Training Resources

Based on the VAG spreadsheet together with Somerset & SVBRG specific links.

Somerset specific & SVBRG documents

• Dating of smaller Somerset houses - With the kind permission of SANHS, an older PDF document which in certain areas been superseded by later research, but still a good starting point for dating Somerset vernacular houses.
• Know your place West of England, Historic maps that can be compared against current ones, includes Tithe & 1880's OS
• Somerset building stone, a PDF by SANHS

Guidelines for recording

• An introduction to vernacular domestic buildings, Historic England
• Understanding Historic Buildings - Historic England guidance on recording, and recording 'levels'
• Drawing for Understanding - Historic England guidance on hand-measuring building plans and other features - see link above
• Historic Scotland guidance on measured survey and building recording
• Yorkshire Vernacular Building Survey Group - guidelines and training
• Assocation of Diocesan and Cathedral Archaeologists Guidance note 4 (draft) - Fabric Recording in Churches (PDF)
• CBA Introduction to Guidance and Standards in Archaeological Projects - Building Recording section
• Buckinghamshire Archaeology Society - Historic Buildings Section Step by Step guide to recording a building

Thesauri and glossaries

• NMR thesaurus - standard covering building types, originally created by RCHME. Used in list descriptions
• Illustrated glossary from the Domestic Buildings Research Group (Surrey)
• Pevsner's Architectural glossary - downloadable app for apple/android (or available as a publication)
• Looking at Buildings - edited version of Pevsner Glossary
• Building Archaeology Research Group - PDF illustrated glossary
• Wallpaper History Society - glossary of wallpaper terms and types
• Stone Roof Association - PDF bibliography of stone/tile/slate terms
• Bricks and Brass - glossary of terminology by building component (roof, window, etc) with photographs. Note you need to access this via "Terminology" menu

Recording sheets

• Building Archaeology Research Database (BARD) - tick box sheet PDF
• Association of Diocesan and Cathedral Archaeologists guidance on architectural fragments, includes a record sheet for recording them
• Medieval Graffitti - recording sheet
• Buckinghamshire Archaeology Society Historic Buildings Section - pro-forma for building recording

Reading lists & bibliographies

• Vernacular Architecture Group - recommended reading list for beginners who are not following a structured course led by a tutor
• Vernacular Architecture Group bibliography - published sources relating to vernacular architecture
• British Brick Society - bibliography of books relating to bricks and brick making PDF
• British Brick Society - bibliography of books and articles relating to dragon roof finials PDF
• Construction History Society - descriptive bibliography of basic texts covering construction, engineering etc PDF
• Construction History Society - bibliography of selected texts covering construction, engineering etc PDF
• English Stone Forum - various information sources including bibliography of stone related publications
• Stone Roofing Association - bibliography of stone tile and slate related publications
• IHBC technical bibliography - with sections on different materials as well as conservation
• Wallpaper History Society - bibliography of wallpaper related publications
• BIAB - British and Irish Archaeological Bibliography - includes some building material and unpublished reports (now part of the ADS)
• Medieval Graffitti bibliography
• Yorkshire Vernacular Buildings Survey Group - booklists (general and Yorkshire sections)
• Scottish Vernacular Buildings Working Group - list of own publications (including articles)
• Buckinghamshire Archaeology Society Building Recording section - booklist sorted into categories
• Vernacular Architecture Forum - bibliography. US-based organisation but bibliography covers some UK sources
• Sources on Building History - bibliography of books on materials (brick, stone, cob etc)
• Sources on Building History - bibliography of books on recording fabric of buildings
• Sources on Building History - bibliography of books on interiors
• Sources on Building History - bibliography of books and sources on architects

Mapping

• Key to information on the 1880's OS maps