Description

TQ 3080 NW CITY OF WESTMINSTER JOHN ADAM STREET, WC2
(north side)
72/132 No. 8: The Royal Society
24.2.58 of Arts
G.V. I
Learned Society premises and lecture hall. 1772-74 by Robert Adam. Brown
brick with stone dressings, slate roof. Chaste Adam temple front. 3 main
storeys, attic and basement. 3 widely spaced window bays. Central
tripartite doorway of panelled door and side lights framed by pilasters and
central projecting porch with "Tower of the Winds" columns and pilasters,
fluted frieze with paterae and swags and cornice. Flanking recessed
glazing bar sashes under flat gauged arches, but to the centre on 1st floor
is a large Adam Venetian window inscribed in a semicircular arched recess
with fan decoration to head above the 3 lights, the centre one arched,
divided by slender Ionic columns. Above plat band the 3 bays of the upper
floors are articulated by a giant engaged order of Ionic columns carrying
entablature with triglyph frieze interrupted by inscription "Arts and
Commerce Promoted", cornice and dentil pediment. Cast iron area railings
with pineapple finials. The rear, exposed through to Strand, also has a
monumental elevation with 4 stone fluted Ionic pilasters through blind 1st
and 2nd floors, framing figure panels, with entablature and pediment. The
interior retains a number of fine original features including the lower
part of the staircase, the library with its column screen and chimneypiece
and the lecture hall which although redecorated by J.R. Hay in 1846,
retains James Barry's great sequence of wall paintings etc.
Survey of London; Vol. XVIII.

Listing NGR: TQ3037780611

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q98167754

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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