From medieval times architectural drawings have held intrigue for collectors and connoisseurs. In those early days, the retention or acquisition of drawings by the masons who controlled the design and building processes from their tracing houses was driven by the need to refer back to the records of previous buildings for the inspirations for new work. This tradition was continued by the architects who followed them in the 16th century. These collections were handed on to their successors in practice, with each practitioner adding to the scope and extent of the collection. In this tradition, for instance, John Webb received the bulk of the considerable Inigo Jones collection of architectural drawings and books on Jones's death in 1652; that particular collection including drawings by Palladio from 16th century Vicenza.

  Alongside these essentially practical collections amassed by architects, private collectors and connoisseurs of architectural drawings were emerging. Thus the Earl of Arundel and the Cecil Family built up significant collections in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. These and similar collections formed the foundations for the later great English collections such as those created by Sir John Soane, the Victoria and Albert Museum, certain Oxford colleges and, of course, the drawings collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

  Interest in the collection of architectural drawings continued into the 20th century and this has been marked by the founding of a number of new architectural museums such as the Dutch Centre for Architecture, the Frankfurt Architectural Museum, the Canadian Centre for Architecture, The Getty Center, California and The Heinz Architectural Center in Pittsburgh.

  The present interest in architectural drawings as a marketable commodity began in earnest during the 1950-60's. Galleries such as Gallery Lingard have arisen to answer the demand and to inform the collector and auction houses who have held specialist sales. Whilst present day private collections of architectural drawings can no longer match those created by the institutions, Gallery Lingard provides opportunities for the acquisition of fine, authenticated, individual drawings for domestic or other smaller collections; permitting the dissemination of some of the unique drawings produced in Western Europe and America from the early 18th century to the 20th century; through the Georgian, early Victorian and High Victorian periods, the Arts and Crafts movement, and on to the Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Modern Movements in architecture.