Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales

by John Timbs and Alexander Gunn

Here are remarkable stories of abbeys, castles, manors and other notable buildings across England and Wales. The John Timbs account is broken up by region, including Yorkshire, the Isle of Man, and North and South Wales. Timbs manages to cover a lot of ground by providing a brief overview of each point of interest, sketching out its location and offering a compelling historical capsule. He is a master of succinctness.

John Timbs (1801-1875) was a prolific author and noted antiquary. He was born in London, privately educated, and by age sixteen was and apprenticed in both the printing and pharmaceutical trades. He quickly chose to be a writer, providing articles for The Monthly Magazine, later becoming the editor for the Mirror of Literature, The Literary World, and The Harlequin. He was also deeply involved in the Society of Antiquaries of London, and wrote 150 works, including Curiosities of Science (1859); Mysteries of Life, Death, and Futurity (1868) and Doctors and Patients (1873/4). He is perhaps most famously known for editing the Memoirs of the Rev. John Livingston.