A systematic handbook that traces the evolution of English domestic and civic architecture from the close of the Gothic tradition to the emergence of classical influence, outlining how foreign Renaissance motifs were absorbed and adapted. It charts changes in house planning and layout, details exterior elements such as porches, gables, windows and chimneys, and examines interior fittings including halls, staircases, long galleries, panelling and ceilings. Chapters survey miscellaneous civic and ecclesiastical work, present measured plans and designers' drawings, and pair analytical text with numerous plates and illustrations to demonstrate constructional detail and stylistic development.