The partnership of Seely and Paget and their contribution to 20th century architecture
Applications are invited for an Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP-funded Collaborative Doctoral Award at University of Oxford, in partnership with English Heritage.
This fully-funded studentship is available from October 2025. Further details about the value of an Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP award are available on the DTP’s studentships page. English Heritage will provide an additional £1,000 per year to cover travel and research expenses.
Closing date: 7th (full-time) or 29th (part-time) January 2025 (midday UK time)
Project overview
The partnership of Seely and Paget were a significant architectural practice responsible for numerous celebrated mid-20th century buildings, including Eltham Palace, the luxury home of Stephen and Virginia Courtauld, and for the restoration of many historic London churches and other buildings after bomb damage during WWII. Despite this rich legacy they have hitherto received little scholarly attention, perhaps because their architectural style did not fit easily within the canons of modernist design. The firm was very comfortable working with important historic buildings, and in many ways can be seen as early proponents of conservation architecture, working in that mid-century period when concern for ancient monuments was developing, particularly after the introduction of the listing system in 1947.
This CDA offers a timely opportunity to reappraise their work in the context of 20th-century architecture. Depending on applicants’ interests, this could involve examining Seely and Paget’s architectural approach within the wider modernist movement, their relationship with clients and business practices, or their role as early practitioners of conservation architecture. Applicants may also wish to explore the relationship between their working and personal lives as John Seely and Paul Paget were partners personally as well as professionally.
The successful candidate will be embedded both within the University of Oxford and English Heritage. They will have access to advice from English Heritage staff and to a network of organisations and researchers with an interest in Seely and Paget cultivated by English Heritage over the past eight years. Substantial archives of personal and business papers, some in private collections, including diaries, letters, plans, photographs and business records, have been identified and will be made available for the project. Many of the clients with which the partners worked also have their own archives that could be explored.
The CDA includes an optional three-month work-based placement with English Heritage during which the successful candidate will have an opportunity to contribute to activities and events to mark the centenary of the establishment of the partnership of Seely and Paget in 2026. There will also be opportunities for dissemination and outreach through the university, and through the wider Seely and Paget network.
Supervision
This studentship will be jointly supervised by Dr David Lewis and Prof William Whyte of University of Oxford and Dr Andrew Hann of English Heritage. Supervision meetings will take place at least bimonthly, involving both university and heritage supervisors. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to undertake a work-based placement of up to three months with English Heritage. The student will also belong to a larger group of CDAs working with English Heritage and Historic England under the Collaborative Doctoral Programme (CDP) and will have access to cohort activities and training organised by EH/HE as part of the CDP Consortium.
How to apply
We invite applications from candidates from all backgrounds and ethnicities. The studentship can be either full or part-time.
Applicants should have a Masters’ degree in history or another relevant subject or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience in a professional setting. They should have an interest in 20th century social and/or architectural history. Prior experience of archival research is essential, and previous experience of working with 20th century records including architectural plans would be helpful. Knowledge of heritage interpretation and public engagement would be useful.
Applicants should meet the eligibility criteria for Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC studentships.
The studentship is open to both home and international applicants.
For an informal discussion about the opportunity and how you might frame your approach to the CDA project, please contact Dr David Lewis (david.lewis2@conted.ox.ac.uk) or Dr Andrew Hann (andrew.hann@english-heritage.org.uk) in the first instance.
There are two routes to apply for this studentship:
If you would like to study full-time, please apply to the DPhil in History by 7th January 2025 (midday, UK time).
If, however, you plan to study part-time you should apply to the DPhil in Architectural History in the Department of Continuing Education. The deadline for Continuing Education is 29th January 2025 (midday, UK time),
Both applications require you to indicate your interest in being considered for this Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP studentship and submit a completed copy of the OOC DTP Application Form at the same time.
