Lyons Israel Ellis Gray: Architecture for the welfare state

Bridgenorth Girls School, by Lyons Israel Ellis Gray

Lyons Israel Ellis Gray were exemplary architects of the post World War Two welfare state, specialising in buildings for education. Sustained by ongoing relationships with public sector clients that understood the quality of their work, the firm closed when that era of state-sponsored Modernism was terminated in the 1980s. The survival of their buildings has varied with the political support for the institutions they built for, with many of their fine school buildings being demolished with the shift away from the ideals of comprehensive educational. Their work for the higher education sector has - at least for now - fared better.

Beyond the reputation of their work, LIEG is deservedly famous for the number of outstanding architects who passed through the practice - including Jim Stirling, James Gowan, Richard MacCormac, Rick Mather, John Miller, Eldred Evans, Neave Brown, and Alan Colquhoun.

John Miller joined us to discuss his memories of the practice.

The lead speaker was John Ellis, son of Tom Ellis. Today John works and teaches in California, but he spent his early career at Lyons Israel Ellis Gray. He is currently writing a book on the practice for the Twentieth Century Society. They were joined by Tony Fretton, Elain Harwood, and Charles Ellis.

Part one is John Ellis’ lecture

Part two is the panel discussion