Harry Lawrence Bradfer-Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Harry Lawrence Bradfer-Lawrence (April 1, 1887 – October 19, 1965) was an antiquarian with a particular interest in Norfolk
and Yorkshire
, England
.
, Baronet
of Grantley Hall
. Also employed by Hammonds' brewery in Bradford, in 1942 rising to became Chairman, as well as Managing Director. He was to remain Chairman of United Breweries Limited, as Hammonds became through merger, until 1962. Residing in Ripon, at Grantley Grange and then Sharow End, he died on 19 October 1965.
Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1924, as Treasurer for twenty years from 1944, Bradfer-Lawrence greatly improved the Society's financial position.
Bradfer-Lawrence quickly became interested in the history of Yorkshire
, being accepted to membership of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society
on 31 January 1936, and served on its Council for many years.
He was to maintain a lively interest in all matters antiquarian and was to build a remarkable collection of charters, seals, manuscripts and books; it comes as no surprise to note he was a member of the exclusive Roxburghe Club
.
Bradfer-Lawrence must have taken a great interest in the sale by auction of two 15th century works printed by William Caxton
, by the Ripon Cathedral Library in 1960, for he was able to have—presumably unique—photographic facsimiles made up for his own library.
Both the Norfolk Record Society
and the Yorkshire Archaeological Society were to become beneficiaries of his remarkable collection. The latter, whose extensive library and archives are in Leeds
, benefited from a valuable collection, containing superb examples of family and estate documents, medieval charters, accounts, maps, manorial records and letters, relating to the County, originating from the 12th to the 20th century.
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Biography
He started started a successful career as a Land-agent in Norfolk, interrupted only by the First World War, when he was commissioned in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. In 1935, he moved to Yorkshire as land-agent to Sir William AykroydWilliam Aykroyd
Sir William Henry Aykroyd, 1st Baronet OStJ was an English woollen and carpet manufacturer.He was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the son of Alfred Aykroyd and Ellen , and educated at Thorp Arch Grange, near Wetherby. He entered his uncle's woollen and carpet manufacturing business, T. F...
, Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
of Grantley Hall
Grantley Hall
Grantley Hall is a grade II* listed Country House located in North Yorkshire, England. It is situated about to the west of Ripon.It belonged to the Grantley family when it was built in the 17th century but is now owned by the North Yorkshire County Council and is used as a training centre.The...
. Also employed by Hammonds' brewery in Bradford, in 1942 rising to became Chairman, as well as Managing Director. He was to remain Chairman of United Breweries Limited, as Hammonds became through merger, until 1962. Residing in Ripon, at Grantley Grange and then Sharow End, he died on 19 October 1965.
Historical interests
He was elected to the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society in 1914, and during his years in that county contributed a number of articles to its journal Norfolk Archaeology as well as serving as a member of the Council of that Society. His association continued as Vice-President until his death.Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1924, as Treasurer for twenty years from 1944, Bradfer-Lawrence greatly improved the Society's financial position.
Bradfer-Lawrence quickly became interested in the history of Yorkshire
History of Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of England, centred on the county town of York. The region was first occupied after the retreat of the ice age around 8000 BC. During the first millennium AD it was occupied by Romans, Angles and Vikings. Many Yorkshire dialect words and aspects of pronunciation...
, being accepted to membership of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society
Yorkshire Archaeological Society
The Yorkshire Archaeological Society is a registered charity dedicated to the study of the archaeology, history and people of the three Ridings of greater Yorkshire...
on 31 January 1936, and served on its Council for many years.
He was to maintain a lively interest in all matters antiquarian and was to build a remarkable collection of charters, seals, manuscripts and books; it comes as no surprise to note he was a member of the exclusive Roxburghe Club
Roxburghe Club
The Roxburghe Club was formed on 17 June 1812 by leading bibliophiles, at the time the library of the Duke of Roxburghe was auctioned. It took 45 days to sell the entire collection. The first edition of Boccaccio's Decameron, printed by Chrisopher Valdarfer of Venice in 1471, was sold to the...
.
Bradfer-Lawrence must have taken a great interest in the sale by auction of two 15th century works printed by William Caxton
William Caxton
William Caxton was an English merchant, diplomat, writer and printer. As far as is known, he was the first English person to work as a printer and the first to introduce a printing press into England...
, by the Ripon Cathedral Library in 1960, for he was able to have—presumably unique—photographic facsimiles made up for his own library.
Both the Norfolk Record Society
Norfolk Record Society
The Norfolk Record Society is a Historical Record Society in the county of Norfolk, England. The Society was founded to encourage the study and preservation of historical records relating to Norfolk, and to publish editions of these documents.The society has offices in Norwich and is registered...
and the Yorkshire Archaeological Society were to become beneficiaries of his remarkable collection. The latter, whose extensive library and archives are in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, benefited from a valuable collection, containing superb examples of family and estate documents, medieval charters, accounts, maps, manorial records and letters, relating to the County, originating from the 12th to the 20th century.