Front cover
The Dean, Michael Mayne, suggested ‘Big Ben’ should appear alongside the Abbey since it is such a tourist icon; its inclusion had enhanced sales of other items in the Abbey shop. The ‘golden’ title lettering is inset with a wall of the abbey lit with evening light.
Back cover
Centre circle, the entire interior – a jewel seen through a fisheye lens placed in the middle of the transept floor. Surrounding from top left, two of the nations greatest heroes, Shakespeare and Henry V. From bottom left, Henry III, the Abbey’s builder and Richard II, its greatest enhancer.
A Black Hole?
It was understood that all the Abbey’s photographs were to be found high above Poet’s Corner in the Muniment’s Room. There were many boxes with many empty slots. But only ten of the few transparencies remaining were of any use. What at first looked like a disaster turned into a marvellous opportunity. Professional photographer, Malcolm Crowthers, just happened to be taking pictures on his own account simply for love of the Abbey. He was quickly commissioned to complete the whole building, with the rare advantage for me of being able to specify particular subjects.
And what pictures. His long acquaintance with the Abbey, its moods, the times of year and day when objects where at their best in natural light is evident in every shot.
A Historical Guide, the all important sub-title, because the book would be in competition with several established history guides in the Abbey shop. So, where appropriate, chapters begin with maps, diagrams, royal family trees and a time line. In addition to the usual index there is an Index to Objects keyed to a map of a Tour of the Abbey.
The combination of John Field’s and Malcolm Crowther’s long connections with Abbey has resulted in a work of deep understanding. That it has never been out of print just might have something to do with that.
