A survey of industrial archaeology

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 10

A survey of industrial archaeology

Industrial Archaeology: An Historical Survey. By Arthur Raistrick. Eyre Methuen. 314 pp. It is a measure of the distance that industrial archaeology has come in the brief period of its existence—less than 20 years—that Arthur Raistrick finds no difficulty in filling a book of more than 300 pages. Dealing almost exclusively with the situation in the British Isles, he sets out to explain the kinds of industry that have flourished there during the past 2000 years and more, to describe the processes employed in each, and then to give the would-be industrial archaeologist some idea of the remains which are likely to be encountered in each case. Though much of Mr Raistrick’s material is, naturally enough, drawn from the

period of the Industrial Revolution or later, there is a good deal of attention paid to earlier industrial enterprises, from quarrying to pottery and mining to weaving. Since Industrial archaeology is both a scholarly discipline and a hobby for the enthusiast, Mr Rai strick has to choose his path with care, bearing both in mind. This he does with notable success, combining the accuracy of the scholar with the enthusiasm of the amateur. His descriptions of the various industrial processes are clear and concise, and the manner in which they are grouped for presentation gives the book a unity which might not otherwise be there. The value of Mr Raistrick’s knowledgeable survey is much enhanced by the copious plans, maps, drawings and photographs which accompany the text, while the dust jacket, which features Loutherberg’s “Coalbrookdale by Night,” is at once entirely apposite and attractive.