Images of Change: An archaeology of England’s contemporary landscape

By Edited by Sefryn Penrose, with a foreword by Antony Gormley

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"a thoughtful and very clever argument for a particular way of experiencing, and analysing history in landscape. Buy it." British Archaeology

"a provocative new book from English Heritage that sheds light on the impact of post-1945 social change on the everyday environment . . . Sefryn Penrose and her contributors offer an alternative 'modern heritage' agenda." The Times

"Images of Change is a wonderfully enjoyable, even an important, book." New Statesman

"this valuable and thought-provoking book reveals the surprising beauty in the most unlikely places, such as shopping centres, service stations and motorways, and is a great antidote to architectural nostalgia." Sunday Telegraph

"Engagingly written, with a fresh design aesthetic and beautiful colour photographs, Images of Change manages to make the familiar strange and the strange familiar.  Perhaps most importantly, this highly accessible volume amply demonstrates the seriousness of the contemporary archaeology project." Landscapes

Motorways, airports, tower blocks, power stations, wind farms; TV and the internet, easy travel and shrinking distances; business parks, starter homes and vast shopping and leisure complexes. All of these helped define the later 20th-century world and their material remains remind us of the major changes brought about through innovation and rapidly developing technology.

Illustrated with striking aerial and ground photographs of some stunning and sometimes surprising 20th-century landscapes, Images of Change highlights the impact the developments of the last century have had on the landscape and gives us a new angle on the industrial, military, domestic and agricultural influences at work around us. By turns dramatic, beautiful, perhaps even shocking, the images and accompanying text will convince that the later 20th century should not be seen as an age that has devalued or destroyed what went before.

Understanding how the 20th-century landscape is perceived and how it connects to the past is part of what this book is about - helping us to understand that change and creation is as important in the landscape as preservation. We recognise and celebrate the process of landscape change for earlier periods - the 20th century should be no different.

Contents

  • Introduction
  • PEOPLE
    Journey
    Introduction
    Temporary Housing
    Social Housing
    Privatopia
    New Towns
    Edge Towns
    Migration
    Faith
    Homelessness
    Airspace
    Airports
    Motorways
    Roads
    Car Parks
    Motorway Service Areas
    The Rail Network
    Railway Stations
  • POLITICS
    Journey
    Introduction
    Hospitals
    Mental Health
    Detention
    Schools
    Higher and Further Education
    Defence Research and Development
    Defence Manufacturing
    Defence Infrastructure and Support
    Memorialisation
    Cemeteries
    Crematoria
    Protest
  • PROFIT
    Journey
    Introduction
    Forestry
    Farming
    Metals and Industrial Minerals
    Industry
    Freight
    Brownfield
    Materials of Power
    The National Grid
    Energy
    Nuclear Power
    Renewable Energy
    Water
    The Office
    Information
    Mobile Phones
    Out-of-town Commercial Estates
    Town-centre Shopping
    Shopping Malls
  • PLEASURE
    Journey
    Introduction
    Back Gardens
    Front Gardens
    National Parks
    Country Parks
    Heritage
    Zoos
    Television Landscapes
    Theme Parks
    Swimming Pools
    Leisure Centres
    Sports Stadia
    Artificial Surfaces
    Golf Courses
    Cultural Centres
    Art and Place
    Holiday Camps
    The Seaside
  • AFTERWORD
  • FURTHER READING
  • BIBLIOGRAPHY

Additional Information

  • Series: Architectural History
  • Publication Status: Completed
  • Pages: 200
  • Illustrations: 150, colour and b&w images
  • Product Code: 51571
  • ISBN: 9781848020719

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