Alfred Wickham Jarvis was born in London, England in 31 October 1868 and was articled to Delissa Joseph (1859-1927) from 1885 to 1889. He also attended classes at the Architectural Association School in London, from 1887 to 1892 during which time he worked in the office of Charles Harrison Townsend (1851-1928).
Jarvis qualified as an architect in 1892 and later that year was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA).
Jarvis appears to have been in partnership with R. Haslam in c.1900. Drawings by A. Wickham Jarvis of the exterior and interior of a house at Branksome for R.E. Haslam designed by A. Wickham and R. Haslam are illustrated in 'Modern British Architecture and Decoration' edited by Charles Holme (London: The Studio, 1901 pp.106, 107, 109). From 1904 [or 1910 - sources differ] Jarvis was in partnership with Francis Augustus Richards (1873-1955).
Two photographs of a house at Hannaford, Devon, designed by Jarvis and four photographs showing the entrance hall and gallery and the dining and drawing rooms at Hannaford, Devon designed by him are illustrated in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1907 (pp.30, 55, 56). His work as a furniture designer is illustrated in 'The Studio' magazine between 1896-1900 and his furniture for Conamur, Sandgate is illustrated in 'Building News' vol.84, 1903.
Jarvis participated in the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society exhibitions in London in 1896 and 1899 and exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1902 and 1903. He taught at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts in London
He gave his occupation as Architect (Retired) in the 1939 England and Wales Register/
Jarvis's address is given as 49 Drayton Park, Highbury, London in 1892; 36 Victoria Street, London in 1905; 44 Sandford Road, Bromley, Kent in 1911; 10 Queen Anne's Gate, London in 1914; and Bente, Carters Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent in 1926 and 1939. Jarvis died on 16 June 1945. His death was registered in Llandudno, Wales. At the time he was living in Sevenoaks, Kent
A biographical file on Alfred Wickham Jarvis is available on request at the Enquiry Desk, Royal Institute of British Architects Library in London
Andrews, John. Arts and Crafts furniture. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Antique Collectors’ Club, 2005
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
Levy, Martin. ‘Alfred Wickham Jarvis, furniture designer’. Country Life vol. 185, 4 July 1991 pp. 116-117