'The second editions are the ones to have'; revising the Pevsner Architectural Guide to Surrey by Charles O'Brien

About

The first edition of the Buildings of England volume for Surrey was published in 1962, co-authored by Nikolaus Pevsner and Ian Nairn. In November 2022 the first fully revised edition since 1971 will be published. Its author Charles O'Brien is the series editor of the Pevsner Architectural Guides and has revisited every part of the county and hundreds of buildings to bring the guide up to date and expand its coverage. He has researched, edited and written several volumes in the series since 1997 and will talk about the history of the series and the tasks of revision as well as some discoveries that have come to light in the course of research.

The Pevsner Architectural Guides, were begun in 1951 by the architectural historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner (1902-83) with the aim of providing an up-to-date portable guide to the most significant buildings in every part of the country, suitable for both general reader and specialist. Each volume provides an introductory overview of the architecture of the area, followed by a descriptive gazetteer arranged alphabetically by place. Whilst cathedrals and their furnishings, great country houses and their parks form the grand set pieces, the books demonstrate the enjoyable diversity of architecture in the British Isles in accounts of rural churches and farmsteads, Victorian public buildings and industrial monuments.

Tickets £5. Please book a space online. Please note, this talk is a hybrid event, taking place in person at Surrey History Centre but also streamed live online via Zoom.