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.
Site plan. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Ground plan. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Gallery plan. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Dome plan. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Longitudinal section. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Longitudinal section with parts of the walling. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Transverse section looking east (top) - Transverse section looking west (bottom) with parts of the walling. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Transverse section looking east (top) - Transverse section looking west (bottom) with parts of the walling. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
East elevation (top) - Transverse section (bottom). This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
North elevation. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Ground plan. This is a preliminary drawing. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Gallery plan. This is a preliminary drawing. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Gallery plan. The drawing is entitled: 'Church of S. Sophia Thessalonica' No 2. It is labelled: 'A Plan of the Galleries'. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Dome plan. This is a preliminary drawing. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Ground plan. This is a preliminary drawing. It is entitled: 'Church of S. Sophia Thessalonica' No.1. It is labelled: 'A General Plan of the Church'. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Gallery plan. This is a preliminary drawing. It is entitled: 'Church of S. Sophia Thessalonica' No.2. It is labelled: 'A Plan of the Galleries'. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Dome plans - Chamber plan. This is a preliminary drawing. It is entitled: 'Church of S. Sophia Thessalonica' No.3. It is labelled: 'Plan through Windows of Dome', 'Plan through Drum of Dome', 'Plan of Chambers at Sides of Erect Arches under Dome'. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Longitudinal section. This is a preliminary drawing. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Longitudinal section. This is a preliminary drawing. It is entitled: 'Church of S. Sophia Thessalonica' No.4. It is labelled: 'Longitudinal Section Looking North-East'. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Longitudinal section. This is a preliminary drawing. It is entitled: 'Church of S. Sophia Thessalonica' No.7. It is labelled: 'Longitudinal Section Through North Aisle'. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
East elevation (top) - Transverse section (bottom). This is a preliminary drawing. It is entitled:'Church of S. Sophia Thessalonica', No 6. It is labelled:'South-East Elevation', 'Cross Section Looking South-East'. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
North-east elevation. This is a preliminary drawing. It is entitled:'Church of S. Sophia Thessalonica', No 8. It is labelled:'North-East Elevation'. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Ground plan showing Turkish work. The drawing is entitled:'Church of Saint Sophia Thessalonica', No1. 'The Plan'. Further annotation in ink survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Gallery plan. The drawing is entitled:'Church of Saint Sophia Thessalonica', No 2. 'Plan of Galleries'. Further annotation in ink survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Dome Plan. The drawing is entitled:'Church of Saint Sophia Thessalonica', No 3. 'Half Plan Through Dome' - 'Half Plan Under Dome'. Further annotation in ink survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Longitudinal section. The drawing is entitled:'Church of Saint Sophia Thessalonica', No 5. it is labelled: 'Longitudinal Section'. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Transverse section with walling. The drawing is entitled:'Church of Saint Sophia Thessalonica', No 6. It is labelled: 'Section Through North Aisle'. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Cross section through narthex with walling (top) - Cross section looking west (bottom). The drawing is entitled:'Church of Saint Sophia Thessalonica', No 8. ' It is labelled: 'Section through Narthex' - 'Cross Section looking West'. Further annotation in pencil and ink survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
East elevation (top) - Transverse section (bottom). The drawing is entitled:'Church of Saint Sophia Thessalonica', No 7. ' It is labelled: 'East End' - 'Cross Section Looking East'. Further annotation in ink survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
North elevation. The drawing is entitled:'Church of Saint Sophia Thessalonica', No 4. ' It is labelled: 'North Side'. Further annotation in ink survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Marble column with wind-blown capital (ground floor level). This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Ground church - right side: Series of columns. This is a print from A. Zachos' drawing. It is annotated in pencil. Copyright through Zachos.
Ground church - right side: Series of columns. This is a print from A. Zachos' drawing. It is annotated in pencil. Copyright through Zachos.
West gallery, tympanum arcade, central south column(?): Ionic impost capital. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
The ambo (pulpit)- Plan, section, side and front elevation. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Marble closure slabs. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Marble closure slabs. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Marble closure slabs This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Cornice mouldings - Sections of capitals. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives. W.S. George (1906-1915/1907-1909?) has contributed to the drawings of this church.
Part of mosaic frieze. The mosaic decoration in the dome is dated to the late 9th c. This is a preliminary drawing. Further annotation in pencil survives.
East elevation. This is a preliminary drawing. It is signed ('W. Harvey' ) in pencil in the lower right-hand corner. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Ground plan. This is a preliminary drawing. It forms part of a series: No 2 is inscribed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is entitled in pencil: 'Ike Scherefee, Plan of Present Mosque'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Plan of the crypt. This is a preliminary drawing. It forms part of a series: No 3 is inscribed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is entitled in pencil: 'Ike Scherefee, Plan of the Lower Church'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Longitudinal section looking north. This is a preliminary drawing. It forms part of a series: No 4 is inscribed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is entitled in pencil: 'Ike Scherefee, Section Looking North'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Transverse section looking west. This is a preliminary drawing. It forms part of a series: No 5 is inscribed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is entitled in pencil: 'Ike Scherefee, Cross Section Looking West'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Transverse section looking east. This is a preliminary drawing. It forms part of a series: No 6 is inscribed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is entitled in pencil: 'Ike Scherefee, Cross Section Looking East'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
East elevation. This is a preliminary drawing. It forms part of a series: No 7 is inscribed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is entitled in pencil: 'Ike Scherefee, East Elevation'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Ground plan (top) - Plan of the crypt (bottom). This is a preminary drawing. It forms part of a series: No 1 is inscribed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is entitled: 'Church of the Archangels Thessalonica'. It is labelled: 'Plan of the Church' and 'A Plan of the Crypt'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
Longitudinal section looking north (top) - Transverse section looking west (bottom). This is a preminary drawing. It forms part of a series: No 2 is inscribed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is entitled: 'Church of the Archangels Thessalonica'. It is labelled: 'Longitudinal Section Through Church & Crypt Looking North' and 'Cross Section Through Church & Crypt Looking West'. Further annotation in pencil survives.
East elevation (top) - Transverse section looking east (bottom). This is a preminary drawing. It forms part of a series: No 3 is inscribed in pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is entitled: 'Church of the Archangels Thessalonica'. It is labelled: 'East Elevation' and 'Cross Section Through Bema Crypt Etc. Looking East'. Further annotation in pencil survives.