Mindful Calligraphy is a unique and groundbreaking book that fuses the art of calligraphy and mindfulness.

Calligraphy has long been known to centre and balance mind and body – concentrating on pen strokes is a good way to tune in positively and live in the moment. And lettering and calligraphy is having a major renaissance as we look for an antidote for our digital age. 

Progressing from simple movements and shapes to words and phrases, this creative, step-by-step guide helps you to learn how to focus your mind, beat stress, and tune out unwelcome thinking. Tracing the letters helps you stay on the path, always progressing, always centred. Your creation, at the end, is a mini work of art. 

Organized in progressive and easy-to-follow exercises, Mindful Calligraphy is the perfect guide on this journey towards tranquility and calligraphic beauty.

A fascinating insight into Britain’s built heritage and the diverse housing styles of the twentieth and twenty-first century. This book showcases 100 houses – one from each year from 1914 – that represent the range of architectural styles throughout the years and show how housing has adapted to suit urban life. Each house is accompanied by stunning photography and texts written by leading architectural critics and design historians, including Gavin Stamp, Elain Harwood, Barnabas Calder, Ellis Woodman and Gillian Darley.

From specially commissioned architect-designed houses for individuals and for families to housing built for increased workforces, each of the 100 houses brings a different design style or historical story. There are houses built as part of garden cities, semi-detached suburban houses, housing estates, eco-houses, almshouses, converted factories and affordable post-war homes. The architectural styles encompass mock Tudor, modernist, Arts & Crafts and brutalist and the featured architects include Giles Gilbert Scott, Walter Gropius, Edwin Lutyens, Powell and Moya and David Chipperfield.

The book also contains essays that explore the social and political aspects of housing design in Britain over the last 100 years, looking at the impact the World Wars had on housing, exploring domestic technology and building materials and asking how the modern house came about.

Whether exploring Grayson Perry’s folly-like House for Essex, Patrick Gwynne’s modernist glass villa in Surrey, Sarah Wigglesworth’s Straw Bale House or Simon Conder’s black rubber-clad fisherman’s hut in Dungeness, this book gives a glimpse into the wonderful housing in Britain and is a must-have for all fans of design history and architecture.

Following on from 100 Buildings 100 Years and 100 Houses 100 Years, this book illustrates and describes 100 churches and chapels built in the UK since 1914, charting the development of buildings for worship. In this period concrete and steel gave a new freedom to construction, while new ideas about how congregations could participate in services changed assumptions about traditional layouts, bringing celebrants and people closer together. The century saw dynamic churches in dramatic shapes of all sizes thanks to ambitious engineering, and brilliant colour from new forms of stained glass, murals and sculpture.

Architects whose work is included here range from Basil Spence and Edward Maufe, designers of major cathedrals, to the radical Gillespie, Kidd and Coia whose brutalist seminary lies abandoned near Dumbarton. The book provides biographies of major designers; articles on glass, fittings, and on the synagogues, mosques and temples that play an intrinsic and important part in worship in Britain today. Contributors include architectural historians Elain Harwood, Alan Powers and Clare Price.

Beautiful photography throughout showcases the very best of British church design, whether it is the minimal symmetry of a timber-framed altar, or light streaming in through a multi-coloured stained glass panel.

We are honoured to announce the re-release of the first ever Pitkin title, published by Mr Pitkin in 1947 to celebrate the magical wedding day of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. It was a day of colourful pageantry and heartfelt rejoicing for the British people in the grey aftermath of war and rationing. The young couple took with them down the aisle the hopes and aspirations of the whole nation.

Now, 70 years on, Pitkin has great pleasure in publishing this souvenir facsimile edition to celebrate the royal couple’s platinum wedding anniversary. For most of the UK population, Queen Elizabeth II is the only monarch we have known and the world has watched her flourish into not only a loving wife and mother, but the longest reigning living monarch in history. Prince Philip has been her ‘strength and stay’ for the duration of her reign and, in her own words, we ‘owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim.’ Their long and happy marriage has been one of the deepest in love and affection, echoing the Archbishop’s blessing on 20 November 1947: ‘May God’s unfailing love always surround and protect you. May He, day by day, now and always, give you joy in all your married life, every blessing, peace and happiness.’

This beautifully illustrated book is part of the Pitkin Royal Collection series, celebrating the lives of the British royal family. Other notable titles in this insightful series include Royal Babies, The Queen and Her Family and Queen Elizabeth II.

Detailed map of Wales and borders for tourists denoting main roads and ‘off the beaten track’ routes, national parks, beach information, forests and historic sites, town plans and 14 easy-to -follow car tours. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

Nelson

Despite devastating bomb damage during the Second World War, Canterbury offers visitors a wonderful mix of 2,000 years of history within the framework of a modern city.

Millions of visitors come every year to experience the rare flavour of its ancient streets and buildings, and to visit its spectacular cathedral. It was here in 1170 that Norman knights struck down and killed Archbishop Thomas Becket; pilgrims have travelled to the site ever since, bringing prosperity to the city for centuries.

But the cathedral and its precincts are just one of the treasures that bring people to the city: with its links to literary greats including Christopher Marlowe, Geoffrey Chaucer and Charles Dickens – and even Rupert Bear! – plus a host of wonderful museums to explore, there is much to discover and enjoy in Canterbury.

Sir Robert Hunter (1844–1913) is one of three figures regarded as the principal founders of the National Trust. It was he who came up with the idea for the organization, paved the way for its legal creation and served as its first Chairman.

Hunter was never one to crave public attention; nevertheless he was a highly influential figure behind the scenes of the late-Victorian movement for landscape and building preservation in Britain. His love of nature, of open spaces, and of the infinite pleasures to be had from countryside resulted in the saving of open landscapes – including preventing the enclosure of Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest¬ – along with the protection of footpaths and ancient monuments.

Hunter’s death aged 69 in 1913 was a tragic loss. A century later we remember the many achievements of this ‘faithful servant of the people’.

WELLS CATHEDRAL – GERMAN

The Domesday Book was the survey of his new realm ordered by William the Conqueror in 1085. Read how this remarkable document was made in this beautifully illustrated and well-researched guide. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.