Shell Guide to Kent. The Architectural Press. London, 1935
1st Edition first printing of the 1935 Shell Guide to Kent edited by Lord Clonmore (later 8th Earl of Wicklow). The 4th title in the iconic Shell Guides series co-edited by the poet John Betjeman and later (from 1949) the artist John Piper. Piper edited the guide to Oxfordshire (or Oxon, as it was titled) in 1938. In original wire ring binding with card covers. Two coloured maps and numerous black and white photographs throughout printed on pale green and white papers. Advertisement for Shell on the Road at the rear designed by Edward Bawden. Text is liberally interspersed with many b/w photographs, reproductions and drawings. Lord Clonmore was an Oxford friend of Betjeman’s married to the architect Eleanor Butler, Lady Wicklow. Contents: “Kent and Sussex Borders” by Sheila Kaye-Smith, “The Invasion of Kent” by Miles Sargent, “Canterbury Cathedral” by Lord Clonmore, “Rochester Cathedral” by the Dean of Rochester, 12 page gazetteer of towns and villages and essays on Golf, and Charles Dickens and Kent by Arthur Waugh.
The Shell Guides to the British counties were published between 1934 and 1984. Conceived by the poet John Betjeman, then assistant editor for Architectural Review, in partnership with the Shell oil company, the series was Betjemen’s response to the pomposity of earlier travel guides which consisted mostly of the lands and country houses of royalty and nobility. The first Shell Guide was authored by Betjeman himself under the title “Cornwall: Illustrated in a series of views of Castles, Seats of the Nobility, Mines, Picturesque Scenery, Towns, Public Buildings, Antiquities, etc.” – a dig at the grandiose long-winded descriptions found in 19th century guide books. Betjeman’s editorial style was more informal and he encouraged his authors to approach their subjects from a distinctly personal viewpoint as Betjeman explained in a letter to Lady Juliet Smith (Lady Juliet Townsend) author of the 1968 guide to Northamptonshire:
‘The value of the Shell Guides is to tell people what places are really like… a record of what England is now and a candid personal opinion of each parish and town. It’s no good writing a comprehensive and impersonal catalogue. That is already being done in Pevsner’s Buildings of England. Don’t bother too much about dates and styles … Pick out [the buildings] you like … and don’t be too frightened of saying that a place is hideous if you don’t like it.’
Title: Shell Guide to Kent, A Series of Views, of Castles, Seats of the Nobility, Mines, Picturesque Scenery, Towns, Public Buildings, Churches, Antiquities
Author: Edited by Lord Clonmore
Publisher: The Architectural Press, London
Publication date: April 1935
Format: card covers in spiral wire binding
Pages: 63pp.
Images: numerous monochrome photographs and two pages of maps
Condition: Very Good. Covers worn and creased. Otherwise very good.
Stock Number: RB01906
1st Edition first printing of the 1935 Shell Guide to Kent edited by Lord Clonmore (later 8th Earl of Wicklow). The 4th title in the iconic Shell Guides series co-edited by the poet John Betjeman and later (from 1949) the artist John Piper. Piper edited the guide to Oxfordshire (or Oxon, as it was titled) in 1938. In original wire ring binding with card covers. Two coloured maps and numerous black and white photographs throughout printed on pale green and white papers. Advertisement for Shell on the Road at the rear designed by Edward Bawden. Text is liberally interspersed with many b/w photographs, reproductions and drawings. Lord Clonmore was an Oxford friend of Betjeman’s married to the architect Eleanor Butler, Lady Wicklow. Contents: “Kent and Sussex Borders” by Sheila Kaye-Smith, “The Invasion of Kent” by Miles Sargent, “Canterbury Cathedral” by Lord Clonmore, “Rochester Cathedral” by the Dean of Rochester, 12 page gazetteer of towns and villages and essays on Golf, and Charles Dickens and Kent by Arthur Waugh.
The Shell Guides to the British counties were published between 1934 and 1984. Conceived by the poet John Betjeman, then assistant editor for Architectural Review, in partnership with the Shell oil company, the series was Betjemen’s response to the pomposity of earlier travel guides which consisted mostly of the lands and country houses of royalty and nobility. The first Shell Guide was authored by Betjeman himself under the title “Cornwall: Illustrated in a series of views of Castles, Seats of the Nobility, Mines, Picturesque Scenery, Towns, Public Buildings, Antiquities, etc.” – a dig at the grandiose long-winded descriptions found in 19th century guide books. Betjeman’s editorial style was more informal and he encouraged his authors to approach their subjects from a distinctly personal viewpoint as Betjeman explained in a letter to Lady Juliet Smith (Lady Juliet Townsend) author of the 1968 guide to Northamptonshire:
‘The value of the Shell Guides is to tell people what places are really like… a record of what England is now and a candid personal opinion of each parish and town. It’s no good writing a comprehensive and impersonal catalogue. That is already being done in Pevsner’s Buildings of England. Don’t bother too much about dates and styles … Pick out [the buildings] you like … and don’t be too frightened of saying that a place is hideous if you don’t like it.’
Title: Shell Guide to Kent, A Series of Views, of Castles, Seats of the Nobility, Mines, Picturesque Scenery, Towns, Public Buildings, Churches, Antiquities
Author: Edited by Lord Clonmore
Publisher: The Architectural Press, London
Publication date: April 1935
Format: card covers in spiral wire binding
Pages: 63pp.
Images: numerous monochrome photographs and two pages of maps
Condition: Very Good. Covers worn and creased. Otherwise very good.
Stock Number: RB01906
1st Edition first printing of the 1935 Shell Guide to Kent edited by Lord Clonmore (later 8th Earl of Wicklow). The 4th title in the iconic Shell Guides series co-edited by the poet John Betjeman and later (from 1949) the artist John Piper. Piper edited the guide to Oxfordshire (or Oxon, as it was titled) in 1938. In original wire ring binding with card covers. Two coloured maps and numerous black and white photographs throughout printed on pale green and white papers. Advertisement for Shell on the Road at the rear designed by Edward Bawden. Text is liberally interspersed with many b/w photographs, reproductions and drawings. Lord Clonmore was an Oxford friend of Betjeman’s married to the architect Eleanor Butler, Lady Wicklow. Contents: “Kent and Sussex Borders” by Sheila Kaye-Smith, “The Invasion of Kent” by Miles Sargent, “Canterbury Cathedral” by Lord Clonmore, “Rochester Cathedral” by the Dean of Rochester, 12 page gazetteer of towns and villages and essays on Golf, and Charles Dickens and Kent by Arthur Waugh.
The Shell Guides to the British counties were published between 1934 and 1984. Conceived by the poet John Betjeman, then assistant editor for Architectural Review, in partnership with the Shell oil company, the series was Betjemen’s response to the pomposity of earlier travel guides which consisted mostly of the lands and country houses of royalty and nobility. The first Shell Guide was authored by Betjeman himself under the title “Cornwall: Illustrated in a series of views of Castles, Seats of the Nobility, Mines, Picturesque Scenery, Towns, Public Buildings, Antiquities, etc.” – a dig at the grandiose long-winded descriptions found in 19th century guide books. Betjeman’s editorial style was more informal and he encouraged his authors to approach their subjects from a distinctly personal viewpoint as Betjeman explained in a letter to Lady Juliet Smith (Lady Juliet Townsend) author of the 1968 guide to Northamptonshire:
‘The value of the Shell Guides is to tell people what places are really like… a record of what England is now and a candid personal opinion of each parish and town. It’s no good writing a comprehensive and impersonal catalogue. That is already being done in Pevsner’s Buildings of England. Don’t bother too much about dates and styles … Pick out [the buildings] you like … and don’t be too frightened of saying that a place is hideous if you don’t like it.’
Title: Shell Guide to Kent, A Series of Views, of Castles, Seats of the Nobility, Mines, Picturesque Scenery, Towns, Public Buildings, Churches, Antiquities
Author: Edited by Lord Clonmore
Publisher: The Architectural Press, London
Publication date: April 1935
Format: card covers in spiral wire binding
Pages: 63pp.
Images: numerous monochrome photographs and two pages of maps
Condition: Very Good. Covers worn and creased. Otherwise very good.
Stock Number: RB01906
