He was born in Surrey where he attended schools in Reigate and Redhill. His further education included art, architecture, town planning and conservation, leading to Dip.T.P., Dip. Conservation Studies, F.R.I.B.A. and F.R.T.P.I. He was employed by several local authorities including Tonbridge Wells B.C., Stevenage Development Corporation and Hertfordshire County Council where he was Head of Design and Conservation. During the 1970s, he sat on a number of Advisory Committees including that for the Care of Churches in the Diocese of St Albans and another for the City of London Conservation Areas. In addition, he was a member of the City of Cambridge Listed Buildings Panel.
He was very involved with many learned societies including the Victorian Society, in which he served as Architectural Advisor, the William Morris Society, the Ancient Monuments Society and Hertfordshire Conservation Society.
As a very keen photographer and volunteer for the Royal Photographic Society, he photographed listed buildings in Cambridge and North Hertfordshire for the English Heritage/National Monuments Record Images of England Record 2000. He was associated with literally dozens of other organisations which gave him the opportunity to further stimulate his obsession with art, architecture, planning, design and conservation including of course the Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society. He was a Freeman of the City of London, a Liveryman of the Woshipful Company of Painter Stainers, and Fellow of numerous institutions.
Brian Blackwood was married with two daugters and one son. His marriage was dissolved in 1976.
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