Group    From 1754 

Royal Society of Arts

Categories: Art, Commerce

Founded by William Shipley as the "Society of Arts" in Rawthmell's Coffee House. They carried on meeting in coffee houses and taverns but as the society grew they needed more space. Shipley rented a house in Craig's Court, SW1 and In February 1755 he rented out two rooms to the society. June 1756 the society moved to a house in Castle Court, Strand. In 1759 they purchased the lease of a warehouse in Denmark Court, north of the Strand and Sir William Chambers altered it to meet their needs.

They then had the building in the Adelphi built by the Adam brothers for their use, 18 John Street, now 8 John Adam Street.

In 1908 the society was granted permission to add "Royal" to the name.

Initiated the blue plaque scheme in 1866, now run by English Heritage.

Information from Soane Museum and ODNB.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Royal Society of Arts

Commemorated ati

William Shipley

This plaque commemorates the tercentenary of Shipley's birth and the site of ...

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Royal Society of Arts

Creations i

Dickens plaque - EC1

But he did not live in the building here today, he lived in Furnival's Inn.

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Fanny Burney

Erected in 1885 this is the oldest surviving "blue" plaque to a woman.

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Garrick plaque - gone

Garrick died in this house.

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George Cruikshank

George Cruikshank, artist, lived here, from 1850 to 1878. B: Sept.27th 1792....

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Harry Vane

Sir Harry Vane, statesman, lived here. Born 1612. Beheaded 1662. {Almost hid...

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Other Subjects

Walter Crane

Walter Crane

Artist and book illustrator. Born Liverpool. Worked in the Arts and Crafts style, producing designs for decorative items such as ceramics and, most charmingly, illustrations for children's books. D...

Person, Art

2 memorials
Sir William Rothenstein

Sir William Rothenstein

Artist. Born at 4 Spring Bank, Bradford, Yorkshire. He studied at the Slade School of Art in London, and at the Académie Julian in Paris, where he met and was encouraged by James McNeill Whistler a...

Person, Art, France

1 memorial
John Pine

John Pine

Engraver. Born and died in London.

Person, Art, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Paul Cezanne

Paul Cezanne

Impressionist artist. Paul Cézanne was born in Aix-en-Provence. He studied at the Academie Suisse in Paris, and Camille Pissaro became his major influence. Amongst his best known paintings are 'The...

Person, Art, Seriously Famous, France

1 memorial
Mervyn Peake

Mervyn Peake

Artist and writer. Mervyn Laurence Peake was born on 9 July 1911 in Kuling, Dehua, Fujian, China, the younger child of Ernest Cromwell Peake (1874-1950) and Amanda Elizabeth Ann Peake née Powell (...

Person, Art, Emergency Services, Literature, Seriously Famous, Channel Islands, China/Hong Kong

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Vernon Hill

Vernon Hill

Sculptor and illustrator.  Born Halifax, Yorkshire.  Other work in London in St Columba's Church, Pont Street and Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell.

Person, Art, Sculpture

1 memorial