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

Garrick plaque - gone

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

John Barnett

John Barnett

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

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
Antony Lloyd

Antony Lloyd

Married the daughter of the architect, William Curtis Green, who in the 1930s took Lloyd into the practice that he had founded in 1898. The style was initially heavily influenced by Edwin Lutyens a...

Person, Architecture, India

3 memorials
J. Deykes

J. Deykes

Architect active in 1817.

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
Times Square

Times Square

Area of New York City, which is the centre of the Broadway theatre scene. It is two adjoining triangles rather than an actual square. Originally called Longacre Square, it was renamed in 1904. It i...

Place, Architecture, USA

1 memorial
M Digby Wyatt

M Digby Wyatt

Secretary to the Executive Committee for the Great Exhibition 1851.Architect and writer on art. Born near Devizes, Wiltshire. Died Dimlands Castle, Glamorgan.

Person, Architecture, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Air Raid Precautions (ARP)

Air Raid Precautions (ARP)

In WW2 each local council was responsible for setting up the local ARP to protect civilians from air raids. ARP Wardens were important members, enforcing the blackout, sounding the alarms, etc.

Group, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Eisenhower plaque

Eisenhower plaque

W1, Grosvenor Square, 20

Eisenhower's office was the corner room on the first floor (for our American friends - this is the floor above the ground floor). Discov...

1 subject commemorated