Place    From 1768  To 1935

Adelphi Terrace

Categories: Architecture

The Adam brothers built a very large development including a run of houses with a terrace that over-looked the river, which was much closer before the Embankment was built. It was this terrace that caused the word "terrace" to take on the meaning of a row of houses. Torn down in 1935 and replaced with the art deco New Adelphi building. It was the demolition of the Adelphi that was, at least partially, responsible for the creation of the Georgian Society in 1937.

The Rise and Fall of the Adelphi is a very useful page with excellent photos.

While thinking of how London has changed the English language, in the field of architecture at least, let's examine "Mews". From the French, it used to mean a place where hawks (kept for hunting) were confined during their moulting seasons. From 1377 the King's Mews was at Charing Cross, about where Trafalgar Square now is. In 1537 Henry VIII had it converted to be the royal stables. And hence Mews became the term for all service streets in London built as stables, converted into garages and then converted into rather chic homes for fashionable Londoners, such as John Steed.

The image on this page shows a plainer front elevation than that on the Garrick page. We have to assume that the Victorians added some decorative features, around the windows and the central attic pediment, for example.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Adelphi Terrace

Commemorated ati

Adam, Hood, Galsworthy, Barrie, etc.

We understand the "here" on the plaque to refer to the whole of Adelphi Terra...

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Lost Garrick plaque

David Garrick, actor, lived here. B: 1716. D: 1779. {Almost hidden in the dec...

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The Adelphi

The Adelphi This building stands on the site of Adelphi Terrace built by the...

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Other Subjects

Frederick Wheeler

Frederick Wheeler

Architect, born Brixton. FRIBA, active 1900. See London Details for the studios he designed on Talgarth Road. Wikipedia refers to a number of London buildings designed by Wheeler, many in South Lon...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
Inigo Jones

Inigo Jones

Architect and stage designer. Born near Smithfield. Never married. He studied architecture in Italy and brought the new Palladian designs to Britain. Became Surveyor of the King's Works, the king's...

Person, Architecture, Seriously Famous

4 memorials
Embassy of the Republic of Poland

Embassy of the Republic of Poland

Located at 47 Portland Place.

Group, Architecture, Poland

3 memorials
Essex Street, House & grounds

Essex Street, House & grounds

The site now covered by Essex Street and Devereux Court was once Essex House and grounds, named after Robert, Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth's favourite, who also led a rebellion against her which ...

Place, Architecture, Property

1 memorial
Jan F. Groll

Jan F. Groll

From Colonial Spectacles “John (or Jan) F. Groll was an architect and engineer.  After completing his studies in Delft, he worked for the department of public works in British India….”  We can't fi...

Person, Architecture, Engineering

1 memorial