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

Felix Lander

Felix Lander

Architect. He worked initially with Raymond Unwin, designing several buildings in Letchworth and Welwyn Garden Cities. He later joined the firm of Adams and Holden, before going into partnership wi...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
John Barnett

John Barnett

Designed houses in Kensington, Clapham and Highbury. Seems not much is known about him.

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
John Elmes

John Elmes

Architect in 1833.

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
E. Evans Cronk

E. Evans Cronk

Andrew Behan has done some research on this man with the splendid name: His full name was Edwyn Evans Cronk.  Born in 1846 in Sevenoaks, Kent, the son of Edwyn Evans Cronk and Isabella Cronk, née B...

Person, Architecture

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia

Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia

Saint in the Orthodox Church, killed by Bolsheviks.

Person, Tragedy, Russia

1 memorial