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.
General view of the harbor and castle. This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is initialed (C.R.A. Howden) and numbered (H.S. 6162) in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
View in castle. This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is signed (W. Connal) and numbered (H.S. 7160) in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. J. Penoyre appears to be the donor of the photograph.
Coats of arms on the castle wall. This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is numbered (H.S. 4671) in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. Creator unknown.
Hierapolis. Caria. Outer gate with round tower This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is numbered (H.S. 3152) in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.See SPHS log book for more details
Hierapolis. Caria.The martyrium. This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is numbered (H.S. 3153) in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives which states it is a 'church' but does not identify it. See SPHS log entry for more detail.
The two central columns of the atrium. This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is number in pencil (6238). The photograph is annotated and signed (F.W.Hasluck) in pencil at the back.
General view of the town with forts. This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is numbered in pencil (H.S. 5799) at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
North-east view. This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is signed (F.W. Hasluck) and numbered in pencil (H.S. 2904) at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
South-west view. This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is signed (F.W. Hasluck) and numbered in pencil (H.S. 2902) at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
South-east view. This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is signed (F.W. Hasluck) and numbered in pencil (H.S. 2901) at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
South porch (detail). This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is signed (F.W. Hasluck) and numbered in pencil (H.S. 2903) at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
View of Church B? This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is signed (F.W. Hasluck) and numbered in pencil (H.S. 2905) at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Upper city walls (East side?). This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is signed (F.W. Hasluck) and numbered in pencil (H.S. 2909) at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Upper city walls (West side?) This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is signed (F.W. Hasluck) and numbered in pencil (H.S. 2910) at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
General view of the city showing the acropolis. This is a Hellenic Society photograph. It is signed (J.A.R. Munro) and numbered in pencil (H.S. 5800) at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives.
North side looking south-east. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/25/01 (BRFno. 02/03/01/36).
North side looking south-east. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/24/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/35).
Interior of the nave of the basilica looking east. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'BASILICA AT BETHLEHEM. LOOKING EAST. 1908'. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photos nos. 02/13/26/02 (BRFno 02/03/01/41) and 02/13/26/04 (BRFno 02/03/01/43).
View inside the Greek convent (the galleries). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
Interior of the nave of the basilica looking east. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/26/03 (BRFno 02/03/01/42) and 02/13/26/04 (BRFno 02/03/01/43).
Interior of the nave of the basilica looking east. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/26/02 (BRFno 02/03/01/41) and 02/13/26/03 (BRFno 02/03/01/42).
South aisle wall (the junction). See also photo no.02/13/24/01 (BRFno 02/03/01/32).
General (bird's eye) view of the Armenian convent. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'ARMENIAN CONVENT FROM GREEK TOWER. BETHLEHEM. 1908'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
View inside the Greek convent. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
Closer view inside the convent. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
Interior view of the north apse from the south. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'BASILICA. BETHLEHEM. N. APSE FROM S. APSE. 1908'. See also photos nos. 02/13/27/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/46) and 02/13/27/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/47).
Interior view of the north apse from the south. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/27/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/45) and 02/13/27/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/47).
Interior view of the north apse from the south. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/27/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/45) and 02/13/27/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/46).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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 02/13/20/02 (BRF no 02/03/01/017).
South wall of nave aisle. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/13/21/02 (BRF no 02/03/01/21)
South wall of nave aisle. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'S. SIDE OF NAVE OF BASILICA BETHLEHEM SHEWING OUTSIDE OF WALL + LINTOLS OF BLOCKED VP WINDOWS. 1908'. Further anotation in pencil survives. See also photo no. 02/13/21/01 (BRF no 02/03/01/20)
Upper part south apse and gable. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back.
Portion of south wall and apse (the junction). The photograph is partly inked. Probably it was used for the proofs of the book. See also photos nos. 02/13/22/01 (BRF no 02/03/01/024) and 02/13/22/02 (BRF no 02/03/01/025).
Portion of south wall and apse (the junction). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/13/21/04 (BRF no 02/03/01/23) and 02/13/22/02 (BRF no 02/03/01/025).
Portion of south wall and apse (the junction). The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'JUNCTION OF S. APSE WITH NAVE WALL. BETHLEHEM. 1908'. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photos nos. 02/13/21/04 (BRF no 02/03/01/23) and 02/13/22/01 (BRF no 02/03/01/024).