Book highlights north’s architecture

Mar 16 2008 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

THE stunning architecture of many North landmarks features in a new book showcasing the UK’s rich heritage.

Britain’s Buildings, Places and Spaces features more than 200 atmospheric sketches of everything from streets and squares through to village greens and cathedrals, drawn by top architect Ptolemy Dean.

Ptolemy — presenter of BBC2’s series Restoration — carries a sketchbook with him wherever he goes, ready to make drawings and watercolours when something catches his eye.

And he’s made several visits to the region because many notable places figure prominently in the book.

Ptolemy says his book serves a double purpose because as well as highlighting the beauty of buildings such as Durham Cathedral, Purley train station in Surrey or Covent Garden shopping area in London, he wants to emphasise the importance of conservation and restoration.

Many buildings are disappearing all over Britain on a daily basis, so Ptolemy, who lives in a semi-derelict farmyard with his family in East Sussex, hopes the book will keep an “in memoriam” record of them.

He said: “I’m a big fan of the North East — huge — I absolutely love it, and in a way I wish I could have represented that more in the book. County Durham particularly has the most fantastic villages, all centred around village green and it has such a cultural pattern of living that should be a model for future developments.

“At the same time, buildings and places are being taken away from us all the time through demolition, closure or by the creation of new developments.

“Heighington Village in County Durham is a prime example. Last year I presented a BBC4 show in which Heighington was chosen to be The Most Perfect Village in Britain, yet it is now set to lose its post office.

“I feel terribly sad this is happening, and that lots of other places we love and enjoy are slowly being eroded.

“This book is really seeking to raise awareness of this situation.”

V Britain’s Buildings, Places and Spaces is now on sale through DK books, at www.dk.com, priced £20.

Do you think you know the area well?

SEVERAL notable North places feature in Buildings, Places and Spaces . . . but can you tell us where they are?

We’ve teamed up with publishers DK to offer readers the chance to win one of five copies.

To enter our competition, email the six answers to our picture puzzler, along with your name, address and telephone number, to ss.competitions@ncjmedia.co.uk, to arrive by noon on Thursday.

Please give the number and place name for each picture shown.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

The first five correct entries drawn at random on Thursday will receive the prize as offered. Winners will be contacted directly within 48 hours of the draw and details will be updated monthly at www.sundaysun.co.uk/winners

Usual ncjMedia promotion rules apply, available at www.sundaysun.co.uk/legal Competition open to residents within the circulation area of the Sunday Sun.

A full postcode list and footprint of the circulation can be found at www.sundaysun.co.uk/legal or is available from Freepost NEA1676, Promotions, Groat Market, Newcastle, NE1 1BR.