Book excerpt: VILLAGE BUILDINGS OF BRITAIN is an illustrated survey of vernacular building for everyone who believes in the importance of conservation and who wishes to have, in one beautiful volume, examples of village building styles from all over the country. Each of the eleven chapters includes a selection of buildings painted from life in watercolour in a highly original style which combines accuracy with charm. With his painter's eye for detail, Matthew Rice also picks out a variety of local features such as windows, doorways, ironworks and stonework which help to establish the character of each part of the country. In writing and illustrating this book Matthew Rice is not only arming his readers with a superb collection of architectual drawings but, with his heartfelt passion for conservation, trying to ensure that those people lucky enough to own a country cottage have a better idea of how to maintain or convert it in such a way that it continues to stand in harmony with its surroundings.