Stone upon stone : the use of stone in Irish building / Nicholas Ryan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ryan, Nick, 1950-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Stone buildings.

History.

Building, Stone.

Ireland.

Building, Stone--Ireland--History.

Stone buildings--Ireland--History.

Physical Description:

xi, 212 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm

Place of Publication:

Cork : Collins ; [Chester Springs, PA] : [U.S. distributor Dufour Editions], 2005.

Summary:

Stone has been used for building in Ireland for over 6000 years. It was only when farmers cleared fields of stone - like the haunting Ceide Fields - that they realised this commodity could be a valuable building material. Since then this natural resource has captivated and perplexed people, and left an imprint on Irish history, culture and folklore. Many books have been written about related subjects - monuments, bridges and castles - but the general use of stone through time in Ireland has never before been looked at.

This book gives access to many of the 'secrets of the mason' and his relationship with his clients. We also witness how the social and historical context of an era affects both what is being built, and the way it is built. The influence of the political, military and religious establishment in each era in the development of building is acknowledged.

Contents:

1 Prehistoric Stone Buildings 1

2 Stone Decoration & Sculpture 14

3 Equipment, Men & Commerce 27

4 Early Christian Period to the Thirteenth Century 56

5 Black Death & Cannons 87

6 Exit Earls, Enter Georgiana 101

7 Famine, Science & Commerce 129

8 Mechanisation & Heritage 156

Appendix An Goban Saor 171.

Notes:

Distributor from label on p. [4] of cover.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 204-207) and index.

ISBN:

1903464919

OCLC:

60447741