Walter Henry Brierley was a York based architect who practised in the city for 40 years around the turn of the 20th century. He was known as “the Yorkshire Lutyens”. He was a follower of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Between 1885 and 1926, Brierley was responsible for over 300 buildings, including schools, churches, houses and civic buildings, in York, North Yorkshire and across the North. He was the architect for the York Diocese. Brierley’s legacy includes the Headmaster’s House at the King’s Manor, and County Hall Northallerton. In 1921 he was engaged by Margaret fife to update and improve Nunnington Hall.

In York, he designed Park Grove School (1895), Fishergate School (1895), Scarcroft School (1896) (generally regarded as his masterpiece), Haxby Road School (1904) and Poppleton Road School (1904). He designed Malton School which opened in 1911. He also designed Sion Hill Hall, a private residence near Thirsk in the village of Kirby Wiske.  Goddards, on Tadcaster Road, built for the Terry Family in the 1920s, was his last building.

His architectural practice lives on as Brierley Groom, the oldest architectural firm in the UK which has continuously practised since 1750.

He is also credited with being an exponent of the "Wrenaissance" style - incorporating elements of Christopher Wren's style.

County Hall, Northallerton.

The Brierley building. Named after its architect Walter Brierley, the Grade II listed Brierley building is at the centre of North Yorkshire County Council, County Hall campus, and dates back to 1906.

Malton Grammar School

Opened in 1911, the building is straightforward and simple, economic in design and fittings. The tall chimneys and high pitched roof are characteristic of Brierley designs.

Sion Hill Hall

Built in 1913, a fine creation by Brierley at Kirby Wiske, near Thirsk. Some similarities with the school are evident - the high pitch roof and tall chimneys, for example.

The drainpipe is almost identical to the one in Malton School quad.

(The white one is on Sion Hill Hall, the black is Malton School.)