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.
North transept - North wall, east end (view from the interior) Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Copyright through Soteriou.
Interior view of the nave looking west. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Interior view of the nave looking east. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
North side under construction: exterior view. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Creator unknown.
South nave arcade from the south (interior view). This is a commercial photograph. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Pit at east end of north aisle arcade. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Pit at east end of north aisle arcade. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Trench in south-east arcade. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Mosaic pavement (inner south aisle). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Mosaic pavement (inner north aisle). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
East trench (east-west wall). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
East trench (east-west wall, detail). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
East trench (east-west wall, detail). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
East trench (north section-south wall outside crypt?). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Impost block loose in east trench. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
East trench outside apse (threshold in north-south wall?). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
East trench outside apse (threshold in north-south wall?). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
View from south-east. The photograph is labelled in white 'Iki Scherefee'. It is initialed in pencil in the lower right-hand corner 'W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/11/02 (BRF no. 02/01/07/266).
View from south-east. The photograph is initialed in pencil in the lower right-hand corner 'W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/11/01 (BRF no. 02/01/07/265).
View from north-east. The photograph is initialed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner 'W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/11/04 (BRF no. 02/01/07/268) and 02/11/12/01 (BRF no 02/01/07/269).
View from north-east. The photograph is initialed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner 'W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/11/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/267) and 02/11/12/01 (BRF no 02/01/07/269).
View from north-east. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/11/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/267) and 02/11/12/04 (BRF no 02/01/07/268).
View from north-east (upper part of the church). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/11/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/271).
View from north-east (upper part of the church). Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/11/02 (BRF no. 02/01/07/270).
View from the east. The photograph is labelled in white 'Iki Scherefee'. It is initialed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner 'W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/13/021 (BRF no. 02/01/07/273) and 02/11/13/02 (BRF no 02/01/07/274).
View from the east. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/12/04 (BRF no. 02/01/07/272) and 02/11/13/02 (BRF no 02/01/07/274).
View from the east. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives at the back of the photograph. See also photos nos.: 02/11/12/04 (BRF no. 02/01/09/272) and 02/11/13/01 (BRF no 02/01/07/273).
View from the west. The photograph is labelled in white ink: 'Tchaoush Monastir'. It is initialed ('W.H') in the upper right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/13/04 (BRF no. 02/01/07/276).
View from the west. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/13/03 (BRF no. 02/01/07/275)
Dome - The Pantokrator. This is a post-byzanine painting. The photograph is initialed: 'W.H' in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives at the back. See also photo no.: 02/11/14/02 (BRF no. 02/01/07/278)
Dome - The Pantokrator. This is a post-byzanine painting. The photograph is labelled in white ink: 'Tchaoush Monastir'. It is initialed ('W.H') in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. See also photo no.: 02/11/14/01 (BRF no. 02/01/07/277).
Modern (?) iconostasis. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives at the back of the photograph.
East walls and angle tower. The photograph is initialed in pencil: 'F.W.H.'. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back.
Genaral view of the walls and the towers from the east. This is a commercial photograph. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Angle tower on the acropolis. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph. Commercial photograph possibly purchased by W.S. George
Lefkos Pyrgos (The White Tower), the landmark of the City of Thessalonike, was built in the 15th c. as a defence tower next to the coastline. For many years it served as a prison and/or a guardhouse. Currenty, it hosts a collection of Byzantine/post-Byzantine artefacts, mainly icons. This is a commercial photograph. Further annotation in pencil survives at the back of the photograph.
Part I of a 3 part panoramic view of the city from the minaret of Hagia Sophia. The photograph is initialed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner (SHB). It is stamped (Copyright Robert W.S. Weir & The Byzantine Research & Publication Fund). It is annotated in pencil in the upper left-hand corner (Salonika (W) from S. Sophia). The photograph has been removed from the BSA Study Collection.
Part II of a 3 part panoramic view of the city from the minaret of Hagia Sophia. The photograph is initialed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner (SHB). It is stamped (Copyright Robert W.S. Weir & The Byzantine Research & Publication Fund). It is annotated in pencil in the upper left-hand corner (Salonika (Centre) from S. Sophia). The photograph has been removed from the BSA Study Collection.
Part III of 3 part panoramic view of the city from the minaret of Hagia Sophia. The photograph is initialed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner (SHB). It is stamped (Copyright Robert W.S. Weir & The Byzantine Research & Publication Fund). It is annotated in pencil in the upper left-hand corner (Salonika (East) from S. Sophia). The photograph has been removed from the BSA Study Collection.
View of the church from the west. Further annotation in pencil survives on the back of the photograph.
View of the church from the west. Further annotation in pencil survives on the back of the photograph. See also photo no. BRF. 02/01/09/003.
View of the church from the west. Further annotation in pencil survives on the back of the photograph. See also photo no. BRF. 02/01/09/002.
View of the church from the south-west. Further annotation in pencil survives on the back of the photograph. See also photo no. BRF 02/01/09/005.
View of the church from the south-west. Further annotation in pencil survives on the back of the photograph. See also photo no. BRF 02/01/09/004.
Distant view of the church from the south-west. Further annotation in pencil survives on the back of the photograph.
View of the church from the north-east. Further annotation in pencil survives on the back of the photograph.
View of the church from the south-east. Further annotation in pencil survives on the back of the photograph.
Detail of the east façade of the church. Further annotation in pencil survives on the back of the photograph. See also photo no. BRF. 02/01/09/010.
Detail of the east façade of the church. Further annotation in pencil survives on the back of the photograph. See also photo no. BRF. 02/01/09/009.