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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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...

Read More

Lost Garrick plaque

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

Read More

The Adelphi

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

Read More

Other Subjects

Sir Aston Webb

Sir Aston Webb

Also designed the eastern façade of Buckingham Palace, the entrance façade to the V&A Museum, Admiralty Arch and the French Huguenot Church in Soho Square.

Person, Architecture

6 memorials
Joseph Aloysius Hansom

Joseph Aloysius Hansom

Architect, founder/editor of The Builder and inventor of the Hansom cab.  Born York as Josephus Aloysius Handsom(e) into a Roman Catholic family.   Made a habit of snatching failure from the jaws o...

Person, Architecture, Transport

1 memorial
Colin Ward

Colin Ward

Anarchist writer. Born Wanstead. Served in the army in WW2, and worked as an architect 1952 - 61. Published on education, architecture and town planning. Guardian obit.

Person, Architecture, Education, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Robert Mylne

Robert Mylne

Architect. Born Edinburgh. Returned from a Grand Tour to London in 1759. Won the competition to build Blackfriars Bridge, including the approach roads from the north and the south, each with a squa...

Person, Architecture, Engineering, Scotland

1 memorial
Carob & Partners

Carob & Partners

Architects active in 1992.

Group, Architecture

1 memorial