ShellHousesandGrottoes

Theartificialgrottohasalongandintriguinghistoryinarchitectureandgardendesign.TheearliestgrottoesinancientGreecewerepaganshrinesdedicatedtowaternymphs.IntheeighteenthcenturytheRenaissancegrottowasmuchadmiredontheGrandTourandbecameafashionablefeatureinthenewlandscapegardensofthewealthyBritishlandowners.ThisbookdescribestheoriginsofthegrottoinRenaissanceItaly，itsheydayineighteenth-centuryEngland，itsdeclineinthenineteenthcenturyanditsreturntofavourinthetwentiethcentury.Over250survivinggrottoesarelisted，invaryingstatesofrepair，andtherearemoretobediscovered.Thisbookcontainsacomprehensivegazetteerofgrottoesandshellhousesthatthepubiccanvisit.