FOR over a quarter of a century, buildings archaeologist, James Wright has travelled the length and breadth of the country to discover the secrets of Britain's ancient buildings... and he's coming to Crediton Library on Monday, October 12 at 7.30pm.

He will be there to ask why we know so little about the ancient buildings which surround our everyday lives?

Britain can be justifiably proud of approximately 500,000 listed buildings. Yet as many as 60 per cent may have been identified incorrectly. Behind a Victorian façade is a Tudor house. Underneath a Georgian frontage is a mediaeval cottage. What is now a farm was once a castle. How can a nation, so obsessed with history, have missed so many ancient buildings?

James will look at the ways in which historic architecture has been observed, studied, and conserved. The puzzles surrounding why some buildings were listed and others overlooked will be solved. He will offer a field guide to the written records, tree-ring dating, and archaeology which help us to investigate the age, development, and social history of ancient buildings. His presentation will include houses, castles and churches hidden in plain sight as he explains the fascinating, enigmatic, and surprising world of The Buildings Archaeologist.

You may have seen James as an expert on TV shows such as The Great British Dig or even in Crediton Library on his last visit, discussing the myths around our old buildings.

Tickets for the presentation, which will include a Q&A, are £10 and can be booked in person at Crediton Library, or online at bit.ly/flaevents.

The evening is organised by Crediton-based charity The Folklore Library and Archive and James will have copies of his books available for purchase and signing on the night too.