Simon Richard Byers Houfe, a Bedfordshire antiquary and custodian of the architectural and artistic legacy of his grandfather Sir Albert Richardson, died on July 27, 2026, at the age of 84.
Born on September 13, 1942, Houfe was the son of architect Eric Houfe and Kathleen Houfe, the daughter of Sir Albert Richardson, a renowned architect, conservationist, and former president of the Royal Academy. Raised under the influence of his grandfather—known affectionately as “The Professor”—Houfe spent much of his childhood in Richardson’s Regency-era Avenue House in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, which became central to his personal and professional life.
Despite family expectations that he would pursue architecture, Houfe chose a different path. He attended Stowe School but did not enjoy the experience, and after leaving school, he briefly served as secretary to Violet Trefusis in Florence, an engagement that ended prematurely. Returning to Bedfordshire, Houfe dedicated himself to the care of Avenue House following Richardson’s death in 1964. The house, notable for its period features and extensive collections, remained largely untouched by modernization, adhering to Richardson’s preference for no electricity and minimal heating.
Houfe built a career in the Department of Prints and Drawings at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, where he developed a particular interest in 19th-century British book illustration and caricature. This expertise culminated in his publication of the *Dictionary of 19th-Century British Book Illustrators and Caricaturists* (1978, revised 1999). He also authored an authoritative guide to Bedfordshire’s antiquarian heritage in 1995 and served as editor of *The Antique Collector* magazine in the early 1970s.
As the sole inheritor of Avenue House, Houfe lived as a gentleman-antiquary, maintaining the property and its collections amid financial constraints. Income from rental cottages in Ampthill and occasional sales of artworks helped support his stewardship. During this period, he welcomed visitors to the house, sharing stories about his grandfather’s eccentricities and preserving the character of the home. In 1980, he published a comprehensive biography of Sir Albert Richardson titled *Sir Albert Richardson: The Professor*. Later, in 1999, he co-organized an exhibition on Richardson’s work at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Heinz Gallery.
Over time, the challenges of maintaining Avenue House grew. Attempts to transfer ownership to the National Trust faltered due to funding concerns and logistical issues related to visitor accommodation. Reluctantly, Houfe sold the house’s contents in a 2013 auction conducted by Christie’s and relocated to a smaller nearby residence, also remodeled by Richardson, where he retained select items from the original collection.
In subsequent years, the future of Avenue House was secured when friends acquired the property and began restoration efforts. Houfe remained engaged with the project, though he reportedly never fully recovered from having to part with the home he cherished. His life was marked by a deep commitment to preserving his family’s heritage and Bedfordshire’s cultural history.