Ranging in coverage from humble cottages to grand villas, this encyclopaedia was compiled by the Scottish landscape gardener John Claudius Loudon (1783-1843). Its ambition, as stated in the introduction, was 'to improve the dwellings of the great mass of society'. Hundreds of types of rural abode are delineated here by Loudon and his contributors, and the text is greatly enhanced by more than 2,000 illustrations. Later sections examine the subject of fixtures and furnishings - from cornices to carpets - and explain which types were considered appropriate for a particular style of house. Space is also devoted to the principles of architectural criticism. For historians and lovers of architecture and interior design, this substantial resource, published in 1833, sheds light on the fashions and theories of the early nineteenth century.