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

David Garrick, actor, lived here. B: 1716. D: 1779. {Almost hidden in the dec...

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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

The Arts Club

The Arts Club

Private members club founded by, amongst others, Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, and Lord Leighton. "This Club is instituted for the purpose of facilitating the social intercourse of those conne...

Group, Art, Community / Clubs

2 memorials
Tate Galleries

Tate Galleries

Four art galleries. The original was founded in Millbank in 1897, as the National Gallery of British Art. It was renamed in 1932 after Henry Tate who had laid the foundations for the collection. Ta...

Group, Art, Museums / Libraries

1 memorial
David Cox

David Cox

Landscape painter.  Born near Birmingham. Came to London in 1804 as a theatre scenery painter.  He was a teacher and wrote some influential instruction books.  A very successful water colour painte...

Person, Art

2 memorials
Randolph Caldecott

Randolph Caldecott

Artist and book illustrator.

Person, Art

1 memorial
Samuel Morse

Samuel Morse

Samuel Finley Breese Morse was born on 27 April 1791 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA. He was an artist who travelled to Italy, Switzerland ,France and England where in 1811 he gained admittance...

Person, Art, Science, France, Italy, Switzerland, USA

1 memorial