Harry Lawrence Bradfer-Lawrence

Harry Lawrence Bradfer-Lawrence (1 April 1887 – 19 October 1965) was an antiquarian with a particular interest in Norfolk and Yorkshire, England.

Biography

He 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 Aykroyd, Baronet of Grantley Hall. Also employed by Hammonds' brewery in Bradford, in 1942 rising to become 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, 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.

References

• Obituary by R.W. Ketton-Cremer in Norfolk Archaeology Vol. 84 (1966–69)
• Obituary in The Antiquaries Journal Vol.46 (1966)