Eric de Maré

Who was Eric de Maré?

Eric de Maré was a British photographer and author, described as one of the greatest British architectural photographers.

de Maré was born in London on the 10 September 1910, of Swedish parents, Bror and Ingrid de Maré. He was educated at St Paul’s School in London before becoming a student of the Architectural Association in 1928. Following graduation in 1933, he went to Scandinavia to travel and work. A number of his later publications focus on Sweden. He was a supporter of the Social Credit movement.

On returning to England, he joined the Architectural Press and became the acting editor of the Architects Journal, in 1943. In 1942, de Maré had published his first book, titled Britain Rebuilt. The subsequent years saw the publication of further books and articles within the architectural press. Many of the subjects covered in these works are represented within the collection held by the public English Heritage Archive.

Canals and waterways feature significantly in de Maré’s work. In 1948, he boated a dozen of the English canals during a 600 mile tour, photographing the landscapes, buildings and people he encountered. This journey resulted in a 1949 article for the Architectural Review documenting canal life and buildings. The following year saw the publication of The Canals of England. The book provided an historical and technical description of inland waterways punctuated by de Maré’s photography.