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Holford, William Graham Holford, Baron, 1907-1975 (British architect)

 Person

Biography/Historical Note

He was born in 1907 in South Africa. In 1937 he became professor of Civic Design at Liverpool University. He was heavily involved with the development of post-war British town planning. In 1948 he was appointed Professor of Town Planning at University College of London, where he taught until retirement in 1970. He intensively collaborated with the authorities in Australia and South Aprica for the urban redevelopment plans of Camberra and Durban.

He was knighted in 1953 and in 1965 was made a life peer as Baron Holford, the first town planner to be made a Lord. He was married to British painter Marjorie Brooks, whom he cared for since a tragic illness in the early 1960s left her an invalid. He died in 1975.

Nationality:

English.

Education

School of Architecture, University of Liverpool. Student at R.I.B.A.

Role within the BSR:

Rome Scholar in Architecture, 1930-1933; Member of the Faculty of Architecture, 1937-1975.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

British School at Rome Architectural Drawings Collection

 Collection

British School at Rome Architectural Drawings Collection

Reference number: ARC-DRA
Abstract

Architectural drawings of former BSR Scholars in Architecture (1913-1933) as well as plans and elevations of the BSR building executed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and some BSR scholars (1912-1951).

Dates: 1912 - 1951

Holford, William G., 1937 - 1975

 File

Holford, William G., 1937 - 1975

Reference number: AR-02.07.02/359.03
Scope and Contents Documents from this file include: invitation letter by Evelyn Shaw (BSR Honorary General Secretary) to join the Faculty of Architecture; letter of acceptance by Holford; correspondence (immediately after the end of World War II) with Shaw about the appointment of Holford in the Executive Committee of the Faculty, specifically to advise on the school buildings and student welfare; correspondence with Shaw about the paintings of Holford’s wife, Marjoirie Brooks, from the period she attended...
Dates: Record Keeping: 1937 - 1975