John Francis Groves was born in York, Yorkshire, England on 19 October 1861 and was articled to William James Morley (1847-1930) in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1876. He was then an improver with Walter John Fletcher (1842?-1913) in Wimbourne, Dorset in 1880. He was employed as an assistant to William Gilbee Habershon (1818?-1891) and James Follett Fawckner (1828?-1898) of Habershon & Fawckner in 1883.
Groves commenced independent practice as an architect in Newport, Monmouthshire. Wales in 1896 and was a partner in Habershon & Fawckner from 1896 to 1903 when he was employed as architect to Lord Tredegar at his Estate Office in Newport, a position he held until at least the late 1930s, Groves was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1905. He died in Penhow, Monmouthshire on 31 October 1953
Business premises in main streets of Newport, Including J. E. Davies & Sons' large drapery premises; St. Luke's Church, Newport; Roath Park Presbyterian Church, Cardiff; Presbyterian Church, Bullth Wells; five mission halls for Welsh Presbyterian Forward Movement In Cardiff and Neath; Marlborough Road Elementary Schools, Cardiff; Barry Hotel, Barry; King's Head Hotel, Newport; St. Basil's Church Hall and Schools, Bassaleg; offices for Tredegar Estate, Newport; numerous country cottages In district; carrying out town planning schemes, Newport, Cardiff, Risca, and adjoining districts; now engaged in additions to Ruperra Castle for Right Hon. Lord Tredegar.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001