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.

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:
Royal Society of Arts

Commemorated ati

William Shipley

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

Read More

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.

Read More

Fanny Burney

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

Read More

Garrick plaque - gone

Garrick died in this house.

Read More

George Cruikshank

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

Read More

Harry Vane

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

Read More

Other Subjects

Phil May

Phil May

Illustrator. Born Philip William May at 66 Wallace Street, New Wortley, Leeds. He worked at several jobs before moving to Australia as cartoonist on the 'Sydney Bulletin'. In 1888 he went to study ...

Person, Art, Australia

1 memorial
Martin A. Buckmaster

Martin A. Buckmaster

Elected to membership of the Arts Club in 1897. Still a member in 1920 when The Arts Club and its Members, our source for this information, was published. The oldest member of the club, aged 94 yea...

Person, Art, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Dave Binnington

Dave Binnington

Mural artist active in 1976.  See Rochfort.

Person, Art

1 memorial
William Strang

William Strang

Painter and etcher. Born  Dumbarton, aged 17 came to the Slade School of Art and stayed in London. Illustrated the works of John Bunyan, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Rudyard Kipling. A Google image ...

Person, Art, Scotland

1 memorial
Otto Schade

Otto Schade

Artist and architect.  Born Chile.  We can'f find a picture of him so we are using one of his extraordinary art works instead.

Person, Art, Chile

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Bedford Hotel bomb

Bedford Hotel bomb

WC1, Southampton Row, Bedford Hotel

24th September 1917 13 people were killed and 22 injured near this spot on the steps of the old Bedford Hotel by a 112 lb bomb dropped b...

3 subjects commemorated
Pollock's toy theatre shop

Pollock's toy theatre shop

This was started by John Redington, selling printed sheets of characters and scenery for toy theatres. He ran it until his death when his family took over. 1877 his daughter Eliza married Benjamin ...

Building, Children, Commerce, Theatre

1 memorial
Nicaraguan House

Nicaraguan House

SE11, Tyers Street

We can find no information about this house.

1 subject commemorated
Emily Young

Emily Young

Sculptor. Born London, grand-daughter of Kathleen Scott. Possibly the inspiration for the song 'See Emily Play', written by Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett. Her most visible work in London is the series o...

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial
Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Our picture shows Queen Elizabeth II in the River Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant which took place in the cold and pouring rain on 3 June. Diamond represents 60 years.

Event, Royalty

20 memorials