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 of upper gallery colonnade. The drawing has been framed for the 1985 exhibition. This is a preliminary drawing. It is initialed in pencil (W.S.G.) in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Marble linings to arch soffits. The drawing has been framed for the 1985 exhibition. This is a preliminary drawing. It is initialed in pencil (W.S.G.) in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Katholikon - Inscription in two halves beside the main door between narthex and naos. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Katholikon - Inscription on the inside of the west wall of the church. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Katholikon - Two post-Byzantine inscriptions in the south wall of the church (left) and over the entrance from the prothesis into the bema (right). Further annotation in pencil survives.
Katholikon - post-Byzantine inscription over the entrance from the prothesis into the bema. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Katholikon - post-Byzantine inscription in the south wall of the church. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Marble pavement. The drawing is entitled in ink:'Monasatery of St Luke of Stiris Phocis', 'Plan of Marble Pavement in Small Church'.
Marble pavement (detail). The drawing is entitled in ink:'Monastery of St Luke of Stiris Phocis', 'Detail of Central Portion of Pavement in Small Church'.
South side (detail). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
North side. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View from the north-east. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View of the interior. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View of the interior from the gallery. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View of the interior. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Central chapel: Piscina. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Central church: Column outside west end. The capital in the nave have been reused from an early-Byzantine basilica and date to the 5th century. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
North pier mosaic - The Virgin and Hagios Theodoros. The photograph is signed in pencil at the back: 'W.S.George'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
South pier - Head of Hagios Demetrios (close view). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
North pier- Head of the Virgin (close view). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Restoration works (west end). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
West door. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Restoration works (south wall, east end). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
South door of south transept (view from south-west). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
North wall: view from the interior. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Vaults outside the north wall. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
North side under construction: exterior view. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Creator unknown.
East façade (north part). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
East façade: The apse. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Restoration works: View of the interior of the nave (west end). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Restoration works: View of the south transept from the south. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
South wall: View from the interior (east to west). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
North wall: View from the interior. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
North wall: View from the interior (detail). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
South wall: View from the interior (detail). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
East bay - South nave arcade. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Restoration works: East end, View from the interior (close view of the east apse). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Restoration works: South transept (interior view from the west). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Restoration works: South transept (interior view - south wall). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Restoration works: Vault of the crypt under south part of the south transept. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
North aisle arcade - Remains of the earlier wall. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
North aisle arcade - The foundations looking west (the earlier wall). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Restoration works: North transept. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
North transept - The apse next to the holy bema. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Restoration works: North transept from the west?. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Restoration works: North transept from the west. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
North transept - East wall, north part (view from the interior). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
North transept - East wall, south part, the window, (view from the interior). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
North transept - North wall, east end (view from the interior) Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
South nave arcade from the south (interior view). This is a commercial photograph. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.