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.
Interior view of the north apse from the south (closer view). The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'NORTH APSE OF BASILICA BETHLEHEM (FROM S. APSE). 1908'. See also photos nos 02/13/28/02 (BRFno 02/03/01/49) and 02/13/28/03 (BRFno 02/03/01/50).
Entrance to burial crypts. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back:' ENTRANCE TO BURIAL CRYPTS BETHLEHEM. 1908'.
South transept looking north-east. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
View of the burial crypts under the nave from inside one of them. The photogarph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no.02/13/29/02 (BRFno 02/03/01/053).
View of the burial crypts under the nave from inside one of them. The photogarph is annotated and dated in ink at the back:'SERIES OF BURIAL CRYPTS BETHLEHEM UNDER NAVE OF BASILICA. FLASHLIGHT FROM INSIDE LOOKING OUT. 1908'. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no.02/13/29/01 (BRFno 02/03/01/052).
View of the series of burial crypts (the vaults) looking east. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'BRANCH SERIES OF BURIAL CRYPTS. BETHLEHEM FLASHLIGHT - LOOKING EAST TO MAIN SERIES. 1909'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
View of south-east pier of crossing from south-east. The photograph is annotated in ink at the bottom: 'SE PIER OF CROSSING FROM S.E. BETHLEHEM'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/30/01 (BRF no. 02/03/01/056).
View of south-east pier of crossing from south-east. The photograph is annotated in ink at the bottom: 'SE PIER OF CROSSING FROM S.E. BETHLEHEM'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/29/04 (BRF no. 02/03/01/055).
Nave column (the capital). The photograph is annotated in ink at the bottom: 'CAPITAL OF COLUMN OF NAVE. BETHLEHEM'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/30/03 (BRF no. 02/03/01/058).
Nave column (the capital). The photograph is annotated in ink at the bottom: 'CAPITAL OF COLUMN OF NAVE. BETHLEHEM'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/30/02 (BRF no. 02/03/01/057).
Carved soffit of lintel under columns of nave. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
Carved wooden narthex doors to basilica. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'CARVED WOODEN DOORS FROM NARTHEX TO BASILICA BETHLEHEM. 1909'. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/14/04/01 (BRFno 02/03/01/088).
Carved wooden narthex doors to basilica. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'CARVED WOODEN DOORS FROM NARTHEX TO NAVE OF BASILICA OF THE NATIVITY BETHLEHEM. 1909'. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/14/03/04 (BRFno 02/03/01/087).
Northern doorway to grotto of the Nativity. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink a the back: 'NORTHERN ENTRANCE TO GROTTO OF THE NATIVITY IN BASILICA BETHLEHEM. 1908'. Further annotatiion in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/13/31/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/061).
Northern doorway to grotto of the Nativity. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/31/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/060).
Northern doorway to grotto of the Nativity (closer view). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/31/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/063).
Northern doorway to grotto of the Nativity (closer view). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/31/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/059).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 8th window. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/32/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/065) and 02/13/32/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/066)
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 8th window. The photograph is annotated in ink at the back: 'MOSAIC ON N. WALL OF NAVE. BETHLEHEM'. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photos nos. 02/13/32/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/064) and 02/13/32/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/066).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 8th window. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/32/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/064) and 02/13/32/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/065).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the windows. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/33/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/068) and 02/13/33/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/069).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the windows. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/32/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/067) and 02/13/33/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/069).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the windows. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'MOSAICS ON N. WALL BETHLEHEM. 1908'. See also photos nos. 02/13/32/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/067) and 02/13/33/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/068).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 9th window. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/33/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/071) and 02/13/34/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/072).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 9th window. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'MOSAICS ON N. WALL OF NAVE. BETHLEHEM. 1908'. See also photos nos. 02/13/33/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/070) and 02/13/34/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/072).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 9th window. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/33/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/070) and 02/13/33/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/071).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 10th window. The photograph is annotated and dated in pencil at the back: 'MOSAICS. BETHLEHEM (E. OF N. WALL OF NAVE) 1908'. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photos nos. 02/13/34/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/074) and 02/13/34/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/075).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 10th window. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/34/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/073) and 02/13/34/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/075).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 10th window. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/34/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/073) and 02/13/34/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/074).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 10th window. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/14/01/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/077) and 02/14/01/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/078).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 10th window. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'MOSAICS ON N. WALL OF NAVE BETHLEHEM. 1908'. See also photos nos. 02/14/01/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/076) and 02/14/01/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/078).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the 10th window. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/14/01/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/076) and 02/14/01/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/077).
View of the town from the tower of the Greek convent. The photograph is annotated in ink at the back: 'VIEW OF TOWN OF BETHLEHEM FROM STAIRS OF TOWER IN COURTYARD OF GREEK CONVENT. GARDEN + BUILDINGS OF ARMENIAN CONVENT IN FOREGR.' Further annotation in pencil survives.
Eastern apse of basilica between Greek and Latin buildings. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back: See also photo no. 02/13/17/01 (BRF 02/03/01/004).
General view of the town from the tower of the Greek convent. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back: 'View of the town from the Tower of the Greek Convent'.
General view of the church and monasteries. The eastern apse of the basilica between Greek and Latin buildings. The photograph is dated and annotated in ink at the back:: 'EASTERN APSE OF BASILICA BETWEEN GREEK (LEFT HAND) + LATIN BUILDINGS. 1908'. See also photo no. 02/13/16/04 (BRF no 02/03/01/002).
Close view of the eastern apse of the basilica between Greek and Latin buildings. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
West façade. The photograph is annotated in ink at the back:' BASILICA OF THE NATIVITY. BETHLEHEM. WEST FRONT'. See also photo no. 02/13/17/04 (BRF no. 02/03/01/007).
West façade. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/17/03 (BRF no. 02/03/01/006).
West façade. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
West gable and narthex parapet, portion of wall of the Armenian monastery from the Franciscan roof looking south. The photograph is dated and annotated in ink at the back: 'West gable + parapet of Narthex + part of wall of Armenian Monastery from Franciscan Roof looking south. 1907'.
Close view of upper west wall showing marks of beam holes. The photograph is initialed (W.H.) in pencil at the back. It is annotated in ink at the bottom:'NARTHEX ROOF + W GABLE OF CHURCH SHEWING MARKS OF OLD NEAM HOLES IN WALL'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/18/04 (BRF no. 02/03/01/11).
Close view of upper west wall showing marks of beam holes. The photograph is initialed (W.H.) in pencil at the back. It is annotated in ink at the bottom:'NARTHEX ROOF + W GABLE OF CHURCH SHEWING MARKS OF OLD NEAM HOLES IN WALL'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/18/03 (BRF no. 02/03/01/10).
Close view of upper west wall - Filled in holes for beams. The photograph is annotated in ink at the bottom: 'W. GABLE WALL BETHLEHEM. FILLED IN HOLES FOR BEAMS'.Further annotation in pencil survives at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/19/02 (BRF no 02/03/01/13).
Close view of upper west wall - Filled in holes for beams. The photograph is annotated in ink at the bottom: 'W. GABLE WALL BETHLEHEM. FILLED IN HOLES FOR BEAMS'.Further annotation in pencil survives at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/19/01 (BRF no 02/03/01/12).
Close view of wall showing present, crusading and original opening to the building. Parts of lintel and cornice at the top. The photograph is annotated in ink at the bottom: 'PROPORTIONS OF PRESENT, CRUSADING + ORIGINAL OPENINGS TO CHURCH. ANCIENT LINTEL ARCH + TRUSS OF CORNICE AT TOP OF PICTURE'. See also photo no. 02/13/19/04 (BRF no 02/03/01/15).
Close view of wall showing present, crusading and original opening to the building. Parts of lintel and cornice at the top. The photograph is annotated in ink at the bottom: 'PROPORTIONS OF PRESENT, CRUSADING + ORIGINAL OPENINGS TO CHURCH. ANCIENT LINTEL ARCH + TRUSS OF CORNICE AT TOP OF PICTURE'. It is initialed in pencil (W.H.) at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/19/03 (BRF no 02/03/01/14).
Detail of cornice. The photograph is annotated in ink at the bottom: 'CORNICE + TRUSS OF W. DOOR. WINDOW TO RIGHT OF PICTURE'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back.
South walls looking north-west. The Armenian convent. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/20/03 (BRF no 02/03/01/18) and 02/13/20/04 (BRF no 02/03/01/019).
South walls looking north-west. The Armenian convent. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'BASILICA BETHLEHEM. S. WALLS OF NAVE. ARMENIAN CONVENT + VILLAGE'. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photos nos. 02/13/20/02 (BRF no 02/03/01/17) and 02/13/20/04 (BRF no 02/03/01/019).