Records of Atkinson Brierley

The collection comprises drawings, with associated correspondence and papers 1753-1960; bound volumes of correspondence sent out from the office, 1926-1932; and bound volumes of specifications 1902-1931. The archive relates principally to buildings in York and Yorkshire, but also includes a smaller number of projects elsewhere in the UK, including projects in Cambridgeshire, County Durham, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk and Sussex.

The origins of the firm lie in the partnership of John Carr and Peter Atkinson in York in the late eighteenth century. Peter Atkinson’s son, also Peter, joined the practice as a partner in 1801.
After the deaths of Peter Atkinson Senior (in 1805) and John Carr (in 1807), and following unsuccessful partnerships with Matthew Philips and Richard Hey Sharp, Peter Atkinson Junior went into partnership with his eldest son, John Bonas Atkinson, in 1831. His younger son, William, joined as partner in 1837, and together with his brother established the firm as a significant architectural practice. They were later joined by James Demaine in 1874 and Walter Henry Brierley in 1885.
The work of Brierley made the name of the firm. Between 1885 and 1926 it was responsible for over 300 buildings, including churches, houses and civic buildings in York and across the North of England. These include Northallerton County Hall, Scarcroft School in York, and Goddards on Tadcaster Road, built for the Terry family in the 1920s.
The firm was continued by his partner from 1911, James Hervey Rutherford, with Brierley's place taken by John Stuart Syme, who later entered into partnership with John Keighley and Cecil and John Leckenby.
Today the firm lives on as Brierley Groom, an architectural practice still based in York.

Wherever possible the original arrangement has been preserved. Architectural plans are arranged by year and then by project.

Records are open to the public, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including data protection laws.

The archive was deposited at the Borthwick Institute in 1990. Further additions were made to the archive in 2003 and 2006.

The origins of the firm lie in the partnership of John Carr and Peter Atkinson in York in the late eighteenth century. Peter Atkinson’s son, also Peter, joined the practice as a partner in 1801.
After the deaths of Peter Atkinson Senior (in 1805) and John Carr (in 1807), and following unsuccessful partnerships with Matthew Philips and Richard Hey Sharp, Peter Atkinson Junior went into partnership with his eldest son, John Bonas Atkinson, in 1831. His younger son, William, joined as partner in 1837, and together with his brother established the firm as a significant architectural practice. They were later joined by James Demaine in 1874 and Walter Henry Brierley in 1885.
The work of Brierley made the name of the firm. Between 1885 and 1926 it was responsible for over 300 buildings, including churches, houses and civic buildings in York and across the North of England. These include Northallerton County Hall, Scarcroft School in York, and Goddards on Tadcaster Road, built for the Terry family in the 1920s.
The firm was continued by his partner from 1911, James Hervey Rutherford, with Brierley's place taken by John Stuart Syme, who later entered into partnership with John Keighley and Cecil and John Leckenby.
Today the firm lives on as Brierley Groom, an architectural practice still based in York.

A typescript finding aid, to file level, is available for consultation in the searchroom of the Borthwick Institute.

Created 02.10.15.

A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the document. Copies are supplied in accordance with the Borthwick Institute for Archives' terms and conditions for the supply of copies, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of documents in the custody of the Borthwick Institute must be sought.

The archive was purchased at auction.

Further accruals are not expected.

Correspondence, specifications and other papers relating to the work of the firm in the 20th century are held by York Explore.
Further records relating to their work are held at the Borthwick Institute in the parish record collections of York, All Saints Pavement; York, Holy Trinity Micklegate; York, St Chad; York, St Luke; York, St Mary Bishophill Senior; York, St Margaret Walmgate; York, St Hilda, Tang Hall; New Malton, St Michael; Terrington; and Holme on Spalding Moor. Plans and drawings belonging to J. H. Rutherford are also deposited in Miscellaneous Documents.

Tracy Wilcockson, 'Halfway there... Conservation cleaning of the Atkinson Brierley Archive', from the Borthwick Blog, February 2017 (http://borthwickinstitute.blogspot.com/2017/02/halfway-there-conservation-cleaning-of.html)

Ruth Mather, 'Sledmere House - Rising from the Ashes', from the Borthwick Blog, June 2015 (http://borthwickinstitute.blogspot.com/2015/06/sledmere-house-rising-from-ashes.html)

Published

GB 193