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

Thomas Cundy

Thomas Cundy

Architect. He could be either Thomas Cundy, senior (1765-1825), or his son; as their careers were closely intertwined. The identity of the portrait on the right is similarly doubtful. Cundy senior ...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
John Meard Junior

John Meard Junior

Apprenticed to his father in August 1700 – ‘John Meard Citizen and Turner... his father and Master admitted to this Freedom’ (Freedom Admissions Register of the Turners’ Company). On his father’s ...

Person, Architecture, Craft / Design, Property

1 memorial
Eric Bedford

Eric Bedford

Designed the Post Office Tower. Chief architect for the Ministry of Public Building and Works, 1951 - 1970. Andrew Behan has researched Bedford: Eric Bedford was born on 23 August 1909 in Halifax,...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
James Burford

James Burford

Architect. Active in 1921.

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
HM Office of Works

HM Office of Works

Summarising Wikipedia: The Office of Works (the King's Works) was responsible only for royal properties (1378–1832). This became the Office of Woods, Forest, Land Revenues and Works (1832–1852). Th...

Group, Architecture, Property

1 memorial