38 C O N T E X T 1 2 5 : J U LY 2 0 1 2 forgives him and the editors for the solecism of relocating Chastleton House from Oxfordshire into Buckinghamshire. There is a very poignant brief foreword by Geoffrey Beard who, sadly, was too ill to attend the conference. He should take great pleasure from this book, which builds on his pioneering work in the field. The publishers are to be congratulated on its quality of production, although they need to be aware that it is extremely irritating to bunch the footnotes into a single continuous paragraph. This is the first time I have come across this particular design quirk, which makes it very difficult to follow individual references. Malcolm Airs, director of the Centre for the Historic Environment, Kellogg College, Oxford Wisdom in wartime Roof Construction and Repair E Molloy, Donhead, 2009, 152 pp, 181 ills, ISBN 978 1 873394 885, hardback, £30 First published in 1942, this was originally intended as a practical book to help unskilled people look after their buildings. The reprint is of the updated edition which was published in 1945 and included guidance on temporary repairs needed after the second world war. The book is written by a highly skilled craftsman, whose passion and knowledge for the subject are accompanied by a plentiful supply of beautiful hand-drawn illustrations. It explains roof construction, both traditional practice and methods that were more common at the time of writing, and now provides a helpful reference. The section on how to undertake repairs is as important today, especially in the present economic climate, as it was at the time it was written during the war. The first four chapters explain the construction of roofs, from the joints and connection details to the differences in design and the advantages of each. A structural engineer was not then required to calculate the loadings, to set out the roof pattern or to work out a pitch for a specific roof covering. These calculations were left to the experience and knowledge (and the later roof tables) of the craftsman. Guidance is provided on how to lay boards, insert lanterns and set out gutters. Chapter III covers flat roofs, and includes information on metal roof details, including lead, zinc and copper. The details provided for the connections to lanterns and other upstands are beautifully illustrated and explained. The next few chapters provide valuable information on roof coverings, including sizing, sorting and weight requirements. Both slates and tiles are well covered, with clear explanation of details and variations. There are three chapters on asbestos roof coverings. Although legislation has caused the removal of most asbestos, it is important to understand the place that the material had within the construction industry. The diamond pattern of asbestos tiles could be seen in many of our suburbs until recent years. There is helpful advice on emergency repairs to maintain a water-tight building until resources are available for long-term repairs; for example, how to cover a roof with corrugated metal sheets, including appropriate edge details to allow for drips. Other remedies, such as slurrying, would probably not be accepted today, but it helps to understand why it was undertaken in recent years. Hindsight allows us to be critical of the damage these solutions can cause, but at the time it was make do and mend, and many more buildings might have been lost without these measures. Although intended for a non-specialist readership, the book is written by a traditional craftsman with extensive experience and knowledge. For me there is no better instructor than one who has handled, made and repaired buildings. It serves as a reminder that non-practical professionals should respect the skills and experience of the craft operatives who deal with these matters on a daily basis over years of their lives. Janice Gooch, design and conservation officer, Cherwell District Council An engineer’s view Adams’ Building Construction Henry Adams 1906, revised edition 1913, reprinted by Donhead Publishing 2011 with a new introduction by JamesWP Campbell, 632pp, 2346 b&w figures and 12 b&w plates, ISBN 978 1 873394 93 9, £58 The major historic construction manuals produced in the first half of the 20th century provide invaluable sources of information for the conservation professional. This period witnessed building booms, improvements in traditional building construction, the development of new building types and the development of new construction techniques. Among the better known of these building construction textbooks are those produced by WB McKay, Jaggard and Drury, and Mitchell. Donhead’s latest reprint in this category, Adams’ Building Construction, was a very popular publication selling some tens of thousands of copies. James Campbell’s new introduction gives an outline of Henry Adams’ long and impressive career as an engineer and teacher, spanning over 60 years from the 1860s to his retirement in 1928. The scope of the book is wide ranging and the content is extremely detailed in parts. It is, however, somewhat inconsistent in both its structure and in the detail given to the various building elements. The first three chapters give useful information on specific building materials, namely timber, iron, steel and bricks. The book moves on to building construction, with a chapter
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