The portico was a defining feature of the Classical architectural revival of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century in Britain, but has been rarely studied in its own right. In this well illustrated volume Richard Riddell first provides a definition for the portico, then explores its symbolism and significance. He selects representative examples of different portico types, relating them to stylistic developments and influential models. The work also addresses and interprets the different civic, ecclesiastical, commercial and domestic contexts in which the portico is to be found.