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Braithwaite, David, 1932 - 1982

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 6 October 1932 - 4 July 1982

Biography

David Julius Braithwaite was born in Luton, Bedfordshire on the 6th of October 1932. The family moved to Northampton and as a young boy David was fascinated by the fairs which visited the town and thus began his lifelong interest and passion with the travelling fairground. He often helped with the building up of the rides and got to know some of the showmen.

David attended Northampton Grammar School where he developed art and drawing as his favourite subjects. He entered the Architectural Association School at seventeen and his subsequent career in architecture included work in various practices, teaching at Leicester, Hammersmith and Kingston School of Architecture and finally establishing his own practice in Knightsbridge, London. Here he worked in domestic, the commercial and entertainment fields, including the planning of Amusement Parks. Projects included the hall of Mirrors at Madame Tussaud’s in London and a floating theatre for children of which he was co-designer. In 1975 he was the prime mover in the rescue of the Savage Company Archives from King’s Lynn.

For many years he collected material for his book Fairground Architecture (the first book of its kind on this subject) which was first published in 1968. He also wrote a book on Frederick Savage of King’s Lynn, a booklet for Shire Publications and Building in the Blood, the history of the building firm, Dove Brothers. David Braithwaite is perhaps best known for his two influential works; ‘Fairground Architecture’ and ‘Savage of Kings Lynn’.

During the 1970's he acquired the Orton and Spooner Archive, which formed the basis of a book he was preparing to write at the time of his untimely death on July 4th 1982.

Found in 105 Collections and/or Records:

William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody Biography Monograph, c1960 - 1969

 Item
Reference code: 178B14.14
Scope and Contents

Partial biography of William F. Cody aka Buffalo Bill. Typescript, 1p.

Dates: c1960 - 1969

William Keating Collection

 Fonds
Reference code: NFA0066
Scope and Contents

Photographs, some of large size negatives and glass plate negatives of fairground rides and transport.

Dates: c1880 - 1979

Willsons (Printers) Ltd. Poster, c1900 - 1959

 Item
Reference code: 178I7.35
Scope and Contents

Willsons (Printers) Ltd. advertising poster for fairground posters and advertising. Leicester, 1p. with illustrations.

Dates: c1900 - 1959

Wilson's Trade Sheet, 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178I7.3
Scope and Contents

Wilson’s Printers printed trade dart sheets. Leicester, 2p.p with illustrations.

Dates: 1957

Wilson's Trade Sheet, 1957

 Item
Reference code: 178I7.4
Scope and Contents

Wilson’s Printers printed trade dart sheets. Leicester, 2p.p with illustrations.

Dates: 1957