Hello and welcome to an Exploring Building History podcast. My name is Mary Chisholm and this podcast is a summary of the life and work of the Tudor clergyman William Harrison. He was also an historian, topographer and writer. His main work being The Description of England, initially published in 1577. You can find out more information at www.exploringbuildinghistory.co.uk

A rich and complex Gothic-Romance centring on the murky deeds of an ancient family. It is a wonderfully atmospheric piece that combines narrative, poetry, song, and descriptive writing to great effect. The character of Dick Turpin that we know today – the dashing highwaymen and unmatched horseman – can be said to stem directly from this novel, as the most famous part of the book (often published on its own in the past), Turpin’s Ride To York, is devoted to him. Although seemingly little know ...