Historic Building Mythbusting: Uncovering Folklore, History and Archaeology

'Funny, occasionally filthy and ultimately fascinating.' - Richard Herring, comedian Go to any ancient building in the land and there will be interesting and exciting stories presented to the visitor. Tales of secret passages and hidden tunnels, strange marks and carvings left by stonemasons – all commonly believed and widely repeated, but are they really true? From ship timbers being repurposed on dry land to spiral staircases giving advantage to right-handed defenders, and from archers sharpening their arrows on church stones to claims of being the oldest pub in the country, Historic Building Mythbusting seeks to uncover the real stories. Buildings archaeologist James Wright explains and unpicks the development of these myths and investigates the underlying truths behind them. Sometimes the realities hiding behind the stories are even more engaging, romantic and compelling than the myths themselves...

About the Author :
JAMES WRIGHT is a buildings archaeologist at Triskele Heritage who specialises in mediaeval and early modern architecture. He holds a PhD in Archaeology from the University of Nottingham, and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and an affiliate of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation. He has led buildings archaeology surveys at major properties including the Tower of London, St Mary’s Warwick, Palace of Westminster, Tattershall Castle, Southwark Cathedral and Knole. He won Best Archaeological Project at the British Archaeology Awards for his work at the latter. He has also surveyed dozens of domestic vernacular buildings from Wiltshire to Lancashire and from Norfolk to Powys.

Review :
'Funny, occasionally filthy and ultimately fascinating.' 'James Wright pours gallons of boiling oil on myths about ancient buildings. But it’s not really boiling oil, is it.' 'This erudite and analytical work constructively picks apart the folklore and myths surrounding many of the most misinterpreted aspects of our rich historic architecture. Anyone with an interest in architecture should read this book!' 'If you are expecting a diminished, slightly less colourful sense of the past that you might expect from a ‘mythbusting’ book then think again, for what emerges in these pages is exactly the opposite. Here the familiar gives way to the extraordinary, fiction bends to wild truths, and historic buildings themselves emerge as a living and breathing means of understanding our environment, our ancestors and, indeed, ourselves.' 'As the Fake History Hunter, I search museums, books and the internet for history related misinformation - debunking myths and misconceptions where I can. James’ knowledge has been an invaluable weapon in my armoury, and he proves his talent for this kind of detective work in this wonderful book!' 'An entertaining and informed jaunt through the world of buildings archaeology, that opens up the many and varied stories of our shared past – and lovingly breaks down many of the myths that that still linger. A thoroughly enjoyable – and informative – read.' 'With the confidence born of hands-on knowledge, James Wright dismantles myth after myth about old buildings – but he’s never unkind, and never forgets that stories matter just as much as histories.' 'Forget everything you knew - or thought you knew - about medieval buildings. From secret tunnels to boiling oil, James Wright firmly dispels the myths in this thoroughly entertaining and informative tome.' 'An authoritative, accessible and superbly researched exploration of the perpetuation of some of our most prevalent buildings-related tall tales, presented with vigour and a hefty dose of common sense.' 'In this fascinating volume, James takes an insightful look into many popular assumptions about historic buildings which seem to proliferate widely and in doing so helps us question the real reason things were done the way they were.' 'Wright emphasises the importance of ‘debunking’ historic myths to reveal the ‘truth’ behind the meaning of historic buildings. But perhaps the real importance of this book is the way in which it highlights the function of historic buildings as providing places for local knowledge and storytelling to intersect engagingly with antiquarian and contemporary academic study. We need more of this kind of study if we are to reach new audiences to help us care for our built heritage – and inspire the next generation of historic building specialists.' 'A fabulous tome that debunks some long-held belief, such as the reason for spiral staircases, witches’ marks, secret tunnels and the use of boiling oil in siege warfare.' 'Though a deep dive into archaeological jargon may be daunting, throughout the accessible study Wright litters his writing with an abundance of personal anecdotes and insights that blends his expertise with humour. He strikes the balance perfectly.' 'I would implore anyone to read to this work, not just someone intrigued in the medieval world. This is factual investigation that brims with authority, whilst being enormously enlightening and entertaining.'