Joseph Berry was born in Lockwood, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England on 20 November 1860. He received his training as an architect in the office of John Henry Abbey, Borough Surveyor for Huddersfield. He commenced independent practice in Huddersfield in 1885 and became Borough Surveyor for Huddersfield.
By 1916 he was in partnership with his sons Joseph Norman Berry (1887-1940) and Thomas Wilfred Berry (1891-1925) in the firm Joseph Berry & Sons in Huddersfield. Joseph Berry was architect for the Colne and Holme Joint Hospital Committee, the Kirkburton Joint Hospital Committee, and the Huddersfield Industrial Society.
He was a Member of the Society of Architects (MSA) and was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1925. His address was given as Queen Street, Huddersfield in 1885; 62 Fenton Road, Lockwood, Huddersfield in 1901; 3 Market Place, Huddersfield in 1901 and 1926; 16 Knowles Road, St Annes-on-the-Sea, Lancashire in 1911; 1 Market Walk, Huddersfield in 1930 and 1936. He died at "Reedley", South Drive, St Annes-on-the-Sea, Lancashire on 4 July 1944
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Kirkburton Church Schools, 1924; Huddersfield Guardians' Children's Schools, 1924; Head Office and works for Jennens Welch and Co., Ltd., 1923; Union Bank of Manchester, Huddersfield, 1923; Lloyds Banks: Mirfield, 1923; Holmfirth, 1922; Marsden, 1921. Lepton U.D.C. Housing Scheme 1921; Colne Valley Tweed Co., Mill, Slaithwaite, 1922; Colne Vale Dye and Chemical Co., offices and warehouse, 1921; Abraham Roberts, brass foundry, 1921; Seth Senior and Sons, Ltd., Horse Shoe Hotel, 1923; Bentley and Shaw, Ltd., Swan with Two Necks Hotel, 1921; Bentloy's Yorkshire Breweries, Ltd., Wellington Hotel, 1922; residence, Edgerton, 1922; Huddersfield Industrial Society, Ltd., garage for 40 lorries, 1920; and various branch stores, 1920. Rippon Bros, motor showrooms and works; Huddersfield Industrial Society central premises; Colne and Holme Joint Isolation Hospital; Kirkburton Isolation Hospital; Holy Trinity Church Parish Hall; Longwood Wesleyan Church; J. E. Crowther, Bank Bottom Mills, Marsden; Crowther, Bruce and Co., Ltd., Mew Mills, Morsden; residence, Skelmanthorpe; Colder Farm Reformatory School; David Brown and Sons (Hd.). Ltd., Gear Cutting Works; Queen Hotel, Huddersfield.