Peter Brears has been director of both York and Leeds’ City Museums, has acted as consultant to the National Trust, English Heritage, the Historic Royal Palaces, the winner of numerous prizes including the André Simon award for his book, Cooking and Dining in Medieval England, the standard text on the subject.
He has written extensively on traditional foods and cookery in Yorkshire, as well as a ground breaking illustrated catalogue of domestic and farmhouse materials in Torquay Museum. He supervised the reconstruction of several important historical kitchens, including those at Hampton Court, Ham House, Cowdray Castle and Belvoir Castle.
Peter is a long standing member of Wakefield Historical Society and a former member of its Council. In addition he has written and illustrated Wakefield Historical Publications’ most recent book. The Buildings of Tudor and Stuart Wakefield. This is of far more than just local interest, it indicates the significance of provincial towns in general and of the development of Wakefield in particular. It is splendidly illustrated with Peter’s own drawings of the buildings many of which he recorded prior to demolition in the 1960s and 70s. This is probably the most significant book relating to Wakefield history since J.W. Walker’s Wakefield History and Its People in the 1930s. It is an essential read for all local historians and those interested in vernacular architecture. This is available for immediate delivery at just £19 + £3 postage.
