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.

Information from Soane Museum and ODNB.

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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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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House of Royal Soc. for Encouragement of Arts etc

The House of Royal Soc. for Encouragement of Arts Manufactures and Commerce. ...

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Other Subjects

David Bratby

David Bratby

Artist who specialises in large-scale murals.

Person, Art

1 memorial
Arthur Rackham

Arthur Rackham

Painter and illustrator. Born at 2 St James's Terrace, Lambeth. Studied at the Lambeth School of Art. He illustrated books such as 'Peter Pan' and his own 'Arthur Rackham Fairy Book', with a style ...

Person, Art

1 memorial
Ben Nicholson

Ben Nicholson

Artist. Born Denham, Buckinghamshire. Father was Sir William Nicholson, painter. Married to sculptor, Barbara Hepworth, 1938 -51. They were central to a number of groups of avant-garde artists bas...

Person, Art, Switzerland

1 memorial
Norah Lyle-Smyth, Norah Smyth

Norah Lyle-Smyth, Norah Smyth

Painter, sculptor, photographer and suffragette. Born Norah Veronica Lyle-Smyth in Cheshire. She was befriended by Sylvia Pankhurst and accompanied her on a speaking tour around Europe. She finance...

Person, Art, Gender Issues, Photography, Politics & Administration, Sculpture, Ireland

2 memorials
Charles Shannon

Charles Shannon

Charles Haslewood Shannon. Lithographer and painter. Born Lincolnshire. Met his life partner, Charles Ricketts, in 1882. See there for more about their life and work together. 1929 Shannon suffere...

Person, Art

1 memorial