and significant buildings from across the centuries. Here are the structures that reveal the history of the town, showing how it developed and telling the story of its people and their way of life. The wide range of structures included range from the cathedral to bridges, almshouses to inns, and cinemas to townhouses. Illustrated throughout, this broad and accessible perspective of Salisbury’s architectural heritage will interest residents and visitors alike.