This is a preliminary list of the online sources consulted in compiling the AHRnet Biographical Dictionary of British and Irish Architects 1800 - 1950.
Art History Research net (AHRnet)
Art History Research net (AHRnet) is a subscription-based art and architectural history research service consisting of five related and linked databases:
ReView - Contains the full text of a wide range of International Art and Architecture journals published between the 1860s and the 1930s
Arts + Architecture Profiles - Contains biographical data on nearly 45,000 artists, architects, designers and craftspeople
Design Abstracts Retrospective - Contains abstracts of articles and an index of images in design journals published between 1900-1986
Research Sources: 1: British & Irish Architecture and Decorative and Applied Arts 1850s to the 1930s - This is an ongoing project to digitize every book, exhibition catalogue, pamphlet and conference paper, as well as much of the journal literature published in Britain and Ireland during the late nineteenth century and early years of the twentieth century
Research Sources: 2. The Poster - Contains extensive research data on the history of the Poster
For further information about AHRnet see here
Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940
The Dictionary of Irish Architects contains biographical and bibliographical information on architects, builders and craftsmen and craftswomen born or working in Ireland during the period 1720 to 1940, and information on the buildings on which they worked.
Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660 - 1980
The Dictionary of Scottish Architects (DSA) is a database providing biographical information and job lists for all architects known to have worked in Scotland during the period 1660-1980, whether as principals, assistants or apprentices.
The resource is searchable by name or location of architect, practice, or building, as well as by client. Architects based in Scotland have their known works fully catalogued; but only the Scottish works of English and Irish architects have been included.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (DNB)
The DNB currently [2022] contains over 60,000 biographies of significant, influential or notorious figures who shaped British history, of whom over 800 are identified as as an Archiitect. In addition to a signed profile of the individual, the entry also includes a bibliography and a list of relevant archives. [Note: this is a subscription-based service]
Dictionary of Irish Biography (DIB)
The DIB currently [2022] contains over 11,000 biographies of significant individuals who shaped Irish history, of whom over 141 are identified as as an Archiitect active between 1700 and 1950. In addition to a signed profile of the individual, the entry also includes a list of additional sources of information. For further information about the DIB see here
Dictionary of Ulster Biography
The Dictionary of Ulster Biography is the online successor to the 1993 print edition, compiled by Kate Newmann and published in 1993 by the Institute of Irish Studies of the Queens University of Belfast. It currently [2022] contains profiles of 24 who were born or worked in Northern Ireland (Ulster).
Lesser Known British Architects
The purpose of this resource is to document the work of architects who have contributed significantly to the built environment, but who are not particularly well-known by those who are not architectural historians.
The emphasis is on buildings in urban areas, most especially, for the moment, in the London area and occasionally beyond, and on those buildings to which members of the public, for whatever reason, may gain access. Private dwellings are for the most part excluded but may be listed as part of an architect's list of works.
It is unclear who compiles this informative website. So far only 36 names are included
archiseek [British and Irish Architects and Architecture]
archiseek is a major new architectural history website based in Ireland. It contains a wealth of images of nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings gleaned from contemporary architecture journals, e.g. The Builder and Building. Each entry gives the name of the building, the architect, the location, when built, and the source of the image. The site can be searched by the name of the bulding, the location and by the architect and architectural practice. It also includes profiles of many of the architects. As an example see Charles Francis Annesley Voysey (1857-1941)
Wikipedia - List of British Architects
A list of British architects for which there are entries on Wikipedia
Wikipedia - List of British Architectural Firms
A list of British architectual firms for which there are entries on Wikipedia
Victorian Web - Victorian Architecture
The Victorian Web is an ongoing project conceived by George P. Landow, Professor of English and Art [now Professor Emeritus] at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island in 1987 to document the social, political, economic, scientific and culural life of Britain and Ireland in the nineteenth century. The site incorporates primary and secondary texts (including book reviews). One of the main fields covered by the Victorian Web is architecture and the site currently [2022] contains data on over 230 architects. As of 23 December 2020, the Victorian Web contained 115,611 documents and images. This includes numerous signed articles and original photographs. For further information about the Victorian Web see Here.
The Twentieth Century Society (C20)
The Twentieth Century Society (C20) was founded in 1979 as a direct response to growing interest in twentieth century architecture and to complement the preservation work of the Victorian Society, which was founded in 1959. The C20 has campaigned to save many outstanding buildings that have shaped the the built environment in Britain since 1914. In doing so the Society it has documented and chronicled the lives and careers of numerous architects through its lectures and conferences, its various publications, and its website.
The Society has also produces two important databases: C20 Churches and War Memorials. For further infomation about these databases see below
C20 Churches
The C20 Churches database was created in 2104 with the aim of documenting the rich heritage twentieth century church architecture in Britain. The database is based on the Gazetteer of Places of Christian Worship 1914-1990, compiled by a team led by Elain Harwood and Andy Foster, which was published in C20 Journal 3, The Twentieth Century Church in 1998. The database can be searched by Church name; Town or city; Architect; Date of Completion.
Twentieth-Century Roman Catholic Church Architecture in England. A Characterisation Study
Prepared for English Heritage by The Architectural History Practice Limited in July 2014 as part of the National Heritage Protection Plan (NHPP). The report focuses exclusively on buildings used as parish churches; churches and chapels attached to convents and monasteries, school, army and other institutional buildings are not included, but have been referred to where relevant. The project relates to England only, although the influence of designs and architects from other parts of the United Kingdom, theContinent or further afield are also referred to where relevant.
The report contains a 44-page gazetteer arranged alphabetically by architect and architectural practice. Each entry lists the name and address of churches by them and the date of completion
War Memorials
During the 1920s and 1930s, following World War One, the design of memorials formed a significant part of the work of a number of important British architects. This C20 database records the war memorials designed by architects in France, Belgium and Italy. It can be searched by building name and by architect.
To trace war memorial throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland see:
War Memorials Online
Compiled by the War Memorials Trust, the database can searched by keyword, including by the name of the architect, and by location. A search for war memorial by Edwin Lutyens identified 40 memorials designed by him, see Here The location of the memorials are given on a map. For a photograph and description of the memorial click on the location icon.
British Post Office Buildings and Their Architects : an Illustrated Guide
This resource is primarily concerned with documenting the purpose-built urban British post office building. Facilities provided for post office services in rural areas are excluded as these are for the most part adaptations of existing premises. Included, however, are conversions into post offices from buildings in urban areas originally erected for other purposes, and also commercial premises that have been altered for post office use where it is considered that there has been a significant design input [Introduction]
Click Menu for an alphabetical list of the architects and the buildings they designed
Artist Biographies. British and Irish Artists of the 20th Century
Artist Biographies (AB) is a subscription-based database produced by the art historian Geoff Hassell. It currently [2022] contains nearly 20,000 concise profiles of British and Irish artists active in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The focus of the database is fine art, however, it also includes many artists who also worked as architects. 235 artists who were members of the Royal Institute of British Architects are listed in the current issue of AB. For further information about AB see here
UK Modern House Index
UK Modern House Index is a database of British houses of architectural interest from the 1920s to the present. It is a work in progress of gathering information from architectural books and magazines, web sites, estate agents' particulars and other sources combined with on the spot photography. The main theme of the database is the rise of the modern style of architecture in Britain reflecting the contributors' common interest in modern architecture.
The database currently [2022] contains details of over 16,400 buildings by more than 6,200 architects
[Architecture - London] Modernism in Metro-land - The Architects
Modernism in Metro-land contains a wealth of information on Modernist architecture built in and around London from the 1920s to the 1960s. The site currently [2022] contains profiles of nearly 30 architects and architectural practices, with and hundreds of high-quality images of buildings, giving the their date of construction and the names of the architect. For further information about this site see Here.
Architects of Greater Manchester 1800 - 1940
Created under the auspices of the Manchester Group of the Victorian Society, Architects of Greater Manchester 1800 - 1940 contains biographical information and details of commissions awarded for all architects known to have been born, trained, lived, or worked in the Greater Manchester area between 1800 and 1940.
The resource is searchable by name or location of architect, practice, or building.
An Index of Architects, Engineers, Surveyors, Builders Working in Wales
It is not known who compiles this informative database which was last updated in 2009. It includes alphabetically-arranged biographical information on about 1,000 architects who were either born or worked Wales, with a list of their commissions in Wales.
Somerset Architects Index
It is not known who compiled this informative website which contains alphabetically-arranged biographical data on several hundred architects with details of their projercts in Somerset.
Wiltshire Architects
It is not known who compiled this informative website which contains alphabetically-arranged biographical data on several hundred architects with details of their projercts in Wiltshire.
[Birmingham Architects] A Tour of Lost Birmingham
Contains brief biographical data on eighteenth and early nineteenth century architects associated with Birmingham with details of some of their architectural projects in the city.
Brighton and Hove Architects, Designers and Builders
Contains brief biographical data on architects, builders, designers, sculptors, decorators, manufacturers and companies that have contributed to the building(s) of Brighton and Hove in Sussex, with details of their projects in the area.
Huddersfield Exposed [Huddersfield Architects]
Currently [2023] contains biographies of 24 architects active in Huddersfield, Yorkshire in the nineteenth century and early years of the twentieth century, with details of their commissions in the city.
[Durham Architects]
An extract from Durham at the Opening of the Twentieth Century : Contemporary Biographies by James Jamieson (Brighton: W. T. Pike & Co., 1906). Contains concise profiles of 13 contemporary architects active in the Durham area.
[Newcastle upon Tyne Architects]
A PDF of Johnson, Michael Andrew. Architectural Taste and Patronage in Newcastle upon Tyne 1870-1914. Ph.D. thesis, University of Northumbria, Newcastle, 2008
The Appendix (pp.460-613 of the PDF) contains detailed profiles of approximately 100 architects and architectural practices active in the Newcastle upon Tyne area between 1870 and 1914 with lists of their works in the city and a bibliographies.
Nottinghamshire History [Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Architects]
An extract from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire at the Opening of the Twentieth Century. Edited by W. T. Pike (Brighton: W. T. Pike & Co., 1901). Contains concise profiles of 13 contemporary architects active Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
[Suffolk Architects] Suffolk Artists
Suffolk Artists is a thoroughly-researched database on artists who have lived or worked in Suffolk. It currently contains over 4,500 entries [2022], including approximately 300 entries on architects. For further information about this database see Here.
Sussex Parish Churches - Architects and Artists
Compiled by John Allen, the website aims to provide a study of the architectural development of each Anglican parish church and as many subsidiary chapels as possible in Sussex. It includes biographical data on several hundred architects and artists who have contributed to the design of churches in the county of Sussex
Wikipedia - List of Oxford Architects
Includes architects and architectural practices that have designed buildings in Oxford
Wikipedia - List of Women Architects [United Kingdom]
Currently [2022] includes 52 entries on British women architects [listed under United Kingdom
Wikipedia - List of Women Architects [Ireland]
Currently [2022] includes 8 entries on Irish women architects
RIBA Collections Research Guide: Women in Architecture
The guide signposts just some of the material relating to the hundreds of women represented in The library and collections of the Royal Institute of British Architects, focusing on those who were among the first to enter the profession in the UK, as well as historic networks and campaigns that aimed to redress the underrepresentation of women architects.
An Index to The Builder (London) and to The Building News (London)
This database is a new tool enabling researchers to find published descriptions and illustrations of buildings appearing in weekly editions of two important British architectural periodicals published during the period from 1842 to 1914. This website is an ongoing project that will continue to develop over the coming weeks and months, with new material being added daily. To date, nearly 4,000 citations to buildings have been posted. The database can be searched by the name of architect; building or building type; city, town or village; client; and by country
Historic Environment Scotland | Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba
Historic Environment Scotland / Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba was set up to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment. The site can be searched by the the name of an architect which will then give a list of Listed Buildings and gardens and designed landscapes on which the architect worked, with its designated status. As an example see the entry on Robert Lorimer
Historic England
Historic England (officially the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is tasked with protecting the historic environment of England by preserving and listing historic buildings, scheduling ancient monuments, registering historic Parks and Gardens and by advising central and local government.
The site can be searched by the name of an architect. It is best to use quotation marks to spacify a name. e.g. "Alfred Waterhouse". Unfortunatly, there is no standard used in listing names and so this architect might be listed as A. Waterhouse.
British Listed Buildings
British Listed Buildings is an online database of buildings and structures that are listed as being of special architectural and historic interest. There are 3 steps in searchingeast Step 1: Type name of architect in the search box here (as an example use "Alfred Waterhouse") and click Go. Step 2: click the Google Search button at the bottom of this screen. Step 3: click on the name of the individual building
Kalendar of the Royal Institute of British Architects [title varies]. London: Institute of British Architects [from 1837 Royal Institute of British Architects], 1834-1966
Issued annually, the Kalendar indispensable source for research into the history of British architecture and on the careers of individual architects. Architects are listed alphabetically according to their professional qualifications - Fellows and Retired Fellows; Associates and Retired Associates; Licentiates and Retired Licentiates; and Student members - with their full name, address, practices with which they were associated, and when they were elected. The Kalendar also includes details of architectural societies in Britain and abroad, and architectural awards, prizes and studentships, with lists of the recipients.
The following volumes are available on the Internet Archive:
1904-05 1905-06 1906-07 1907-08 [Most of the digitized text is unreadable. It is available print on demand from SN Books World, Delhi] 1908--09 1909-10 1910-11 1911-12 1912-13 1913-14 1914-15 1915-16 1919-20 1920-21 1922-23 1923-24 1924-25 1926-27 1927-28 1928-29 1929-30 1930-31 1931-32 1932-33 1933-34 1934-35 1935-36 1936-37 Other volumes from the late nineteenth century have also been reprinted by SN Books World.
Royal Institute of British Architects Image Library - RIBApix
RIBApix currently [2022] contains nearly 118,000 images. This represents only a small fraction of the holdings of the RIBA Collections A sample search for images of works by the British architect Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905) found 408 images.
Country Life Picture Library
Contains thousands of images that have appeared in the magazine Country Life from 1897 to the present day. A search for images of works by the architect Edwin Landseer Lutyens (1869-1944) found 1,275 entries.
The National Archives (United Kingdom)
The National Archives at Kew in the London borough of Richmond is the official archive and publisher for the UK government and for England and Wales. It is the guardian of some of the country's most iconic national documents, dating back over 1,000 years. It holds nearly 107,000 architectural files. To refine a search of this these records, click Here There are separate national archives for Scotland (the National Records of Scotland) and Northern Ireland (the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland).
Researching Historic Buildings in the British Isles
Compiled by the building historian Jean Manco. A very informative resource for researching the history of British and Irish buildings. It includes sections on archives; local studies libraries; museums and art galleries; local record offices; university and institute libraries; National repositories in England holding material on British buildings; national repositories in Ireland; national repositories in Scotland; national repositories in Wales; repositories in North America; primary sources; researching the history of the Church in the British Isles; dictionaries of architects, engineers and sculptors; and online catalogues and databases of collections relating to specific architects
See also Kamen, Ruth H. British and Irish Architectural History: a bibliography and guide to sources of information. London: The Architectural Press; New York: Nichols Publishing Co., 1981 [Print Sources]
National Trust Bibliography. Revised 2nd edition, May 2011
A 219-page bibliography of books, articles and reports on properties owned by the National Trust. The Bibliography is arranged by property, and then alphabetically by author.
National Records Scotland
The National Recods of Scotland is a non-ministerial department of the Scottish Government. It is responsible for civil registration, the census in Scotland, demography and statistics, family history, as well as the national archives and historical records. A search for the term Architect only turned up 23 records. It is possible that the collection has not yet been fully catalogued
The National Archives of Ireland
The National Archives of Ireland (Cartlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann) is the official repository for the state records of Ireland. Established by the National Archives Act 1986. It currently contains 173 files on architects.
Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800 - 1950
The focus of this Canadian website is on the activity and contribution of those who have described themselves, or who have advertised themselves to be, an architect, either amateur or professional, and it intentionally excludes those who have worked in related trades such as that of builder, contractor, entrepreneur, carpenter, surveyor or mason. It includes biographical data on many British or Irish-born architects and Canadian architects who worked in Britain or Ireland.
Dictionary of Canadian Biography / Dictionnaire biographique du Canada (DCB)
The DCB is a biographical dictionaries individuals who have mede a significant contribution to the history of Canada. The DCB originated in 1959, and is compiled by the University of Toronto in collaboration with Laval University. It issued issued both in print format and online. It currently [2022] contains more than 8,400 biographies including entries on over 200 architects, many of whom were either born and trained in Britain or Ireland or who worked in Britain or Ireland. For further information about the DCB see here.
Artefacts [South African Architects]
A very thoroughly researched biographical dictionary of South African architects and engineers. It includes numerous British or Irish-born architects who worked in South Africa and South African architects who worked in Britain or Ireland. artefacts currently [May 2022] contains data on over 5,000 architects and architectural firms. Each entry includes a list of the architect's work and a bibliography.
Biographical Index of Australian Architects
An alphabetically-arranged biographical dictionary of approximately 300 architects active in Australia from the early nineteenth century onwards. It was compiled by the architect and architectural historian George Tibbits (1833-2008), who taught for many years at the Faculty of Architecture and Building, University of Melbourne. Several of the architects were born in Britain or Ireland.
Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB)
The ADB is produced by National Centre of Biography at the Australian National University. It currently [2022] contains data on the lives of over 13,000 significant and representative persons in Australian history, including 614 architects, many of whom were either born and trained in Britain or Ireland or who worked in Britain. For further information about the ADB see here.
Obituaries Australia (OA)
Obituaries Australia compliments the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) and is similar in its format. It is a digitized repository of obituaries of Australians of note who have made an impact on Australian history, published in newspapers, journals, magazines and bulletins. It is managed by the National Centre of Biography at the Australian National University. The OA currently [2022] contains biographical data on 33 architects several of whom either were born and trained in Britain or Ireland or who worked in Britain or Ireland For further information about the OA see here
Wikipedia - List of Australian Architects
VergeCurrently [May 2023] contains biographical information nearly 200 architects, some of whom e.g. John Campbell (1782-1861) were born in Britain, or like Raymond McGrath (1903-1977), emigrated from Australia to the UK.
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (DNZB)
The DNZB is an encyclopedia or biographical dictionary contain of deceased New Zealanders. It currently [2022] contains over 3,000 names, including 155 architects, many of whom were born and trained in Britain or Ireland or who worked in Britain or Ireland. The DNZB was first published as a series of print volumes from 1990 to 2000, went online in 2002, and is now a part of Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. For further information about the DNZB see here.
Wikipedia - List of New Zealand Architects
Currently [May 2023] contains biographical information over 60 New Zealand architects, some of whom e.g. John Campbell (1857-1942) were born in Britain, or like Amyas Connell (1901-1970), emigrated from New Zealand to the UK.
[Architecture - Hong Kong] From British Colonization To Japanese Invasion. The 100 Years Architects in Hong Kong 1841-1941, by Tony Lam Chung Wai]
The author identifies the key architects active in Hong Kong from 1841 to 1941, many of who were born and trained in Britain or Ireland.
[Architecture - East and South East Asia] A Study on British Architects in East and Southeast Asia: 1830 - 1940 by Hideo Izumida. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering vol. 2, issue 2, 2003 pp. b131-b136
"This paper aims at identifying a profile of the British architects who have worked in East and Southeast Asia from 1830 to 1940. They played a vital role in the modern development of Asian architecture" [Abstract]. To download this article see here
Dictionary of Art Historians
The Dictionary of Art Historians is a privately funded biographical dictionary of historians of western art written and maintained by scholars for the benefit of the public. It became associated with the Department of Art, Art History, and Visual Studies of Duke University in January of 2010. From 2016 on, it has been sponsored by the Wired! Lab for digital art history & visual culture. Contains detailed profilles of numerous British and Irish architects who were also art historians, e.g. Reginald T. Blomfield (1856-1942). For further information about The Dictionary of Art Historians see Here.
Oxford Art Online - Grove Art Online
Oxford Art Online - Grove Art Online currently [2022] contains 2,602 entries on European architects, of whom a large proportion will be British and Irish architects. [Note: this is a subscription service]
Who Was Who
Who Was Who was first published in 1920. This first edition was composed of the entries of those who had died between 1897 and 1915 with the date of death added to each. Subsequent volumes of Who Was Who cover the years from 1916 to 2015. The latest online edition [2022] of Who Was Who [published by Oxford University Press] lists 1,711 British artists and architects [Note: this is a subscription service]
Modern Architecture
Modern Architecture an international survey of modern architecture (i.e. since the early years of the twentieth century). the website contains photo reports on several hundred significant buildings. Each entry includes the name of the architect or practice that designed the building; the date when built, and the location. The database can be searched by the name of the architect/practice Here, and by the name of the building Here. It can also be searched by decades Here, by building types Here, and by location Here. The works of numerous British and Irish architects are included in the database.
The online catalogue of the Library of the Royal Institute of British Architects. In addition to listing books, exhibition catalogues, reports, theses, and other printed literature, and audio-visual material, the catalogue also contains an index to articles in journals held at the library. The catalogue can be searched by keyword(s), author, title keyword(s), name of architect, name of building, journal title, language, format and year of publication
Avery Index to Architectural Periodical Literature
The Avery Index to Architectural Periodical Literature is a comprehensive guide to the current literature of architecture and design. It surveys more than 400 current print and e-journal titles, in addition to coverage of over 1,000 retrospective periodical titles, and provides citations to over 585,000 articles. An obituary index of architects and the retrospective Burnham Index to Architectural Literature (1919-1934), created by the Art Institute of Chicago, are also incorporated into the Avery. Access to this service is by subscription
Getty Research Institute Library Catalog
The architecture and design collections of the Getty Research Library include a wealth of materials related to architecture and its history. Like the RIBA Library Catalogue, in addition to listing books, exhibition catalogues, reports, and other printed literature, and audio-visual material, the GRI Library Catalog also contains an index to articles in journals held at the library. The catalogue can be comprehensively searched including by keywords(s) and the type of material.
For further information see The Getty Research Institute Architecture & Design Collections Research Guide