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

William Bell Scott

William Bell Scott

Born Edinburgh. Painter and poet, closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelites. His work was championed by the Rossettis, Christina and Dante Gabriel. He achieved fame when he was commissioned to do...

Person, Art, Poetry, Scotland

1 memorial
F. Cayley Robinson

F. Cayley Robinson

Frederick Arthur Cayley Robinson.  Painter and book illustrator.  Born Brentford, Middlesex. In 1914 moved with his wife and daughter into 1 Lansdowne House.  That same year he began 10 years as a...

Person, Art

1 memorial
John Linnell

John Linnell

Painter of landscapes and portraits. The picture is a self-portrait. Born London. Patron to William Blake. Daughter married Samuel Palmer, the painter.

Person, Art

1 memorial
Geoff Staden

Geoff Staden

Artist. We believe Glimpse @53 is about our man: "London born Geoff went to Goldsmiths College, and specialised mostly in night scenes. Working collaboratively, he later made assemblages using foun...

Person, Art

2 memorials
Solomon Souza

Solomon Souza

Street artist, best known for spray painting portraits of contemporary and historical figures on the metal shutters of the Mahane Yehuda Market ("The Shuk") in Jerusalem, turning them into an after...

Person, Art

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Bishop Edmund Bonner

Bishop Edmund Bonner

Bishop of London 1539-49 and 1553-59. This was a period when a job in the church was a fraught occupation. Bonner fared better under Catholic monarchs, but not much. As chaplain to Cardinal Wolsey...

Person, Religion

1 memorial