William Pettit Griffith (7 July 1815 – 14 September 1884) was an English architect and
antiquarian. Born in
Clerkenwell in London, he had a particular interest in the area, and much of his work of restoring and designing buildings took place there. He was a member of several
learned societies
A learned society (; also learned academy, scholarly society, or academic association) is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and science. Membership may ...
.
Life
Griffith, son of the architect
John William Griffith, was born in 1815 at 9 St John's Square,
Clerkenwell, where his father resided for more than half a century. He was brought up to the profession of an architect, and before he was twenty was writing notes in
J. C. Loudon's ''Architectural Magazine''. He continued these notes, under the signature "Tyro, Wilmington Square", from 1835 to 1837, besides contributing original articles and designs in 1836. In 1839 and 1840 he exhibited architectural designs in the
Royal Academy, and in 1840–1–2 watercolour drawings of fonts and portions of old churches at Hendon, Broxbourne, St Albans and other places, in the galleries of the
Society of British Artists
The Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy.
History
The RBA commenced with twenty-seven members, and took until 1876 to reach fif ...
.
On 12 May 1842 he was elected
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context.
In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements.
Within the context of higher education ...
; and between 1856 and 1858 exhibited architectural fragments in connection with his work of restoration at
St John's Gate, Clerkenwell
St John's Gate, in Clerkenwell, Middlesex, now within central London, is one of the few tangible remains from Clerkenwell's monastic past. It was built in 1504 by Prior Thomas Docwra as the south entrance to the inner precinct of Clerkenwell Prio ...
.
[
]
Papers read to learned societies
He was elected FRIBA
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...
on 14 June 1847, and on that evening made some remarks as to "The Principles which guided the architects in constructing the Minsters, Cathedrals, and Churches of England". In 1855 he was awarded the institute's silver medal for an "Essay on the Principles or Laws which govern the Formation of Architectural Decorations and Ornaments"; the manuscript, illustrated by neatly executed ink and sepia drawings, is in the library of the Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three supp ...
. In connection with it are four sheets of drawings, "Classification of Mediaeval Ornaments" and "Designs for Mediaeval Ornaments from the Vegetable Kingdom. Arranged geometrically and conventionalised".[
At the chapter meetings of the College of the Freemasons of the Church he communicated, on 12 August and 9 September 1845, papers "On the Ancient Baptismal Fonts of England" (drawings of nine ancient fonts which he had made in 1838-9 were engraved on one sheet by Webb & Son); on 10 February 1846, "On the Different Kinds of Stone employed in the Edifices of Babylon, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Great Britain"; and 13 October 1846, "On the Hagioscope or Squint in the Ancient Parochial Churches of England".][
He was made an honorary member of the Bedfordshire Architectural Society in 1847, and read at ]Elstow
Elstow is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire.
John Bunyan was born here at Bunyan's End, which lay approximately halfway between the hamlet of Harrowden and Elstow's High Street.
History
Countess Judith, niece o ...
on 25 May 1852 "Suggestions for a more Perfect and Beautiful Period of Gothic Architecture" (published in pamphlet form in 1855). Elected honorary member of the Liverpool Architectural Society 1849, he communicated to its meetings: 15 April 1857, "Proportion its Practical Application to Architecture and the Fine Arts"; 1860, "Of the Resources of Design in the Natural Kingdom"; 1863, "Of the Influence of Fashion in Architecture". At the Surrey Archaeological Society
Surrey Archaeological Society is a county archaeological society, founded in 1854 for "the investigation of subjects connected with the history and antiquities of the County of Surrey" in England.
Remit
The Society concerns itself with "the Cou ...
he read on 30 June 1854, "On the Ancient Baptismal Fonts of England": in 1856 was made an honorary member; 12 June 1856 communicated "An Architectural Notice of Archbishop Whitgift's Hospital at Croydon"; and 12 May 1858, "An Architectural Notice of the Nave of St. Saviour's Church, Southwark".[
Griffith died a poor man at 3 Isledon Road, ]Highbury
Highbury is a district in North London and part of the London Borough of Islington
in Greater London that was owned by Ranulf brother of Ilger and included all the areas north and east of Canonbury and Holloway Roads.
The manor house was sit ...
, London, on 14 September 1884.[
]
Works
Griffith designed, about 1844, the monument to Vincent Figgins
Vincent Figgins (1766 – 29 February 1844) was a British typefounder based in London, who cast and sold metal type for printing. After an apprenticeship with typefounder Joseph Jackson, he established his own type foundry in 1792. His company ...
in Nunhead Cemetery
Nunhead Cemetery is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries in London, England. It is perhaps the least famous and celebrated of them. The cemetery is located in Nunhead in the London Borough of Southwark and was originally known as All Saints ...
(now Grade II-listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
).
Other works include: The restoration of St. John's Church, Clerkenwell, 1845; the restoration of St John's Gate, 1845–6; the rebuilding of the spire (1849) and the erection of a font (1851) for St James's Church, Clerkenwell
St James Church, Clerkenwell, is an Anglican parish church in Clerkenwell, London, England.
History Nunnery of St Mary: c. 1100–1539
The parish of St James, Clerkenwell, has had a long and sometimes lively history. The springs which giv ...
. The drawing of the font was engraved.[
He designed the Cherry Tree Tavern, Clerkenwell, 1852; the Goldsmiths' and Jewellers' Annuity Institution Asylum, Hackney, 1853 (the exterior view engraved); planned additions and alterations to the Clerkenwell Vestry Hall, 1857; designed many parochial and ragged schools 1858–62; and adapted Melrose Hall, Putney Heath, for the Royal Hospital for Incurables 1864–5.][
He directed the erection of Messrs. Rivington's printing-office, St John's House, Clerkenwell, 1866, and the repairs to and partial renewal of the tower and porch of the church of St. Sepulchre, Holborn, 1873; designed the House of Detention, Kingston-on-Thames; and the repairs to the tower of Kingston Church.][
Griffith was keenly interested in the antiquities of Clerkenwell, made a special study of the old priory of St. John of Jerusalem, and spared no pains to avert the threatened destruction of St. John's Gate, helping to raise a public subscription for its restoration. Relics of both priory and gate, some of which he brought to light, were deposited in the Architectural Museum, and at South Kensington Museum.][
]
Publications
Griffith published:[
# ''The Geometrical Proportion of Architecture''. 1843.
# ''The Natural System of Architecture'', 1845.
# ''Ancient Gothic Churches'', 3 parts, 1847–8–52.
# ''Architectural Botany'' (extracted from part iii. of ''Ancient Gothic Churches''), 1852.
# ''Suggestions for a more Perfect and Beautiful Period of Gothic Architecture'', 1855.
In his writings Griffith mainly endeavoured to show that "the geometrical proportions pervading Greek and Gothic architecture are in principle based upon nature's works" (''Suggestions for a more Beautiful Period of Gothic Architecture'', p. 6), and that "by the employment of regular figures and their multiples in architecture, we always ensure an equal distribution of parts, which also exists in the vegetable kingdom" (''Ancient Gothic Churches'', pt. ii. p. 26).][
]
References
Attribution
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffith, William Pettit
1815 births
1884 deaths
People from Clerkenwell
Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Fellows of the Royal Institute of British Architects
19th-century antiquarians
English antiquarians
19th-century English architects