What did the Romans do for us?

Every evening this week, Time Team has brought the archaeology of the Roman world into our living rooms through its Big Roman Dig. It is quite possible though that its discoveries of colourful fragments from extraordinary mosaics, poisonous lead mines, stretches of road and the like, have been overshadowed by the rather enjoyable arguments, often heated, between its panel of well-known experts concerning what the Romans did for us.

A few slices of Scottish history

The Making of Scotland is a series of small volumes introducing aspects of Scottish history in a compact and colourful way. Each title is written by an expert in his or her field and provides an excellent start point for further reading.

Pompeii: Out of the Ashes

Without doubt Pompeii is the most famous archaeological site in the world and, even though excavations have now slowed down in favour of ensuring the preservation of what has already been recovered, new discoveries still come to light and new books still appear on Oxbow’s shelves. In the last few weeks two books have arrived which bring us closer than ever to the life-loving citizens of Pompeii.

All awhirl with Celtic Art … Martyn Jope’s lifetime’s study

A special offer on a lifetime’s work on Celtic art is the subject of a mini-feature by David Brown…

Architecture Book Bargains

This month we have a special collection of architectural bargains on offer for those of you who can't resist a good deal...

Another Sale!!

Another sale! Can it be true? These titles have over-stayed their welcome here and need new homes...

Of all the new books that have passed over the desks of the Oxbow staff this month, these, for whatever reason, are the ones that grabbed their attention.

Saturday Opening

Due to staffing issues we will not be opening on Saturday mornings throughout July and August. Please watch this space for information on opening times from September onwards.

New Releases

Medieval Floor Tiles of Northern England: Pattern and purpose: production between the 13th and 16th centuries
by Jennie Stopford
Hardback. GB £40.00, GB £10.00

This study of the design, manufacture and use of medieval floor tiles shows the long-lasting influence achieved in the north of England, especially by the Cistercian monasteries. It serves to demonstrate how these monastic houses made use of the resources and contacts available to them. The study focuses on one of the richest medieval floor tile assemblages in the world, with material from 118 sites. Over 500 different designs and 60 mosaic arrangements have been identified. Jennie Stopford examines the monastic influence on northern England's manufacture and use of floor tiles. Split into three sections - Chronological Survey, The Tile Groups, and The Sites and Collections - this in-depth study covers an immense body of work.

Nonsuch Palace 2, Domestic Material
by Martin Biddle
Hardback. GB £60.00, GB £15.00

Nonsuch in Surrey was Henry VIII's last and most fantastic palace. Begun in 1538, at the start of the 30th year of Henry's reign, the palace was intended as a triumphal celebration of the power and the grandeur of Henry VIII and the Tudor dynasty. The site was chosen for its fine countryside and hunting potential. Although the layout was fairly typical for a house of this period, arranged around two main courtyards, there its 'ordinariness' ends. The palace was ornately decorated with intricate Renaissance designs in carved and gilded slate and plasterwork, with two great octagonal towers, five storeys high at either end. The king wanted people to be astonished at his new palace, and to say that they had never seen such a fine palace before, hence its name - 'Nonsuch.' Excavations in 1959-60 uncovered a large amount of material from all periods, from occupation to demolition (1538-1684). The finds fall into two categories: architectural and domestic. This volume, the second in the series, publishes the domestic finds, including a large amount of complete or reconstructible glass, ceramics (such as tin-glazed wares, stoneware and earthenware), coins and tokens, clay pipes, pewter vessels, objects of iron, bone, ivory and leather, and a wooden pocket sundial.

Vicars Choral at English Cathedrals: Cantate Domino: History, Architecture And Archaeology
edited by Richard Hall and David Stocker
Hardback. GB £60.00, GB £15.00

Staffing medieval cathedrals was always a problem. Some English cathedrals introduced monks, but almost half of them put themselves in the hands of secular priests (canons). As cathedrals became complex 'prayer factories' between the 12th and 16th centuries, the canons appointed Vicars Choral to perform liturgical functions in their stead. From the moment of their first appearance in the 12th century, there was concern about the vicars' morals and behaviour and, for more than 400 years, cathedral deans struggled to impose discipline. Eventually all of the English cathedral vicars were subjected to quasi-monastic discipline in carefully regulated colleges, which were strategically located within the close and formed a very distinctive group of ecclesiastical buildings, which were ancestors of the Oxbridge colleges. Several of these important medieval building complexes have survived, but significant traces of all nine colleges - Chichester, Exeter, Hereford, Lichfield, Lincoln, St Paul's London, Salisbury, Wells and York - have been recovered in this study. As these colleges survived the Reformation, most retain extraordinarily rich archives, which modern historical scholarship is only just starting to explore. For the first time, this volume brings together the wealth of architectural, archaeological and historical information relating to these major, but little known, medieval institutions. It reveals an extraordinary interdisciplinary resource that can be used to understand, not just the working of individual colleges and cathedrals, but also the life and work of the lower orders of medieval clergy in England.

Conferences we will be attending

W.G. Hoskins and Making of English Landscape
Leicester (Thursday 7th - Sunday 10th July)
The conference is designed to honour Hoskins by celebrating the achievements of the discipline of landscape history, which he inspired. Themes of enduring importance included in his book and others that have emerged subsequently are to be addressed. Proper attention will be given to the C20th, which he did not regard as very significant. The scope of the conference will include Britain, and comparison will be made with the continent.
http://www.le.ac.uk/elh/news/events.html

International Medieval Congress, Leeds 2005
Leeds (Monday 11th – Thursday 14th July)
The Twelfth International Medieval Congress needs no introduction. The IMC attracts about 1300 delegates from all over the world, who come to present their research in all areas of Medieval Studies ranging from Art and Literature to Science and Technology.
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/imi/imc/imc2005/imc2005.htm

Triennial Classics Conference 2005
Cambridge (Monday 25th – Friday 29th July)
The ‘Triennial’ is the highest-profile event in the UK classical calendar. Held alternatively in Oxford and Cambridge, it brings together teachers, students and amateurs of the classics from a comprehensive range of backgrounds and sub-disciplines. 400 people are expected to attend.
http://www.classics.cam.ac.uk/triennial/