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Sir Basil Spence (1907-1976) was one of Britain’s most celebrated Modern architects of the post war era.

Modernism was a movement of tremendous creativity which stemmed partly from its tension between individual artistic expression and large scale mass building programmes.

This tension fundamentally structured Spence’s life and work. Spence’s illustrious public reputation was grounded both in stately monumental projects such as Coventry Cathedral, public buildings such as the British Embassy in Rome and in the mass-produced output of council housing and new universities.

The Sir Basil Spence Archive was presented to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) by the Spence family in 2003. The Archive comprises nearly 40,000 drawings, photographs, manuscripts and news cuttings. This material is available for public study and enjoyment and can be accessed through RCAHMS's online database.