Group    From 1754 

Royal Society of Arts

Categories: Art, Commerce

Founded by William Shipley as the "Society of Arts" in Rawthmell's Coffee House. They carried on meeting in coffee houses and taverns but as the society grew they needed more space. Shipley rented a house in Craig's Court, SW1 and In February 1755 he rented out two rooms to the society. June 1756 the society moved to a house in Castle Court, Strand. In 1759 they purchased the lease of a warehouse in Denmark Court, north of the Strand and Sir William Chambers altered it to meet their needs.

They then had the building in the Adelphi built by the Adam brothers for their use, 18 John Street, now 8 John Adam Street.

In 1908 the society was granted permission to add "Royal" to the name.

Initiated the blue plaque scheme in 1866, now run by English Heritage.

Information from Soane Museum and ODNB.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Royal Society of Arts

Commemorated ati

William Shipley

This plaque commemorates the tercentenary of Shipley's birth and the site of ...

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Royal Society of Arts

Creations i

Dickens plaque - EC1

But he did not live in the building here today, he lived in Furnival's Inn.

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Fanny Burney

Erected in 1885 this is the oldest surviving "blue" plaque to a woman.

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Garrick plaque - gone

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

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George Cruikshank

George Cruikshank, artist, lived here, from 1850 to 1878. B: Sept.27th 1792....

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Harry Vane

Sir Harry Vane, statesman, lived here. Born 1612. Beheaded 1662. {Almost hid...

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Other Subjects

Fabian Benedict Peake

Fabian Benedict Peake

Artist and writer.  Fabian Benedict Peake was the younger son of Mervyn Peake (1911-1968) and Maeve Patricia Mary Theresa Peake née Gilmore (1918-1983). His birth was registered as Fabian Peake in...

Person, Art

1 memorial
David McKee

David McKee

Born Devon. Created Mr Benn and Elmer the Patchwork Elephant.

Person, Art, Literature

1 memorial
Charles Eamer Kempe

Charles Eamer Kempe

Stained glass artist. Thee is a memorial to Charles Eamer Kempe in the South Transept of Chichester Cathedral.

Person, Art

1 memorial
George Dance the younger

George Dance the younger

Architect. Son of the architect George Dance the Elder, one of the 4 original members of the Royal Academy, he designed Newgate Prison and St Luke's Hospital. John Soane was his pupil. We have see...

Person, Architecture, Art

4 memorials
Maggie Hambling

Maggie Hambling

Artist and sculptor.  Born Suffolk.

Person, Art, Sculpture

2 memorials

Previously viewed

D. H. Lawrence

D. H. Lawrence

Novelist and poet (also painter). Born Eastwood, Nottinghamshire. Died Vence, France. Novels include: Lady Chatterley's Lover, Sons and Lovers, Women in Love.

Person, Literature, Seriously Famous, France

2 memorials
George Meredith

George Meredith

Novelist and poet. Born at 73 High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire. As a writer of novels and poems, his income was uncertain and he supplemented it as a publisher's reader. In this capacity he befri...

Person, Literature, Poetry

2 memorials
Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound

Poet.  Born Idaho, USA.  Had a close relationship with Hilda Doolittle whom he met at university.  She followed him to London and with others they developed the Imagism poetry movement.   Pound wa...

Person, Poetry, USA

1 memorial
Sherlock Holmes statue

Sherlock Holmes statue

NW1, Baker Street Station

{On the plinth - front:} The great detective. {On the plinth - left:} This statue, commissioned by the Sherlock Holmes Society of Lond...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
50 years of peace

50 years of peace

W1, New Bond Street

The two seated allies are unidentified at the site but with the assistance of our US consultant, Trevor Blake, we can confidently identif...

3 subjects commemorated, 4 creators