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enthusiastically received by scholars and the general public alike and
recognized as a classic of its genre. It represented a notable publication of
the early fruits of the Commission's work on the side of its responsibility for
the National Monuments Record for Wales. During the years which have since
intervened, much fresh information has come to light concerning Welsh houses -
not least because of the intense interest awakened by the original publication.
This new knowledge has, as far as possible, been incorporated in the new and
revised edition, which contains approximately onequarter more material than the
first. Although it has not been possible to alter the original text, a number
of additional maps and photographs have been included and a new dust-jacket has
been designed. The Commissioners would wish warmly to congratulate their
Secretary, Mr. Peter Smith, those of his colleagues who were associated with
him, and H.M.S.O. on the excellence of this volume. It marks another
outstanding landmark in the study of vernacular architecture, not only in Wales
but also in the British Isles, and a major achievement on the part of its
author.
Although this second edition of Houses of the Welsh
Countryside retains in their entirety the text, the illustrations, and the
layout of the volume first published in 1975, it also includes a substantial
amount of new information which has come to light since that date. Some of this
new material takes the form of additional figures inserted where appropriate
into the existing illustrative pages. Similarly a small number of additional
colour plates showing typical houses in characteristic settings has been tipped
into the text. There are also additions to the original map lists. It has not
been possible for reasons of cost to bring the maps themselves up to date, but
as the newly-discovered sites nearly always reinforce the distribution patterns
first indicated, this omission is not crucial. The numbers of new discoveries
can vary from a mere handful on one list to several hundred on another. All
other new material is introduced as part of an additional SECTION IV at the
back of the volume.
This section comprises:
Corrigenda
Covering sites which were inadequately or incorrectly described in the first
volume, involving in one case a complete reappraisal of the original reference.
Addenda I
Describing and illustrating a small number of newly surveyed houses of especial
interest which could not easily be fitted into the illustrations in the main
text.
Addenda II
Analysing the incidence of date-inscriptions as evidence for building activity.
Addenda III
Listing and mapping a number of features of domestic architecture not
previously so noted.
Addenda IV
Listing and mapping various features of ecclesiastical architecture which also
occur in houses and which therefore have a bearing on the evolution of domestic
architecture.
