William Arthur Rigg [also known as W. Arthur Rigg] was born in Carnforth, near Lancaster, Lancashire, England, in c.1884. After gaining practical building experience with his father, John Rigg, between 1901 and 1907, he was articled to George Alexander Thomas Middleton (1861-1935) in London from 1907. He also attended classes at University College London. Rigg then worked as an assistant to Robert Griggs (c.1843-1915) and to Jonas James Bradshaw (1837-1912), John Bradshaw Gass (1855-1912) and Arthur John Hope (1876-1960) of Bradshaw Gass & Hope. A photograph of a garden house on a small lake designed by W. Arthur Rigg and executed by John Rigg & Son is illustrated in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1911 (p.68), and two photographs of interiors designed by W. Arthur Rigg and executed by John Rigg & Son are illustrated in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' in 1912 (p.61). Rigg was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1909.
Rigg was killed in action in France on 18 April 1917 whilst serving in the Middlesex Regiment during World War One
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal vol. 24, July 1917 pp. 221-222, 224