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Publications
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Dr Sarah Whittingham has written extensively on architectural and garden history, including articles on the Victorian fern craze for the Victorian Society Journal, National Trust magazine, Country Life, The English Garden and Heritage magazine. Sarah's major illustrated book, Fern Fever: The Story of Pteridomania was published by Frances Lincoln on 2 February 2012. Find out how to buy a copy here. |
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NEW: Sir George Oatley: Architect of Bristol Sir George Herbert Oatley (1863-1950) was Bristol's most significant twentieth-century architect. His buildings transformed the face of the city, and his most well-known work, the University's Wills Memorial Building of 1925, is the last great secular Gothic building to be constructed in Britain. This is the first book to be written about Oatley, and is the result of over ten years' research, including the study of thousands of previously unexamined letters and drawings. It includes a catalogue of works that vastly increases knowledge of the wide range of buildings that Oatley designed during his long career, and is extensively illustrated in colour. Some readers' comments: Find out how to buy a copy here |
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Living, Leisure and Law: Eight Building Types in England 1800-1914 (2010) The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries brought into being many new building types and radically transformed other, existing ones. Many of these have received little attention before, and this book brings together eight examples, all of them revealing interesting stories from the byways of architectural history. It includes Sarah's paper, '“Ferns and Fountains and Fishpools; Crags and Caverns and Cascades”: The Victorian Public Fernery'. Find out more here |
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The Victorian Fern Craze (2009) Sarah traces the story of Pteridomania, from the invention of the Wardian case, through tales of fern forays, to the creation of verdant ferneries in private homes and gardens. She also reveals the extent of the craze in mainstream Victorian and Edwardian society by describing the incredible variety of public places where it was considered appropriate to erect a fernery. And along the way she introduces some of the authors, nurserymen, designers and colourful characters such as the 'Itinerant Fern Vendor', who were associated with fern mania. • Featured in the Daily Telegraph, Gardens Illustrated, BBC Homes and Antiques magazine. • 'This splendid Shire book is now published. Masses of facts are presented in an easily readable style, and the multitude of coloured illustrations are excellent.' • I really loved this book... I am afraid I am not close to doing justice to how charming and amusing this book is, in addition to being informative, Whittingham has a light touch as a writer, and recognizes that with describing the scientific work, and studying the collectors, respect and humor go hand in hand. As is to be expected in any book that discusses the scorn in which the “Professional Fern Tout,” was held by serious botanists.' • 'a fascinating, lavishly illustrated look at this fern craze... I enjoyed this book very much; it is well written and beautifully illustrated and packs a great deal of information into 60-odd pages... a wonderful addition to any collection of books dealing with the history of botany, or of Victorian popular culture.' Find out how to buy a copy here. |
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The University of Bristol: A History (2009) Published as part of the University of Bristol's centenary celebrations in 2009, this short, illustrated history traces the story of how the organisation progressed from its humble origins to today's thriving, international enterprise. Find out how to buy a copy here. |
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Powerhouses of Provincial Architecture 1837-1914 (2009) Six chapters drawn from papers presented at the Victorian Society symposium held in January 2008 at the Society of Antiquaries, London, look at how architects with considerable local influence gave a distinctive character to urban landscapes of the Victorian and Edwardian periods. It includes Sarah's paper, ' “. . . the pride of Bristol, and an enduring monument to the genius of Sir George Herbert Oatley” '. Find out how to buy a copy here. |
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Wills Memorial Building (2003) 'This is an excellent study that deserves wide circulation . . .' (The Victorian Society) 'Sarah Whittingham's guide to the building is exhaustive, entertaining, and highly informative and really is the next best thing to a proper tour.' (Bristol Evening Post) '[the book] is well written, well designed and very well illustrated . . .' (Bristol Civic Society) 'This is a beautifully written, lavishly illustrated booklet . . .' (The Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society) A few copies are still available to buy in person at the Wills Memorial Building. |
