Collection: J.W. Bloe
- Date:
- 1895 - 1955
- Reference:
- JWB02
- Type:
- Collection Containing Photographic, Graphic And Textual Material
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Description
The collection contains drawings, research notes, personal papers and photographs produced and collected by J.W. Bloe (1872-1965), architect and architectural historian.
Some hand-tinted colour drawings relate to architectural projects that he undertook but the bulk of the collection relates to his detailed research into historic buildings for the Royal Commission on Historic Monuments (England), Victoria County History series and the National Buildings Record. Bloe was an authority on the architecture of Sussex and many of his 24 notebooks and 12 files of papers cover this subject. His notes are illustrated with small pencil sketch plans and elevations of these buildings and some of his correspondence is with the owners of houses that he was keen to visit and study.
Other detailed research subjects covered by the collection include: All Hallows, Lombard Street, City of London; Warmington, Northamptonshire; medieval mason's marks in Hertfordshire; and historic buildings in Buckinghamshire. Archaeological drawings of the Long Man of Wilmington, East Sussex; the Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire; and Bledlow Cross and Whiteleaf Cross in Buckinghamshire are also present.
The 20 negatives and 36 photographs show mainly Warmington, Northamptonshire, and Sussex and Warwickshire villages. The postcards are mainly of Chichester and its cathedral and the lantern slides show a variety of picturesque villages in the South of England. The 20 artistic sketches and drawings include views of Lowestoft, Suffolk; Eastbourne and St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex; and Westminster Abbey. There are 14 annotated Ordnance Survey maps that Bloe used to record buildings of interest. A few personal papers are present and they include a Wartime permit to take photographs and registration documents.
A handlist is available.
Archival History
The collection was acquired by the NMR in 2010.
John William Bloe (1872-1965) was educated at Westminster School of Art and was an architect working for Somers Clarke and J.T. Micklethwaite. He was on the staff of the RCHME from 1908 to 1937, secretary of the Survey of London, and an investigator for the Victoria County History.
The NMR has a further collection of research notes compiled by J.W. Bloe (JWB01) as well as an unknown number of RCHME inventory notes compiled by him.
A loose note found amongst this collection reads: 'drawing of church of St. Mary, Stretton Cum Wetmore, Burton on Trent. It is not clear to which item in the collection, if any, this relates.
Rights
© Historic England Archive