I’m an architectural historian who worked for 30 years in the heritage sector with the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, English Heritage and Historic England. Not all at once, I hasten to add. One after the other.

Over the years I’ve published on a wide range of building-related subjects: historic hospitals, workhouses, shops, stores, factories, garages, car parks, country houses, C17th masons and medieval sculpture.

Current projects (in 2019-20) include a book — still in the early stages — about the history and heritage of chain store architecture. A ‘spotter’s guide’ to historic shopfronts is also in gestation. In addition, I’m preoccupied with studies of Northamptonshire stonemasons in the 1620s and 1630s, exploring the potential of masons’ marks as historical evidence.

Most of the recent posts published here at buildingourpast.com relate to my current research on the architecture, building processes and shop-fitting of multiple retailers. They draw attention to interesting historic shops which can be enjoyed on travels around England. Please leave comments and tell me about your own historic shop discoveries!