John William Griffith

Summary

John William Griffith (1789–1855) was an English architect and surveyor.

Career edit

Surveyor edit

From his office at 16 Finsbury Place South, John Griffith held several surveying posts in the City of London and Islington areas: for the London Estates of St John's College, Cambridge and James Rhodes, and for the Parish of St Botolph, Aldersgate (the church of which he may have enlarged and enhanced circa 1830).[1] In Islington, for the James Rhodes Estate, in the 1820s he prepared the schedules, petitions and plans for development in the Duncan Terrace area.[2]

Architect edit

Apart from his plans for Rhodes' houses in Islington, he was also responsible for the design of many houses in Hornsey, Kentish Town and Highgate as well as the Islington Parochial Schools (1815)[1] and the South Islington Proprietary School, in a classical style (1836).[2]

The Greek Revival architecture of the principal buildings of Cemetery of All Souls, Kensal Green have been attributed to John William Griffith, however they are almost certainly designed by John Griffith of Finsbury (1796-1888),[3][4] who was one of the three architect shareholders of the General Cemetery Company (the others were A.C.Pugin and Thomas Willson).[5] John Griffith of Finsbury was initially responsible for the overall layout and planting of the grounds,[6] including the surrounding wall and railings.[7]

 
Family vault of Griffith in Highgate Cemetery

Family edit

The architect and antiquarian William Pettit Griffith was his son.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Curl, James Stevens (2015). Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-967498-5.
  2. ^ a b Hansen, Marcus. "Heritage Statement for 16 Duncan Terrace London, N1 8BZ" (PDF). www.islington.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. ^ Curl, James Stevens (1980). A Celebration of Death. Constable. p. 218. ISBN 0-09-463000-3.
  4. ^ The Builder, Obituary of John Griffith 1888, volume 55, page 345
  5. ^ Banerjee, Jacqueline. "Kensal Green Cemetery (The General Cemetery of All Souls)". www.victorianweb.org. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  6. ^ "KENSAL GREEN (ALL SOULS) CEMETERY, Grade I listing document" (PDF). www.rbkc.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  7. ^ Sheppard, F.H.W. "Survey of London: Volume 37, North Kensington". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  8. ^ Porter, Bertha (1890). "Griffith, William Pettit" . In Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney (eds.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 23. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 241–242.