History in Stone and Ivy

If you were to place me outside a medieval church in England (and a few other places in Europe), I could quite happily point out which bits come from which century, the names of the different styles, why that wall ends there, how that porch was added much later but happens to use at least one block of Roman origin. I could wax lyrical about the arches, the windows, any columns inside, the font, rood screen, or flooring, until you’d either glaze over entirely, or perhaps begin to realise these buildings all contain diagnostic hints and clues to a tantalising past and piecing together the puzzles is rather fun.