Unlocking the history of the British home, this book reveals how its layout has evolved from the Stone Age to the present day, to cater for the very different needs and lifestyles of its occupants. From modest ancient dwellings and medieval merchants' houses to imposing stately mansions and modern urban estates, the book explores the forces that have shaped our homes and examines the attitudes and innovations of each age.

The story begins with the earliest Neolithic houses, built by the first people to surrender a nomadic way of life and settle on the land. It moves on to the Iron Age, and...