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

Giotto di Bondone

Giotto di Bondone

Italian painter and architect from Florence.

Person, Architecture, Art, Italy

1 memorial
Julian Stocks
1 memorial
Ronald Searle

Ronald Searle

Artist and cartoonist. Born Cambridge and studied art. In WW2 at the start of 1942 he was in the Royal Engineers in Singapore which fell to the Japanese and he was taken prisoner and spent the rest...

Person, Art

1 memorial
Charles Keeping

Charles Keeping

Illustrator. Born Charles William James Keeping in Lambeth. Initially he worked as an illustrator of children's books, and then undertook for the Folio Society, the massive task of illustrating all...

Person, Art

1 memorial
Lord Frederick Leighton

Lord Frederick Leighton

Born Scarborough, Yorkshire. President of the Royal Academy. In 1860 Leighton was a first commander of the Artists Rifles. 1892 painted some of the murals at the Royal Exchange. Knighted in 1878. ...

Person, Art

3 memorials

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UCL Department of Economics

UCL Department of Economics

UCL = University College London

Group, Economist

1 memorial
London Borough of Merton

London Borough of Merton

Formed under the London Government Act 1963, by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey.

Group, Politics & Administration

6 memorials
John Smeaton

John Smeaton

Civil engineer.  Born and died at Austhorpe Lodge, Whitkirk, near Leeds. In 1748 he moved to London initially at Great Turnstile and set up in business first as a scientist and maker of instruments...

Person, Engineering

3 memorials
Wimbledon Society / John Evelyn Society

Wimbledon Society / John Evelyn Society

Founded by Richardson Evans and others, to 'safeguard the amenities of the Wimbledon district and to promote an interest in local history and wildlife'. It was originally known as the John Evelyn C...

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture, History

6 memorials
General Sir Hubert Gough, GCMC, KCB, KCVO

General Sir Hubert Gough, GCMC, KCB, KCVO

Born Ireland. Senior army officer in WW1, commanding the Fifth Army, not particularly successfully. Died in London.

Person, Armed Forces, Ireland

1 memorial