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.
Nave (south of south door) - Built in ciborium. The photograph is initialed: 'W.S.G.' in ink at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Nave (south of south door) - Built in ciborium. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Ciborium now at the Byzantine Museum, Athens. This is a postcard. It is labelled in ink (at the back) in French. Creator unknown.
North inner aisle mosaics (spandrels B+C). The photograph is labelled in white ink: 'S. Demetrius'. It is initialed: 'W.H.' in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/08/02/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/202).
North inner aisle mosaics (spandrels B+C). The photograph is initialed: 'W.H.' in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/08/02/02 (BRF no. 02/01/07/201).
North inner aisle mosaics (spandrels D+E). The photograph is initialed: 'W.H.' in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/08/06/01 (BRF no. 02/01/07/204).
North inner aisle mosaics (spandrels D+E).. The photograph is labelled in white ink: 'S. Demetrius'. It is initialed: 'W.H.' in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/08/04/04 (BRF no. 02/01/07/203).
North inner aisle mosaics (spandrels E+F). The photograph is initialed: 'W.H.' in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/08/06/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/206).
North inner aisle mosaics (spandrels E+F). The photograph is labelled in white ink: 'S. Demetrius'. It is initialed: 'W.H.' in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/08/06/02 (BRF no. 02/01/07/205).
North inner aisle mosaics (spandrels F+G). The photograph is initialed: 'W.H.' in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/08/07/01 (BRF no. 02/01/07/208).
North inner aisle mosaics (spandrels F+G). The photograph is initialed: 'W.H.' in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/08/06/04 (BRF no. 02/01/07/207).
North inner aisle mosaics (spandrels H). The photograph is labelled in white ink: 'S. Demetrius'. It is initialed: 'W.H.' in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/08/07/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/210).
North inner aisle mosaics (spandrels H). The photograph is initialed: 'W.H.' in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/08/07/02 (BRF no. 02/01/07/209).
North inner aisle (column three) - close view of mosaic decoration (the Virgin and Child Enthroned, Angles, Saints, Donors). The photograph is signed in pencil at the back: 'W.S.George'. Further annotation in pencil survives. Approximate date of photo 1909
North inner aisle (column five) - Close view of mosaic decoration (the Virgin flanked by Angles, Hagios Demetrios with Clerics, Donors and a Dedicatory Inscription). The photograph is signed in pencil at the back: 'W.S.George'. Further annotation in pencil survives. Approximate date of photo: 1909
North inner aisle (column seven) - Close view of mosaic decoration (Hagios Demetiros with Donors). The photograph is signed in pencil at the back: 'W.S.George'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
North inner aisle - Close view of mosaic decoration (Hagios Demetiros). The photograph is signed in pencil at the back: 'W.S.George'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
South pier of sanctuary - Hagios Sergios. The photograph is signed in pencil at the back: 'W.S.George'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
North pier of sanctuary - Hagios Demetrios with Children. The photograph is signed in pencil at the back: 'W.S.George'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
South pier of sanctuary - Hagios Demetrios with Donors, Dedicatory inscription. The photograph is signed in pencil at the back: 'W.S.George'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
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.
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.