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 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).
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.
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 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).
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 transept looking north-east. 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).
Interior view of the north apse from the south (closer view). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos 02/13/28/01 (BRFno 02/03/01/48) and 02/13/28/03 (BRFno 02/03/01/51).
Entrance to burial crypts. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back:' ENTRANCE TO BURIAL CRYPTS BETHLEHEM. 1908'.
Interior view of the north apse from the south (closer view). The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos 02/13/28/01 (BRFno 02/03/01/48) and 02/13/28/02 (BRFno 02/03/01/49).
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.
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).
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. 02/14/02/01(BRFno. 02/03/01/080) and 02/14/02/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/081).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the windows. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/14/01/04(BRFno. 02/03/01/079) and 02/14/02/02 (BRFno. 02/03/01/081).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the windows. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photos nos. 02/14/02/01(BRFno. 02/03/01/080) and 02/14/01/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/079).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the windows. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/14/02/04 (BRFno. 02/03/01/083).
North wall of nave: Mosaics by the windows. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. See also photo no. 02/14/02/03 (BRFno. 02/03/01/082).
Furniture (old reading desk) and Metalwork (candelsticks) in the church. The photograph is annotated and dated in ink at the back: 'OLD READING DESK + CANDLESTICKS BETHLEHEM. 1908'. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photos nos. 02/14/03/02 (BRFno.02/03/01/085) and 02/14/03/03 (BRFno 02/03/01/086).
Furniture (old reading desk) and Metalwork (candelsticks) in the church. The photograph is annotated in pencil at the back. Further annotation in pencil survives. See also photos nos. 02/14/03/01 (BRFno.02/03/01/084) and 02/14/03/03 (BRFno 02/03/01/086).