Brick features prominently in the towns of the Thames Valley, because the local geology provides little good building stone. Reading is particularly rewarding for the brick-fancier, thanks to the variety of colours available and the inventive patterns that Victorian bricklayers loved to make.

Illustrated throughout with photographs of surviving examples, Reading Bricks and Brickwork revels in the delights of air bricks and crinkle-crankle walls, gets back to basics with bonding, tells the 100-year story of a successful Victorian brick maker and pays homage to Alfred Waterhouse. A walking tour gives the reader the opportunity to see the more notable examples of Reading's brickwork for themselves.

Adam Sowan is a local historian based in Reading. An explorer at heart, Adam jumped at the offer of early retirement from the Civil Service and has since spent his time exploring the history and topography of his adopted town, Reading. He is interested in architecture and is an editor of Reading Civic Society's magazine.