British and Irish Architects
Dictionaries of architects, engineers and sculptors
Colvin, H.M., A Biographical Dictionary of
British Architects 1600-1840 4th edn. (2008). Has a building index.
An invaluable book, thoroughly researched. Includes references to drawings
and other material in the British
Architectural Library and many other repositories.- Brodie, A., Felstead, A., Franklin, J., Pinfield, L. and Oldfield, J.,
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 (RIBA 2001). The
definitive biographical reference tool for the Victorian and Edwardian
periods, based on material in the British Architectural Library and
elsewhere.
- The Dictionary of Irish Architects
1720 to 1940: an online database created by the Irish
Architectural Archive, providing biographical information on architects,
builders and craftsmen born or working in Ireland, to contine the work
listed below by Loeber.
- The Dictionary of
Scottish Architects: an online database providing biographical
information and job lists for all architects known to have worked in
Scotland during the period 1840-1940.
- Gray, A.S., Edwardian Architecture: A Biographical
Dictionary (1985).
- Gunnis, R., Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1951 (1953,
rev. edn 1968).
- Harvey, J., English Medieval Architects: a biographical dictionary
down to 1550. Rev edn (1984).
- Loeber, R., A Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Ireland
1600-1720 (1981).
- Skempton, A. (ed.), Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in
Great Britain and Ireland, vol. 1: 1500-1830 (2002).
- Wodehouse, L., British Architects 1840-1976: A guide to information
sources (1978).
Online catalogues and databases of collections relating to specific
architects
- The
Brunel collection: online catalogue of the huge collection held by
Bristol University Library of original source material for Isambard Kingdom
Brunel and other members of the Brunel family.
- Decimus Burton:
Biography, plans, images and bibliography from Lancashire Lantern.
- The Sir Henry Dryden
Collection: online database of images of the collection in
Northamptonshire Central Library.
- Gillespie, Kidd &
Coia: Architecture 1956-1987: An introduction to the archive of
this notable Scottish architecture practice, held at the Glasgow School of
Art, with links to images on Flickr and to the catalogue of the collection
on the Archives Hub.
- Rebuilding the City:
The Percy Johnson-Marshall Collection: online catalogue of material
held by The University of Edinburgh Library on Percy Johnson Marshal
(1915-1993) urban designer and regional planner.
- Mackintosh Online
Catalogue: Catalogue of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh held in
the University of Glasgow's Hunterian Art Gallery. It provides information
on over 1,000 drawings, designs and watercolours, and a group of furniture
and decorative art objects.
- The Sir Basil Spence Archive
Project: An introduction the collection of 40,000 items relating to
Spence's working life, which were donated to the Royal Commission on the
Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, and can be accessed through
RCAHMS's online database.
- Other collections in the UK and Ireland for specific architects are
listed by the Artists and Papers
Register.
- Online databases and catalogues relating to more than one architect are
listed under the name of the repository in the archives section. Try using the search
function of this site to locate any source listed for the architect in whom
you are interested. But note that relatively few architects are mentioned
by name on this website. It is no substitute for the published dictionaries
of architects.