Adam Brothers.- Adam (Robert, architect, 1728-92), Adam (John, architect, 1721-1792), Adam (James, architect, 1732-1794) & Adam (William, businessman, 1738-1822) Collection of documents mostly relating to the construction of Adelphi Buildings, consisting of conveyances, leases, mortgages, schedules, releases, memorials etc., 17th century documents relating to Durham Yard, the later 18th & 19th century documents relating to the Adelphi, Royal Terrace and its vaults, Robert Street, Adam Street, William Street and John Street, Ds.s., 4 by all four Adam Brothers, 9 by James Adam, 20 by William Adam, 1 by David Garrick and witnessed by his brother George Garrick, 1 by Sir Thomas Mompesson (of The Close, Salisbury, 1630-1701) etc., many with red wax seals, lacks some seals, some staining and creasing to a few documents, some yellowing and soiling, folds, housed in a tin trunk, v.s., v.d., 1667-1897 (c. 100).

⁂ One of the most famous property developments in London.

These documents chronicle the development of the Adelphi site, both physically (some with ground plans) and financially from the 1660s onward to the end of the nineteenth century. Developed in the years 1768-1774, the land consisted of three and a half acres of land between Charing Cross and the Embankment. Most of the designs were by Robert Adam, though his brothers were also heavily involved in the scheme, including his youngest brother William who has signed more of the present documents than anyone else. The development was extremely complex, involving the construction of terraces, vaults and subterranean streets for access to The Strand .