Nowhere is the imprint of the pattern of history on the landscape more evident than from the air. Britain's great palaces, castles, country houses and their estates, historic towns and villages are seldom seen except from ground level. Aerial photography provides a much larger picture: the lie of the land, the topography of a battlefield, a shipyard on the edge of an estuary, a canal snaking its way through a highland fault - all are more vivid when viewed with a bird's eye. Travelling from the invasion coast of south-east England, with its many traces of successive waves of invaders, to the farthest reaches of Scotland, whose solitary, battlemented castles recall centuries of rebellion and unrest, author Nicholas Best and aerial photographer Jason Hawkes record the ebb and flow of history on the ground beneath them.

This seminal study, written by Britain's best-known landscape historian, takes a chronological tour through British parks and gardens since Roman times. Each chapter introduces the characteristic features of parks and gardens in each period and explores the social and economic context for their construction. Chris Taylor then provides a detailed explanation of specific sites and draws on 100 aerial photographs to illustrate a new perspective on Britain's cherished parks and gardens.

This book provides a bird's eye look at the monumental achievements of Britain's earliest inhabitants. Arranged thematically, it illustrates and describes a wide selection of archaeological sites and landscapes dating from between 500,000 years ago and the Roman conquest. Timothy Darvill brings to life many of the familiar sites and monuments that prehistoric communities built, and exposes to view many thousands of sites that simply cannot be seen at ground level. Throughout the book, he makes a unique application of social archaeology to the field of aerial photography.

This set of twelve previously unpublished essays on historical geography written by Darby in the 1960s explains the basis of his ideas. The essays are divided into three quartets of studies relating to England, France and the United States.

This comprehensive guide on historic garden and landscape conservation will help landscape professionals familiarise themselves with what the conservation of historic gardens, garden structures and designed landscapes encompasses. The aim of the series is to introduce each aspect of conservation and to provide concise, basic and up-to-date knowledge within five volumes, sufficient for the professional to appreciate the subject better and to know where to seek further help. Gardens & Landscapes in Historic Building Conservation is an essential guide for everyone with an interest in the conservation of historic gardens and designed landscapes worldwide. The latest assessment of the origins, scope and impact of gardens and designed landscapes is vital reading. Covering history and theory, survey and assessment, conservation and management and the legislative framework the book considers all aspects of garden and landscape conservation and related issues. It explores the challenge of conserving these important sites and surviving physical remains and a conservation movement which must understand, protect and interpret those remains. This book demonstrates how the discipline of the history and conservation of gardens and landscapes has matured in recent decades, recognising the increased participation of professional contract and curatorial managers in the management of these sites and in conserving and interpreting landscapes. Drawing on a wide range of sources, combining academic and professional perspectives, the book provides information and advice relevant to all involved in trying to preserve one of England’s greatest cultural contributions and legacy for future generations to enjoy. With chapters by all the leading players in the field and illustrated by copious examples this gives essential guidance to the management and conservation of historic gardens and designed landscapes.