Bradley Thomas Batsford opened a bookshop in High Holborn, London, in 1843, which specialised in books on architecture, the arts and engineering. When in 1874 the firm began publishing, under the name B. T. Batsford, it published high quality books with fine engravings, on the decorative arts and architecture.
In the twentieth century the retail side of the business ceased, and the company gradually moved to a more general publishing list, although still excelling in the production of books on historical buildings. It became known also as a publisher of chess books, books on craft, and history texts.
