Description
Book SynopsisIt is hard to imagine that the busy townscape of South London was once a great wood, stretching almost seven miles from Croydon to Deptford or that, scattered through the suburbs, from Dulwich to Norwood, a number of oak woodlands have survived since before the Norman Conquest.
These woods were intensively managed for a thousand years, providing timber for construction, furniture and shipbuilding, and charcoal for London’s blacksmiths, kilns and bakeries. Now they afford important green space, a vital habitat for small mammals, birds and insects. In The Wood That Built London, historian C.J. Schüler draws on a wealth of documents, historic maps and environmental evidence to chart the fortunes of the North Wood from its earliest times: its ecology, ownership, management, and the gradual encroachment of the metropolis.
Trade Review‘In this meticulously researched yet accessible work, historian C J Schüler brings to life a largely forgotten slice of the capital’s topography.’
* Geographical Magazine *
‘A gentle and beautifully produced book... Skilfully alternates between pastoral and archival archaeology.’
* The Tablet *
‘Deeply rewarding’
‘Timely and informative’
‘An engaging reflection on what we've already lost; but more importantly, it's a vital reminder of what we still have alongside us.’
‘Meticulously researched and hugely enjoyable.’
‘A beautifully illustrated and richly researched exploration of the relationship of humanity and nature.’
* Historia magazine *
‘Magnificent... Will be the defining work on the Great North Wood for a long time to come.’
* Woodlands.co.uk *
