The Lane Beneath the Field: Following a Lost Boundary
A hedge, a hollow and a field name can preserve different parts of a landscape’s past. In an invented parish, follow how a boundary’s shape and…
All stories
Browse Brick and Byway’s articles on buildings, streets, archives, craft, and landscapes. Each begins with a particular clue and follows it into the history of a place.
The Joint Between Two Eras: Brick Bonds as Building Clues
Read brick patterns as evidence of how a wall was put together, then compare them with its corners, roofline and historical records before drawing conclusions.
From Map Margin to Meeting Place: Reading an Old Parish Map
An old parish map can reveal how a place was meant to be understood. Its title, key, scale and annotations often explain more than a quick…
A Street That Bends: What an Old Route Leaves in the Plan
A crooked street can reveal how its junctions, frontages and public spaces took shape. Read the route through the way people use it, not just the…
The Window That Was Filled In: Reading Change on a Brick Facade
A bricked-up window can alter the balance of a facade and hint at a room’s changing use. Learn to read its outline, position and relationship to…