DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52829#0011
PREFACE.
“ I have considered the days of old.”—Psalm Ixxvii. 5.
“ To boke some new thing”* is now a task of no mean diffi-
culty, and one as much above my ambition as it is above my
powers to accomplish ; nor have I aimed at more here than em-
bodying characteristic examples of the beautiful, though long-
neglected Architecture of my own country with the observa-
tions of such intelligent writers as have treated of the subject,
and showing that English Architecture is still the most applicable
for English habitations.
I must repeat what has been frequently Urged in my former
publications, namely, that the object in view is not to exhibit
specimens of hovels and cheap structures, but to combine in one
edifice as many Architectural features as can with propriety be
blended : thus affording hints of what may be separated and used
as occasion shall require. It may also be necessary to observe,
that when I have recommended this particular style of Architec-
ture as an economical style, I have only wished to be understood
that it is so as compared with the buildings of ancient Greece
* Gower’s “ Confessio Amantis” was written at the request of King Richard II.
who, in a conversation with the Poet, on board the royal barge on the river Thames,
desired him to “ boke some new thing,” i. e. to write a new book.— J. P. Andrews’
History of Great Britain.
“ I have considered the days of old.”—Psalm Ixxvii. 5.
“ To boke some new thing”* is now a task of no mean diffi-
culty, and one as much above my ambition as it is above my
powers to accomplish ; nor have I aimed at more here than em-
bodying characteristic examples of the beautiful, though long-
neglected Architecture of my own country with the observa-
tions of such intelligent writers as have treated of the subject,
and showing that English Architecture is still the most applicable
for English habitations.
I must repeat what has been frequently Urged in my former
publications, namely, that the object in view is not to exhibit
specimens of hovels and cheap structures, but to combine in one
edifice as many Architectural features as can with propriety be
blended : thus affording hints of what may be separated and used
as occasion shall require. It may also be necessary to observe,
that when I have recommended this particular style of Architec-
ture as an economical style, I have only wished to be understood
that it is so as compared with the buildings of ancient Greece
* Gower’s “ Confessio Amantis” was written at the request of King Richard II.
who, in a conversation with the Poet, on board the royal barge on the river Thames,
desired him to “ boke some new thing,” i. e. to write a new book.— J. P. Andrews’
History of Great Britain.