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

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
Carmody and Groarke

Carmody and Groarke

Architectural practice of Kevin Carmody (from Melbourne) and Andrew Groarke (from Manchester), formed in 2005.

Group, Architecture, Art, Australia

2 memorials
Laura Cave

Laura Cave

Jeweller and Teacher.

Person, Art, Education

1 memorial
Whitechapel Boys

Whitechapel Boys

From the Whitechapel Gallery: "A group of significant artists and writers emerged from the Jewish diaspora in east London at the beginning of the 20th Century." Artists: David Bomberg, Jacob Epste...

Group, Art, Philosophy, Sculpture

1 memorial
Mabel Dearmer

Mabel Dearmer

Novelist, playwright, translator and illustrator.  Born Jessie Mabel Prichard White, daughter of Surgeon-Major William White. Her illustrations were accepted by the Yellow Book. 1892 married Percy ...

Person, Art, Literature, Theatre, Balkans

War dead, WW1
2 memorials

Previously viewed

Hy. Tooley

Hy. Tooley

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Ritz Hotel

Ritz Hotel

Opened by Swiss hotelier Cesar Ritz. The first hotel in the country where every room had an ensuite bathroom.

Place, Commerce

1 memorial
Misha Anker

Misha Anker

One of a list of 26 researchers involved in researching Hester Leggatt's background.

Person, History

1 memorial
Charles Hoy Fort

Charles Hoy Fort

Writer, thinker, humourist and investigator. Promoted scientific investigation of the paranormal. Born New York state, came to Europe aged 22. Returned to New York and married Anna in 1896. He bega...

Person, Journalism / Publishing, Literature, Paranormal, USA

2 memorials
Eric Kennington

Eric Kennington

Artist and sculptor. Born Chelsea.  Served on the Western Front in WW1 and was invalided out in June 1915.

Person, Sculpture

1 memorial