Troyte Griffith
Troyte Griffith | |
---|---|
![]() An image of Griffith around 1900 | |
Born | Arthur Troyte Griffith June 19, 1864 Headington, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom |
Died | January 17, 1942 Malvern, Worcestershire, United Kingdom | (aged 77)
Occupation | Architect |
Arthur Troyte Griffith (19 June 1864 – 17 January 1942) was a British architect and artist.[1]
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Griffith was born in Headington, Oxfordshire, England, on June 19, 1864.[1] He studied architecture at the Harrow School and Oriel College in Oxford and was awarded touring scholarships in architecture. After graduating, rather than applying for Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), he went to work at an architects' offices in London for some initial work experience, before moving to Malvern in 1896.[2][dead link]
Career
[edit]In Malvern, Griffith was employed by the architectural firm Nevinson & Newton,[3] where he designed local buildings in the Worcestershire area. During his career, he created structures such as the All Saints Church, in Malvern Wells, The Toposcope at the Worcestershire Beacon, and a number houses.[4]
Personal life
[edit]Griffith was a founding member of the Malvern Chess Club, in which he was elected secretary and treasurer in its inaugural meeting on February 28th, 1899. He would occasionally represent Worcestershire in chess tournaments until his death in 1942.[2]
Enigma Variations
[edit]Griffith was a close friend of the English Composer Edward Elgar and immortalized in Variation VII of Elgar's Enigma Variation titled "Troyte". The variation is written in the unusual time signature of 1
1, mimicking his incompetent enthusiasm whilst Elgar attempted to teach him some piano. The following variation, VIII (Allegretto) "W.N", refers to the time Winifred and Florence Norbury sheltered Elgar and Griffith in their eighteenth century home (Sherridge, Leigh Sinton, near Malvern), during a thunderstorm.[5][6]
Can I have one guess? Is it God Save the King?" – Troyte Griffith in 1924 questioning Elgar of the Enigma Variation's hidden theme.[7]
Works
[edit]Buildings
[edit]
Paintings
[edit]- White Sands Bay Saint Davids [8]
- Honfleur St. Catherines Church [9]
- British Camp[10]
- Priory stained glass[10]
- Port Gaverne Cornwall 1928[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Griffith, Arthur Troyte 1864 - 1942 | AHRnet". architecture.arthistoryresearch.net. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ^ a b Morley, Christopher (2012-06-08). "Making a mark on Malvern and Elgar". Business Live. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ a b Hurle, Pamela (2002). Malvern Churches in their historical context. Aspect design. pp. 15, 18. ISBN 0952936623.
- ^ "Plaque honours architect Troyte Griffith, friend of Elgar". Malvern Gazette. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ "Meet the friends of Elgar who inspired the Enigma Variations". Classic FM. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ^ "Elgar - His Music : Enigma Variations". elgar.org. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ^ Padgett, Robert W. (2016-06-13). "Troyte Griffith's Enigma "Solution" Refuted". Elgar's Enigmas Exposed. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ "Arthur Troyte Griffith (1864-1942) - 1928 Watercolour, Port Gaverne, Cornwall". sulisfineart.com. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ^ "Arthur Troyte Griffith | Honfleur St. Catherines Church". mutualart.com. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ^ a b "Rare pictures go on show at Malvern Library". Malvern Gazette. 2018-02-11. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ "Arthur Troyte Griffith (1864-1942) - 1928 Watercolour, Port Gaverne, Cornwall". sulisfineart.com. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
Sources
[edit]- Hardie, Jeremy (2014). Troyte Griffith: Malvern Architect and Elgar's Friend. Malvern: Aspect Design. ISBN 9781909219328.