About the BRF Collection
The Byzantine Research Fund Archive (BRF) is a unique collection of architectural drawings, photographs and notebooks created from the late 19th century to the middle of the 20th century by a small team of British architects trained in the Arts & Crafts tradition whose studies of Byzantium shaped the Byzantine Revival in later years.
The collection contains over 1,500 drawings and 1,000 photographs, numerous notebooks and the corporate records associated with the Byzantine Research and Publication Fund, the original body created in 1907 to support this work. Although the Fund was associated with the BSA from the time it was founded, it was not until 1937 that the BSA formerly took over the property and operation of it. The BRF Archive contains records of Byzantine monuments in Greece, Turkey, Italy, the Near East, Egypt, and Cyprus. In some cases, the collection contains the only record of a monument before its destruction in modern times, the most important example being the church of Hagios Demetrios in Thessalonike which was almost completely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1917 shortly after being recorded by one of the BRF architects, Walter Sykes George. It also contains personal records of the following architects; Robert Weir Schultz, Sidney Howard Barnsley, Walter Sykes George, William Harvey, Harold Swainson, Peter Gus Corbett, and A.H.S (Peter) Megaw. The aspirations of the BRF Archive Project today are to make these materials accessible to a wide range of researchers.
Marble revetment (narthex). The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Church of the Chora Constantinople - End of Narthex'. It is initialed (RWS) and dated in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Marble revetment (narthex). The drawing is entitled in pencil: 'Church of the Chora Constantinople - Detail of Marble Wall Lining to Narthex'. It is initialed (RWS) and dated in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Plan. This is a preliminary drawing. It is annotated in ink.The drawing is a copy.
Plan. This is a preliminary drawing. It is annotated in ink.The drawing is a copy.
West elevation - Details. This is a preliminary drawing. It is annotated in ink.The drawing is a copy.
Windows and Mouldings. This is a preliminary drawing. It is annotated in ink.The drawing is a copy.
Plan. This is a preliminary drawing. It is annotated in pencil.
Elevations. This is a preliminary drawing. It is annotated in pencil.
Longitudinal section (upper part) - Elevation (lower part). This is a preliminary drawing. It is annotated in pencil.
Cross section. This is a preliminary drawing. It is annotated in pencil.
Plan. The drawing is entitled in ink: 'S. John the Baptest of the Stoudion'. It is initaled (RT) and dated in ink in the lower right-hand corner. It is annotated in ink.
Longitudinal section. The drawing is entitled in ink: 'S. John of the Stoudion'. It is signed (W.S.George) in ink in the lower right-hand corner. It is annotated in ink.
Upper part by R. Traquair: Narthex elevation - Lower part by W. S. George: Longitudinal section (western part of nave), Half cross-section looking west. The drawing is entitled in ink: 'S. John of the Stoudion'. It is signed (R. Traquair and W.S. George) in ink. It is labelled in ink: 'Elevation of the Narthex' and ' Lognitudinal Section of Western Portion of Nave (restored) Half Cross Section Looking West (restored)'. It is annotated in ink.
Cross sections looking east (upper part) and west (lower part). The drawing is entitled in ink: 'S. John of the Stoudion'. It is signed (W.S. George) in ink in the lower right-hand corner. It is entitled in ink: 'Cross Section looking East' 'Cross Section looking West'. It is annotated in ink.
Elevation and section of suggested restoration. The drawing is labelled in ink: 'Suggetsed Restoration'. It is initialed and dated in ink (RT) in the lower right-hand corner. It is annotated in ink.
Plans and sections of architectural members (Details). The drawing is labelled in ink: 'Details of Narthex Colonnade The Doors and Windows'. It is annotated in ink.
Plans and sections of architectural members (details). The drawing is labelled in ink: 'S. John of the Studion Details of Doors From drawings by A.E. Henderson'. It is initialed and dated in ink (RT) in the lower right-hand corner. It is annotated in ink.
Prophet Zephaniah (katholikon, nave, dome). Further annotation survives at the back of the photograph.
Prophet Daniel (katholikon, nave, dome). Further annotation survives at the back of the photograph.
Prophet Habakuk (katholikon, nave, dome). Further annotation survives at the back of the photograph.
Prophet Malachi (katholikon, nave, dome). Further annotation survives at the back of the photograph.
Prophet Zachariah (katholikon, nave, dome). Further annotation survives at the back of the photograph.
Prophet Zachariah (katholikon, nave, dome). Further annotation survives at the back of the photograph.
Prophet Jeremiah (katholikon, nave, dome). Further annotation survives at the back of the photograph.
Prophet Jeremiah (katholikon, nave, dome). Further annotation survives at the back of the photograph.
South-east view. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View from north-west. This is a Hellenic Society photograph (H.S. no. 6279). It is initialed in pencil (F.W.H) on the reverse. Further annotation in pencil survives.
South-east view. This is a Hellenic Society photograph (H.S. no. 6276). It is initialed in pencil (F.W.H) on the reverse. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Close view of the dome. This is a Hellenic Society photograph (H.S. no. 6277). It is initialed in pencil (F.W.H) on the reverse. Further annotation in pencil survives.
North side. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
South side. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View from south-west. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
West façade. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Central vault over east end. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Piscina (?) in the main church. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Piscina (?) in the south chapel. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
West façade. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
South façade. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Window on south side (close view). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
North-west view. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
West façade - Door to first floor. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
East façade. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Interior view of the narthex. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Capital in the narthex. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View of the interior looking east. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
South-west view. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View from the east. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Interior view: the dome. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View from south-east. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
North façade. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.