Arthur Griffin (architect)

Arthur Griffin
Born	Arthur Reynolds Griffin (1883-09-26)26 September 1883 Nelson, New Zealand
Died	16 July 1967(1967-07-16) (aged 83)
Occupation	Architect
Spouse	Barbara Ellen Warnock ​ ​ (m. 1908; died 1965)​
Buildings	Hokitika Carnegie Library Renton Hardware building

Arthur Reynolds Griffin (26 September 1883 – 16 July 1967) was a New Zealand architect based in Nelson during the first half of the 20th century. His notable works include the Hokitika Carnegie Library, the church steps in Nelson (also known as the Cawthron steps) (1913), and the Ritz Louis Kerr building (1930) in Nelson.

Biography

Griffin was born in Nelson on 26 September 1883, the son of John Hollis Griffin and Martha Louisa Griffin (née Biss). His grandfather, John Griffin, was the founder of biscuit manufacturer Griffin and Sons Limited. He was educated at Nelson College for one year, in 1898, winning the fourth-form drawing prize.^[1]

Griffin began his architectural career as a draughtsman with Robertson Brothers in Nelson for four years,^[1] and during the same period studied architecture through the International Correspondence School in Pennsylvania.^[2] He set up his own practice in Hardy Street, Nelson, in January 1906, after winning a competition for the design of the Hokitika Carnegie Library.^[1] In 1907, he won a second architectural competition, for the new central girls' school in Shelbourne Street, Nelson.^[3] Between 1908 and 1909, Griffin served as the Nelson Education Board's architect, but was dismissed after the board determined that he had claimed for fees additional to those to which he was entitled. However, during that short period he completed a number of new schools and extensions for the Education Board.^[4]

In 1908, Griffin married Barbara Ellen Warnock, and by 1909 they were living at 18 Ngatitama Street, Nelson.^[5] Griffin remained in practice until about 1960, but was semi-retired from the 1940s. He produced a diverse range of work, including many commercial buildings in central Nelson, churches, private residences, and significant buildings for Nelson Hospital.^[2][6] He died on 16 July 1967, and was buried at Marsden Valley Cemetery, Stoke.^[7][8] He had been predeceased by his wife in 1965.^[9]

Notable works

Notable buildings and structures designed by Griffin include:

Building	Image	Date	Location	Notes
Hokitika Carnegie Library		1907	17 Hamilton Street, Hokitika	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2003[10]
Renton Hardware building		1908	21 Hamilton Street, Hokitika	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1989[11]
Central girls' school		1908	27 Shelbourne Street, Nelson	Construction cost £2500; demolished after 1996[3][12]
Trafalgar Hotel		1908	175 Trafalgar Street, Nelson	Demolished 1966[3][13]
Westport Technical School		1909	Corner of Henley and Russell Streets, Westport	Construction cost £1326; since demolished[5]
Nelson Evening Mail building		1910	15 Bridge Street, Nelson	Construction cost £2300[4]
Nelson Institute building		1912	309 Hardy Street, Nelson	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1982[14][15]
Trask memorial gates		1912	Queens Gardens, Hardy Street, Nelson	Part of Queens Gardens, granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status as a whole in 2007[14][16]
Nurses' home (Dalton House)		1916	Franklyn Street, Nelson	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1982; demolished 2013[17][18][19]
Nelson church steps		1913	Pikimai / Church Hill, Nelson	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 1 status in 1982[20]
Church of Blessed Peter Chanel		1917	31 High Street, Motueka	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1982[21][22]
Church of the Sacred Heart		1918	94 Commercial Street, Tākaka	Built from Tākaka marble; construction cost £1250[23]
Trathen's building		1922	191 Trafalgar Street, Nelson	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1982; demolished 2016[14][24][25]
Nelson Hospital		1926	Waimea Road, Nelson	Construction cost £65,000; since demolished[26]
Anchor Shipping and Foundry building		1927	258 Haven Road, Nelson	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1982[2]
Dalgety and Company building		1929	284 Trafalgar Street, Nelson	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1982[27]
Ritz Louis Kerr building		1930	243–245 Trafalgar Street, Nelson	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1982[28]
Plunket and rest rooms		1936	324 Trafalgar Square, Nelson	Granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 1990[29]

Notes

1. Addison 2019, p. 18.
2. Katz 2020b.
3. Addison 2019, p. 20.
4. Addison 2019, p. 21.
5. Addison 2019, p. 19.
6. Addison 2019, pp. 21–22.
7. Department of Internal Affairs.
8. Nelson City Council 2020a.
9. Nelson City Council 2020b.
10. Wilson 2004.
11. Burgess 2015.
12. Winstanley 2020.
13. Nelson Photo News 1966.
14. Addison 2019, p. 22.
15. Heritage New Zealand 2020a.
16. O'Brien 2007.
17. Nelson Evening Mail 1916.
18. Beer 2012.
19. Nelson Mail 2013.
20. O'Brien 2003.
21. Heritage New Zealand 2020c.
22. New Zealand Tablet 1917.
23. New Zealand Tablet 1918.
24. Stade 2016.
25. Leov 2016.
26. Poverty Bay Herald 1926.
27. Heritage New Zealand 2020d.
28. Katz 2020a.
29. Heritage New Zealand 2020b.

References

• Addison, Paul (6 December 2019). "Provincial architect with a competitive edge: Arthur Griffin, the early years". In McCarthy, Christine (ed.). "The raging fury of Edwardian ornamentation" meets "a virtual frenzy of stylism: New Zealand architecture in 1900s. Centre for Building Performance Research, Victoria University of Wellington. pp. 18–23.
• Beer, Emma (28 September 2012). "Trust battles to save historic building". Nelson Mail. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• Burgess, Robyn (17 February 2015). "Renton Hardware building". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Death search: registration number 1967/29939". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Nelson Institute building (former)". Heritage New Zealand. 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Plunket and rest rooms". Heritage New Zealand. 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Catholic church (former)". Heritage New Zealand. 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Dalgety and Company Limited building (former)". Heritage New Zealand. 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• Katz, Megan (17 February 2020). "The 'Ritz', Louis Kerr Ltd. building". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• Katz, Megan (10 March 2020). "Anchor Shipping & Foundry Co Ltd building". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• Leov, Tasha (29 July 2016). "Nelson's iconic Trathen's building demolished after almost 100 years". Nelson Mail. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Plot record details (Arthur Reynolds Griffin)". Nelson City Council. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Plot record details (Barbara Ellen Griffin)". Nelson City Council. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Nurses' home". Nelson Evening Mail. 6 April 1916. p. 6. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Demolition spells end for historic building". Nelson Mail. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Demolition of Nelson landmark". Nelson Photo News. No. 63. 5 February 1966. p. 37. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "Church of Blessed Peter Chanel, Motueka". New Zealand Tablet. 15 November 1917. p. 37. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "New Church of the Sacred Heart, Takaka". New Zealand Tablet. 3 October 1918. p. 13. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• O'Brien, Rebecca (28 February 2003). "Church steps". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• O'Brien, Rebecca (28 February 2007). "Queens Gardens". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• "A fine structure". Poverty Bay Herald. 17 April 1926. p. 16. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• Stade, Karen (2016). "Trathens store". The Prow. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• Wilson, Pam (6 September 2004). "Carnegie free public library (former)". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
• Winstanley, Gemma (2020). "Shelbourne Street gaol". The Prow. Retrieved 3 October 2020.