Geoff Brandwood

This first post on my news page is the sad one of marking the death earlier this month of Geoff Brandwood, who was widely known and respected within the heritage sector and particularly amongst those who shared his loves of Victorian architecture, especially of churches, and of historic pubs and good beer. He was Chair of the Victorian Society for six years. Many who knew him better than I did will write more eloquent and knowledgeable tributes. At English Heritage we published his books The Architecture of Sharpe, Paley and Austin, and Licensed to Sell; The History and Heritage of the Public House, a combination which spanned his interests appropriately. He wore his scholarship lightly, and had the rare ability to write for the specialist audience but also accessibly for a more general readership. He also had a deep knowledge of publishing through his involvement with the excellent Spire Books list.

When I established John Hudson Publishing, in the inauspicious period of the first COVID lockdown, he was unfailingly encouraging and a great inspiration, always generous with advice and suggestions. He played a key role in enabling me to commission the forthcoming books on church architecture.

He was also a highly accomplished architectural photographer. Many of his photos will appear in the forthcoming books on Georgian and Victorian churches, taken specially for these books on travels around England. Like many, I owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

29th November 2021