Worcester in 50 Buildings by James Dinn
It's all too easy to walk past a building and not give it a second glance but this treasure trove of architectural gems invites the reader to stop and take a closer look.
James Dinn has selected 50 iconic buildings in the Faithful City that represent its evolution from the distant past to the present day. That continuous stream of history is clearly and concisely summarised in the Introduction, that part of a book which is often overlooked as being over-lengthy. Not in this case. Each of the 50 buildings has its own story and, collectively, weaves a narrative of Worcester's many attributes - commercial, administrative, industrial, judicial, agricultural, educational, domestic, ecclesiastical, medical and recreational.
The book is very well illustrated so the buildings, by and large, are easy to find. Despite the map, however, some of the outlying sites may be difficult to locate for those without a thorough knowledge of the layout of Worcester and its suburbs. Notable are Warndon, Lower Wick and Powick and extra directions or grid references would have been helpful; as would an index.
Following in James Dinn's footsteps, the owner of this handy-sized guide book can discover the magnificent city of Worcester over many weekends of delight and enlightenment. At £14.99, its 96 pages of interest will make an excellent Christmas present – and it's available now in local bookshops.