This volume is a compact and authoritative historical survey of the way English urban environments have developed since the Roman period, viewed chronologically and thematically, focusing particularly on the last two centuries. The text covers types of urban development (e.g., industrial towns, commercial cities, slums, and suburbs), plus important topics such as transport, recreation, civil and ecclesiastical functions, and images of the town and city in literature, art, and film. The chapters are supplemented by cameos that focus in detail on specific towns and subjects.About the Author: Dr Philip Waller is Senior Tutor at Merton College, Oxford. He is widely respected in the field of urban history.