Commissioned by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which manages Harvard House, Stratford-upon-Avon, home of the British Pewter Collection, this guide traces the history of the English pewter from Romano-British times through the medieval period and later centuries to productions in the 20th century.

Chapters detail production of pewter in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, with further notes on Channel Island pewter and the pewter of Stratford-upon-Avon. Later chapters offer advice on the collection of pewter with illustrations of pewter marks. The final sections include a list of leading collections in the UK where pewter may be viewed.