From chimneys to gates, medieval cottages to Georgian crescents, this rich photographic introduction to five hundred years of British domestic architecture will delight anyone interested in the evolution of house design.The most comprehensive guide of its kind, Details is a tribute to British ingenuity and style. Featuring high-quality illustrations, a beautiful layout, and a historical introduction, it takes individual architectural features and, through chronologically organized illustrations, shows how each detail has developed and changed under the influences of period, fashion, and technological advance. The book explores in detail the different elements that make the design of doors, windows, ironwork, ceramics, terracotta, stone and brickwork (among many others) so fascinating. Short texts and more than six hundred color photos highlight the trademark characteristics of each element, and readers are treated to gorgeous views of the most compelling examples. Finally, Details includes an illustrated glossary providing anecdotal definitions of everything from almhouses to villas, helping readers identify styles quickly and easily by just a few characteristics. Written in a lively and engaging style, the book is an indispensable and truly exhaustive resource for anyone interested in discovering the real history of house design in Britain.