THE LITERARY HISTORY
OF THE ADELPHI AND
ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD
The Terrace. York Buildings. 1796.
From a water colour by J. Richards R.A.
THE LITERARY HISTORY
OF THE ADELPHI
AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD
By AUSTIN BRERETON
WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION
NEW YORK:
DUFFIELD & COMPANY
36-38 WEST 37th STREET
1909
First Edition 1907
Second Edition 1908
(All rights reserved.)
Note
This book is intended for the general reader, as well as for theantiquarian and the lover of London. To this end, the history of theAdelphi and its immediate neighbourhood to the west and on the southside of the Strand has been related in—as far as possible—narrativeform. At the same time, it need hardly be said, every care has beentaken to present the multitude of details correctly and as a truthfulpicture of one of the most interesting parts of the great metropolis.I should be ungrateful if I did not take this opportunity of again—asin the case of my chronicle of the Lyceum and Henry Irving—thankingMr. E. Gardner for so courteously placing at my disposal his unique andinvaluable collection of London records and engravings. The majorityof the illustrations were kindly lent by him; others were copied fromprints in the British Museum. I have also to thank the officials of St.Martin's Library for their ready help in enabling me to consult, at myleisure, some scarce books connected with the literature of historicalLondon.
A.B.
INTRODUCTION
"The Literary History of the Adelphi" has journeyed from one side ofthe neighbourhood to the other, from west to east. That is to say, itspublication has been acquired by Mr. Fisher Unwin, hence the removalof the book from York Buildings to Adelphi—originally called "Royal,"and still so marked on the old plans—Terrace. This peregrinationgives me the opportunity of supplementing the original work with someinteresting particulars which have just come into my possession.Who would think that within a short distance of the Strand, if notactually within the proverbial stone's throw, there are "cottages," andcottages, too, with trees and flowers and lawns, and a mighty river,for prospect? Yet such is the case, although it is no wonder that therate collector who is new to this part of London has much ado to find"Adelphi cottages." They belong to that mysterious region which liesunderneath the Strand level of the Adelphi and is vaguely known as the"arches." If the reader will glance at the illustration which facespage 32—"The Buildings called the Adelphi"—he will see, at the top ofthe arches and under the terrace, some fifteen semi-circular recesses.These are really capacious rooms, and from the windows thereof the viewof the Embankment Gardens and the Thames is considerable compensationfor the tediousness and deviousness of the approach. The "cottages"were originally attached to the houses on the terrace above, and, untilrecent years, they were inhabited. Now, however, the majority of themare let separately and are used as stores or workshops. One of them,however, is still occupied as a dwelling-place, and,