Adelphi, London facts for kids

The Adam Brothers' Adelphi (1768–72) was London's first neoclassical building. It had eleven large houses facing a vaulted terrace, with wharves underneath. These were known as the Adelphi Arches.

Current view of the remaining building at 11 Adelphi Terrace. This was the furthest left house of the original buildings when seen from the river.

Adelphi (pronounced "uh-DEL-fee") is a small area in the City of Westminster in London. Its name comes from the Greek word adelphoi, which means "brothers". The main streets in this area are Adelphi Terrace, Robert Street, and John Adam Street. Adelphi is often thought of as part of the larger Strand district, which is a famous main street in London.

Adelphi Buildings: A Look at London's First Neoclassical Style

The Art Deco Adelphi building from the 1930s, located at 1-10 John Adam Street.

The area gets its name from the Adelphi Buildings. These were 24 neoclassical (new classical style) terrace houses. They stood between The Strand and the River Thames. The buildings were constructed between 1768 and 1772. Four brothers, John, Robert, James, and William Adam, built them. The Greek name "Adelphi" refers to these brothers. Before they built the Adelphi, the ruins of Durham House were on this spot.

Robert Adam, one of the brothers, was inspired by his trip to Diocletian's Palace in Split, Croatia. He used some of these ideas in the design of the Adelphi Buildings. The nearby Adelphi Theatre is also named after these famous buildings.

Many of the original Adelphi Buildings were taken down in the early 1930s. They were replaced by the New Adelphi, a large Art Deco building from the 1930s. However, some parts of the old Adelphi still stand. These include 11 Adelphi Terrace and the headquarters of the Royal Society of Arts.

Important Groups and Offices in Adelphi

South Australian Colonization Commission: Where Penny Postage Began

The South Australian Colonization Commission had its offices at 6 Adelphi Terrace in 1840. This group helped people move to and settle in South Australia. Rowland Hill, who worked there, came up with the idea for "penny postage" during this time. This idea made sending letters much cheaper and easier for everyone.

London School of Economics: Early Days in Adelphi

The London School of Economics (LSE) started its first classes in October 1895. They used rooms at 9 John Street, Adelphi. Later, they moved to a more permanent spot at 10 Adelphi Terrace. By 1920, the LSE moved to its current location. While in Adelphi, the students and teachers of the LSE were very involved in the local community.

Street Names: Stories Behind the Signs

Adelphi doesn't have exact borders, but it's generally found south of the Strand. Many streets here are named after important people or places from history. For example, some streets are named after George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. He was a famous courtier (a person who attended a royal court) in the 1600s. He owned a large house called York House, which used to be in this area.

• Adam Street and John Adam Street are named after John and Robert Adam, the brothers who built the Adelphi.
• Adelphi Terrace also honors the Adam brothers, as "adelphos" means 'brother' in Greek.
• Buckingham Street and George Court remember George Villiers, the 1st Duke of Buckingham.
• Charing Cross is named after an old cross that marked a bend in the River Thames.
• Craven Street is named after William Craven, 3rd Baron Craven, who owned the land in the 1730s.
• Durham House Street is where Durham House used to be. This was a palace for the bishops of Durham in medieval times.
• Hungerford Lane is named after the Hungerford family, who owned a house here in the 1400s.
• Ivybridge Lane was named after an old bridge covered in ivy that crossed a stream.
• Lancaster Place was once the site of the Savoy Palace. This palace belonged to the earls of Lancaster in the 1200s.
• Northumberland Avenue is named after the former Northumberland House, a large building for the earls of Northumberland.
• Robert Street is named after Robert Adam, one of the building brothers.
• Many streets like Savoy Buildings and Savoy Street are named after the Savoy Palace. This palace was built for Peter II, Count of Savoy in 1245.
• Strand means "edge of a river" in Old English. The River Thames used to reach this area before the Thames Embankment was built.
• Victoria Embankment is named after Queen Victoria, who was the queen when it was built.
• Villiers Street and Watergate Walk are also named after George Villiers, the 1st Duke of Buckingham. Watergate Walk was once an entrance to his house from the river.
• York Buildings and York Place are named after 'York House'. This house was owned by the archbishops of York.

Famous People Who Lived in Adelphi

Past and Present, no. 3 Despair by Augustus Egg, 1858. This painting is set in the Adelphi Arches.

Many well-known writers and artists have lived in Adelphi:

• Sir J. M. Barrie (1860-1937): He wrote Peter Pan. He lived in Adelphi Terrace for many years until he passed away.
• Charles Booth (1840-1916): He owned a shipyard and was known for his charity work and writings.
• Richard D'Oyly Carte (1844-1901): A famous Victorian show producer.
• John Galsworthy (1867-1933): He wrote the famous novel series The Forsyte Saga.
• David Garrick (1717-1779): A very famous actor, he lived and died in the center house of the Adelphi Buildings.
• Thomas Hardy (1840-1928): A well-known English novelist.
• Thomas Monro (1759-1833): He was a doctor to King George III and supported many artists.
• George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950): An Irish playwright and one of the people who started the London School of Economics.

Adelphi in Books and TV Shows

Adelphi has appeared in many stories and shows:

• David Copperfield, a character created by Charles Dickens, lived on Buckingham Street in Adelphi.
• The detective Gideon Fell, from John Dickson Carr's books, lived at 1 Adelphi Terrace.
• The 1930s Adelphi building was used for some scenes in the TV show Agatha Christie's Poirot.
• In The Provincial Lady in Wartime by E.M. Delafield, the main character works in an air raid shelter under the Adelphi during World War II.
• Cora Harrison's book Season of Darkness is set around 5 Adelphi Terrace.

Images for kids

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  A prospect of London by Alexander Nasmyth, 1826. The Adelphi Buildings can be seen to the left of Waterloo Bridge.

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  This map from 1827 shows the Adelphi area south of the Strand.

See also

In Spanish: Adelphi (Londres) para niños