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

Michelangelo

Michelangelo

Sculptor, painter, architect and poet.

Person, Architecture, Art, Engineering, Poetry, Sculpture, Seriously Famous, Italy

5 memorials
John William Waterhouse

John William Waterhouse

Painter.  Born Rome.  A late-comer to the Pre-Raphaelite style, his subject matter was often Arthurian legend or Greek mythology.  Died at his home in Hall Road.

Person, Art, Italy

1 memorial
William Shipley

William Shipley

Drawing master, social reformer and inventor. Wikipedia's page differs significantly from the Oxford Dictionary of National Bigraphy. They agree that he was born in Kent and trained as a painter. H...

Person, Art, Science

1 memorial
H. M. Bateman

H. M. Bateman

Cartoonist. Born Henry Mayo Bateman at Moss Vale, Sutton Forest, New South Wales, Australia. His family moved to Britain in 1888, where he studied at Westminster School of Art and Goldsmiths' Colle...

Person, Art, Australia, Malta

1 memorial
foundation of the Barbican Arts Centre

foundation of the Barbican Arts Centre

1971 - Construction work begins with an estimate of 6 years to completion. 1982 - Barbican opened by The Queen. Londonist have found a map that shows the Barbican overlaid on top of the old street...

Event, Art

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Chinese Polo Players

Chinese Polo Players

E16, Dockside Road

{On a nearby ornamental base:} 2012 London Polo. By Huang Jian, China China is the birthplace of ancient polo which was popular among roy...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
World War 1

World War 1

We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came along at which point it was renamed as World War One or the First World War. But the term was first used in print in 1920...

Event, Armed Forces, Tragedy

403 memorials