10/03/2023
OUR HISTORY
Brierley Groom has played an integral role in the historical architecture of York since 1750. The practice was founded by John Carr of York 1750, making it the longest running practice in the United Kingdom, and one of the oldest in the world. It was once owned by Walter Brierley, known for having created over 300 buildings in the York area and across the north of England.
PRINCIPALS
John Carr was born in 1723 in Horbury, near Wakefield. He moved to York when he married in 1746 where he had his architectural practice. He was one of the most prolific architects of the eighteenth century - he had more designs illustrated in "Vitruvius Brittanicus" (Vol. 5 onwards) than any other single architect. His style was a development of the Palladian model of Lord Burlington and William Chambers. His work includes numerous country houses as well as bridges and civic works such as the crescent in Buxton.
o John Carr of York 1723 - 1807 Architect
o Peter Atkinson 1776 - 1838 Architect
o Peter Atkinson II 1723 - 1806 Architect
o John Bones Atkinson 1807 - 1874 Architect
o William Atkinson 1810 - 1887 Architect
o James Demaine 1842 - 1911 Architect
Walter Henry Brierley (1862–1926) was a York architect who practised in the city for 40 years. He is known as the "Lutyens of the North". He is also credited with being a leading exponent of the "Wrenaissance" style - incorporating elements of Christopher Wren.
Brierley's works include civic buildings, churches, schools and private houses (including his own home, Bishopsbarns), located mainly in York, North Yorkshire and the north of England.
He was responsible for over 300 buildings between 1885 and the time of his death in 1926. He was the architect for the York Diocese.
The Borthwick Institute in York holds an archive of the Atkinson Brierley architectural practice, a practice that lives on as Brierley Groom, the oldest architectural firm in the UK, having continuously practised since 1750. In 2013, Pocklington School unveiled a clock based on plans drawn up by Brierley 116 years earlier and found at the Borthwick in 2006. A celebration of Brierley's life and architecture in 2007 unearthed the fact that he had designed and built many of the houses and other buildings, (such as the Church of St Mary), in Goathland.
o Walter Henry Brierley 1862–1926 FSA FRIBA
o James Harvey Rutherford 1874 - 1946 FRIBA
o John Stuart Syme 1872 - 1958 FSA FRIBA
o Cecil Leckenby 1871 - 1977 FRIBA
o David A Leckenby 1926 - 2012 Dipl.Arch.FRIBA
o John K Keighley 1924 - 2003 Dipl.Arch.FRIBA
o Keith Groom 1939 - 1999 Dipl.Arch.ARIBA ACIArb FAE FRSA
o Gregory C Groom 1965 BA(Hons)Dipl.Arch RIBA - Matthew R Groom 1971 BA(Hons)Dipl.Arch RIBA
The practice has won several design awards and is currently owned by brothers, partners and chartered architects Greg and Matthew Groom.
