Erection date: /11/1951
The Adelphi
This building stands on the site of Adelphi Terrace built by the brothers Adam in 1768 - 1774. Among the occupants of the Terrace were Topham and Lady Diana Beauclerk, David Garrick, Richard Doyle Carte, Thomas Hardy & George Bernard Shaw. The London School of Economics and Political Science and the Savage Club also had their premises here.
LCC 1951
The inscription was created by Sharpington. The photo on his page (27 November 1951) captures him adding colour to the lettering of the inscription. However, shortly after completing of the work, he received instructions to alter the inscription: the full name of the London School of Economics and Political Science needed to be used. This meant erasing 3 lines (how do you do that with a stone inscription?) and carving 4 new lines. This work was completed in early 1952.
We are very lucky to have the photo showing Sharpington finishing off the original work (not yet knowing he would have to change it.)
Site: The Adelphi (1 memorial)
WC2, Adelphi Terrace
The original Adelphi was a large development, even in modern terms. Most of the streets were named after the Adam brothers as was the whole Terrace since Adelphi is Greek for 'brothers'.
The river-facing row of houses known as Adelphi Terrace was replaced with this large modern block, The Adelphi, in 1938, designed by Stanley Hamp of Collcutt & Hamp.
The four giant allegorical relief figures on the corners of the Embankment front are, listed west-east: 'Dawn' - Bainbridge Copnall; 'Contemplation' - Arthur J Ayres; 'Inspiration' - Gilbert Ledward; 'Night' - Donald Gilbert. Some other sculptural work is by Newbury Abbot Trent.
More information at .
Our photo was taken from the road running around the building. On the south (river) side the road passes under two wings of the building, each supported by 4 pillars. The inscription is on the north-facing side of the east-most of these pillars.
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