Idea #10 Sharp (Thomas) Archive
Subjects: Town Planning
GB186/THS/6 Plan for Port Eynon and Horton
The papers of Thomas Sharp (1901-1978) were largely gifted by his sister, Rachel Sharp and had been rescued from Sharp’s Oxford house by Professor Brenikov of Newcastle University. Further material has been acquired for the collection from Patrick Horsbrugh.
Sharp was a significant figure in town planning and a major influence on the development of ideas of townscape and on the forms that town and countryside should take through such publications as Town and Countryside (1932), Town Planning (1940) and Town and Townscape (1968). His plans for historic cities such as Durham, Oxford and Exeter in the 1940s were also potent. The collection contains information and correspondence on plans and texts, including unpublished works; original plans; documentation on key planning cases; press-cuttings; documentation relating to unsuccessful commissions; typescripts, including that of an unpublished autobiography; personal correspondence and creative writing.
This impressive archive documents the progression of Sharp’s thinking throughout his career, draws attention to the important issues which underpinned the planning commission process at the time, provides information on how commissions were received and offers material showing how arguments and ideologies of urban evolution were advanced.
Date Range of Material
1932 – 1984
Size of Collection
4 linear metres
Collection Reference Code
GB186/THS
How To Order Items From This Collection
# First, use the finding aid below to search through a list of the individual items we have within this collection.
# If you find an item you would like to consult in the Special Collections reading room, simply make a note of the reference number and title of the item(s) you are interested in (for example GB186/THS/6 Plan for Port Eynon and Horton).
# You can then place your order by linking to our request form.
Finding Aid
A catalogue of the Sharp (Thomas) Archive is available via Archives Hub.
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