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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Garrick plaque - gone

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

Glasgow School of Art

Glasgow School of Art

Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. It changed to its current name in 1853. The main building, shown in the picture, in Renfrew Street was designed by Charles Rennie Mackint...

Group, Architecture, Art, Education, Scotland

1 memorial
Whinney, Son and Austen Hall

Whinney, Son and Austen Hall

Architects active at least 1929 - 1977. 30 Cannon Street being their modernist masterpiece.

Group, Architecture

2 memorials
Shuffrey, Leonard

Shuffrey, Leonard

Architect and architectural designer. His output is often found in decorative schemes with William Morris, Edward Ould, William De Morgan, and other preeminent Arts & Crafts and late Pre-Raphae...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
William Henry Boney

William Henry Boney

Architect.  Also designed the Jackson's Lane Methodist church, Highgate and Little Stanmore Church.  Active 1889 and 1905. Since we first published this article we have, in November 2024, been con...

Person, Architecture, Commerce

1 memorial
Bridgwater Shepheard & Epstein

Bridgwater Shepheard & Epstein

Architects. The history of the firm, now (2019) Shepheard Epstein Hunter, is given here. We had to check whether the Epstein in the firm, Gabriel Epstein, is related to Jacob, and it seems not.

Group, Architecture

1 memorial