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Place    From 1768  To 1935

Adelphi Terrace

Categories: Architecture

Adelphi Terrace

The Adam brothers built a very large development including a run of houses with a terrace that overlooked the river, which was much closer before the Embankment was built. It was this terrace that caused the word "terrace" to take on the meaning of a row of houses. Torn down in 1935 and replaced with the art deco New Adelphi building. It was the demolition of the Adelphi that was, at least partially, responsible for the creation of the Georgian Society in 1937.

is a very useful page with excellent images.

While thinking of how London has changed the English language, in the field of architecture at least, let's examine "Mews". From the French, it used to mean a place where hawks (kept for hunting) were confined during their moulting seasons. From 1377 the King's Mews was at Charing Cross, about where Trafalgar Square now is. In 1537 Henry VIII had it converted to be the royal stables. And hence Mews became the term for all service streets in London built as stables, converted into garages and then converted into rather chic homes for fashionable Londoners, such as .

The image on this page shows a front elevation very different from that on our Garrick page. In 1872 the Victorians obliterated the Adams' neoclassical façades, adding heavy decorative features, around the windows and the bulky central attic pediment. The resultant houses would have been unrecognisable to their architects.

Drawings at the Rise and Fall make it clear that the houses at the two ends of the Terrace were detached from the main body of 10 houses.  No.11, the detached house at the eastern end, survived not just demolition in the '30s but also the attentions of the Victorians. Google Maps does not provide a good view of it but has a photo, from which one can imagine how impressive the whole Terrace must have been during its first 100 years.

For more information see ''. There is also from Hansard, a splendid speech made by , 16 March 1933. gives all the occupants.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Adelphi Terrace

Commemorated ati

Adam, Hood, Galsworthy, Barrie, etc.

Robert Adam, Thomas Hood, John Galsworthy, Sir James Barrie and other eminent...

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Garrick plaque - gone

Garrick died in this house. Erected April-May 1876.

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Robert and James Adam - WC2

This plaque was lost when No.4 and all but one of the other houses in the Ter...

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The Adelphi

The inscription was created by Sharpington. The photo on his page (27 Novembe...

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Other Subjects

Arthur Ashpitel

Arthur Ashpitel

Architect who built a number of churches in South London, Essex and Kent, including St Barnabas, Homerton and St John the Evangelist, Blackheath.

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
J. M. Brydon

J. M. Brydon

Architect born in Dunfermline. John McKean Brydon's other works in London: St Peter's Hospital, Henrietta Street (1880–84); Hospital for Women, Euston Road (renamed the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson H...

Person, Architecture, Scotland

1 memorial
Basil Champneys

Basil Champneys

Architect. Born Whitechapel. Died at home at 42 Frognal Lane, Hampstead. Works include: Newnham College, Cambridge.

Person, Architecture

1 memorial
Sir John W. Simpson

Sir John W. Simpson

Architect. Born Brighton (though the picture source has him born in Scotland). His father and brother were also architects. Active member of RIBA and its president 1919-21. Architect to the Honoura...

Person, Architecture, Scotland

2 memorials
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott

Sir Giles Gilbert Scott

Architect. Born 26 Church Row, Hampstead. Grandson of Sir George Gilbert Scott. Built Liverpool Cathedral (where he and his wife are buried). Rebuilt the Commons Chamber at the Houses of Parliament...

Person, Architecture

7 memorials